iiffiilWIilillillliiliif'Pi: 



I LLWSTRHTED 



Bioi^RAPHicAL Album 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA, 



Full Paj^f Portraits and Iliographical Sketches oi Proini 
iiL'iit and Representative Citizens. 



TOGETHEFi WITH 



Portraits axh Hior.RAi'iiiKS of 'I'lii'. Pri-sidI'XTS of thi 

United States. 



l'iiii.Aiir.i.piii,\ 
National ruui.isiiiNo C'OMrANV 
I Omaha. 



re Co 



I r 



' ^ 



The 



HE Greatest of Historians, McCai'i.ky, ami uuc of the most lirilliant writers 
of the past century, has said: "The liistory of a country is best told in a record 

. the lives of its people." In conformit}- with this idea the BlOGRAl'HICAl. 

ILfiC'M of Northeastern Nebraska, has been written. Instead of jjoiu}^ to musty 
records, and takiujj therefrom drj- statistical matter that can be appreciated by but 
icw, our corps of writers have jijone to the people, the men and women who have, In* 
their enterprise and industry, brought the countrj- to rank second to none in this 
.i(reat and noble state, and from their lips have the storj' of their life strujjj^les. No 
more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent public. In 
this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthj' the imitation of 
coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and 
economy have accumulated wealth, and of others, with limited advantages for securing 
an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending 
throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have ri.seu from 
the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and of those that have striven to 
succeed and that success has usually crowned their cflForts. It tells of man)- who, 
not .seeking the applau.se of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," 
content to have it said of them as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of 
mercy, "they have done what they could." It tells of many that in the pride and 
strength of young manhood left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's oflice and the 
counting-room, left every trade and profession, at their country's call went forth 
valiantly "to do or die," and through their efiforts the Union was restored. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume as it contains so much that 
would of necessity' been lost had this volume not been written. Great care has been 
taken in the compilation of the work, submitting each sketch in order to insure its 
correctness. The faces of some, and the biographical sketches of many, will be 
mi.ssed from this volume. For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having the 
proper conception of the work, some refused to give the information necessary to 
compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of the 
family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such opposition the support of 
the interested one would Ik- withheld. In many instances men could not be found, 
though repeated calls were m.ide at their residence or place of business. 

NaTIONM 1*1 151 ISMINfi C<»MI'\NN 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Abbott, A. C r.98 

Abbott, Dr. L. J 72 

Acers, George O 500 

Ackerman, C. W 431 

Acorn, T. R 100 

Adams, David 323 

Adriance, Rev. Jacob 17 

Albers, Aug. J 99 

Aldrich, W. H 473 

Allen, R. M 324 

Anderson. A. P 91 

Anderson, Wm. ]r 12.') 

Andrews, John 473 

Archer, Henry 249 

Andres, John 575 

Armstrong, William 423 

Arps, John 50 

Atkinson, Dr. I. E 423 

Axen, Agge 24 

Axen, Charles 71 

Baas, John 254 

Bader, JR... 153 

Bailey, W, E 5(i0 

Baker, Charles 242 

Baker, J. L 250 

Bang, C. A 382 

Banghart, Isaac 253 

Banghart, Vangilder 235 

Bank, Andrew N 34 

Barber, Ford B 3(i9 

Barnard, Hon. E. H 290 

Barnes, W. A I(i4 

Barr, George 152 

Barr, Robert 258 

Batie, John 20 

Bates, William C 104 

■^ Bauer, John 35 

Bauman, Anton 250 

-^ Baumann, Otto 390 

Bayer, Charles 243 

Bayha, C. F 315 

Bayha. G. G 503 

Bang, C. A 382 

Bear, Alexander 324 

^ Becher, Adolph 259 

Becker, H. E S25 

Beck, Capt. H. S 519 

Becker, Peter 39 

Beebe. Hon. HP 2H4 

Beebe, S. P 234 



Fwjf 

Beemer, A. 397' 

Behm, Henry 491' 

Beemer, Alexander 549 

Benson, G. H 517 

Benne, J. H 322 

Bennett, James 422 

Beran, John 572 

Berger, Fred 494 

Bergquist, G. J , . .472 

Berny, George 586 

Best. C. T 325 

Best, E. T 320 

Bethje, P. H 438 

Bignold, F. R 540 

Birchem, Michael 104 

Black, C. M 472 

Black, J. P 439 

Black, W. A 390 

Black, W. K 475 

Blumenthal, Herman 101 

Bodewig, Jacob 421 

Bodewig, Peter 128 

Boeckenhauer, C. P. A 152 

Boell, E. A 320 

Boggs, D. A 510 

Bohling, Herman 303 

Boldt, Gotlieb 258 

Bomar, Hon. D. F 240 

Borgelt, Henry 491 

Borkenhagen, William 472 

Bower, Charles 107 

Bowman, Ur. W. L 254 

Bowman, Andrew 2.52 

Boyer, George 240 

Brazda, Frank 127 

Bradbury, James 71 

Bray ton, James H 253 

Brezina, F. E 40 

Brezina, Ned A 4(1 

Breilkrutz, Ernst 49i 

Briggs, Emory 120 

Briggs, George 401 

Briggs, J.C 322 

Brodhun, Joseph 471 

Bromer, John 125 

Brooks, George H 515 

Brooks, George A 17 

Brown, David 278 

Brown, 1. H 257 

Brown, J. L 250 

Brown, J. H 501 



Brown. Dr. N. H... 
Brummund, C. F. . . 

'^ruce, J. A 

Bruce, O. A. H 

Brugh, E. G 

Bruner, Uriah 



I'aiji-. 
.... 80 
. ... 09 
... 529 
....530 
....280 
,...392 



Bryant, W. F 513 

Buchholz, Charles 257 

Buer, J. F 259 

Burbank, Dr. F. L 255 

Bi'Uock, Grace 73 

Burger, Hiram 55 

Burke, David W 32 

Burke, Ebed M 561 

Burnham, Ira ■. . . .399 

Burns, E. C 251 

Burrell, F. L 168 

Butler, J. P 581 

Butler, L. S 259 

Cadwallader, Dr. Charles 234 

Caldwell, J. H 469 

Camin, William, Sr 203 

Campbell, G. J 470 

Campfield, S. S 2S 

Carberry, John 524 

Carey, D. B 128 

Carey. J. E. L, Jr 490 

Carr, C. W 327 

Carson, Edwin 70 

Chambers, Alexander H 248 

Chambers, B F 5(i(> 

Chambers, Dr H 35 

Chase, Hiram 595 

Cherny, John 1.53 ■ 

Chittenden, G. F ,591 

Christensen, Christian 100 

irhristensen, Sike 470 

'Chudomelka, S N 350-' 

ii^Clancy, D W 419 

Clark, E H .503 

Clausen, J. II 328 

Clemmons, Prof. W. H 53 

Close, George 54 

Close, John A 117 

Cohee, W. T 410 

Cole, H. J 556 

Cole, W. P 469 

Collins, Hon. William 317 

Colson, SB 378 

Coney, C. S. .-. 420 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Conwell, Dr. W. F 327 

Corby, Nathaniel 530 

Cottrell, Hon M. 3 275 

Craig, Lieut. L R 5(52 

Cramer, D. L 548 

Cramer, J K 603 

Cratty, William 521 

Crawford, Hon J C 388 

Crawford, Dr. R. B 599 

Crellin, D J (id 

Crist, Isaiah 105 

Crockett, Charles 527 

Cross, Joseph . . 234 

Cruikshank, James. 243 

Crum, James • 5(54 

Cusack, Christopher 129 

Dahl, J. H 239 

Dunker, Hans 490 

Davis, E. E 471 

Davis, Judge J. T 518 

Davis, Scott 4()9 

Decker, John 490 

Deiley, H. D 231 

Denesia, Noah 231 

Denslow, Jerry Jr 135 

Dern, Hon. John 432 

Dern, Louis 232 

Dickerson, J. M 468 

Dickerson, Josiah 129 

Diehl, J. S 260 

Diers, H E 509 

Dinges, A. K 328 

Dion, Jerry 98 

Divine, W H 232 

Dodendorf, Edward 233 

Dodge, George 99 

Doescher, C. C 489 

DolJin, J. G 232 

Dorsey, Hon. G. W. E 431 

Doty, J. M 399 

Douglass, J. E 407 

Downs, J G 592 

Dunker, C. B 4]i» 

Dunker, Diedrich 4(i7 

Dutcher, W. L 4(i9 

Eaton, J. P 332 

Ebbers, Mernolph 406 

Ebberson, John 36 

Eberhard, Peter 40 

Eckroat, John 229 

Ehlers, Claus 105 

Ehlers, Johann 105 

Ehrhardt, J. A 307 

Eidam, Casper 466 



Page. 

Eiseley, Hon. C F 91 

Elliott, D. W 515 

Eisner. Ernest 152 

Elson, A. H 229 

Ely, Hon. W. H 377 

Emanuel, John 230 

Emanuel, Peter 4(56 

Emley, J. H 474 

Emley, Sylvester 493 

Emley, William 130 

Emmington, M c97 

Esswein, J. C 494 

Ewing, James .541 

Fairchild, S. C 520 

Falconer, Reuben 465 

Fanbel, Henry 487 

Farrell, John 106 

Fehliman, Robert 418 

Feichtinger, Hon. Charles 247 

Fisher, CO 582 

Fitzgerald, Rev. J. B 398 

Flanagan, Edward 228 

Fleming, W II 488 

Fletcher, S R 487 

Forbes, Alonzo W 22 

Fowler, C. S 430 

Fowler, W. H 224 

Frandsen, Bertel 178 

Franse, Hon. T. M 486 

Fried, Hon William 433 

Galbraith, I. L I(i3 

Gallagher, Felix 486 

Galley, J H 582 

Galley, Samuel 532 

Gamble, Edward 53 

Gamble, U. M 531 

Gardanier, C. D .300 

Gardner, Z. H 36 

Gaster, Frederick 485 

Gates, Charles 567 

Gaughen, Martin 462 

Gaughen, Thomas 4()2 

Gentzke, M. 429 

Gerecke, William 418 

Gibbon, Dr. W. D 485 

Gibson, W. L ,597 

Givens, Felix 2(>4 

Glaubius, William 52 

Goebel, J. J 576 

GofI, Harlow 131 

GofI, H. K 2(i9 

Goff, J. W 223 

Going, G. G 130 

Golder, James 417 



Page. 

Good, Ira 59 

Goreham, Henry I(i6 

Graham, A. R 447 

Graham, George 415 

Graunke. Louis 43 

Graves, Judson 159 

Gregg, W. J 222 

Gregory, Prof. G. A 408 

Grimes, T. C 577 

Groehowske, Michael 318 

Guenther, Charles SO 

Guenther, Fred 322 

Gutt, Casper 222 

Gwynn, Samuel 10" 

Haase, Fred 409 

Hager, Eli 276 

Hagerty, Patrick 408 

Hahn, C. J 430^ 

Haje, J. F 109''^ 

-Hake, H. H 557 

Hale, F. J 90 

Hall, Jane 191 

Halverson, Sarah J 58 

Hamilton, W H 110 

Hamlin, Prof T. R 37 

Hammang, J. P 521 

Hammon, Seymour 334 

Handke, Christoph 304 — " 

Hansen, Nels 108 

_Hansen, Ole 65 

Hansen, Rasmus 216 

Hanson, W. C 221 

Hardy, Dr J. M 441 

Harms, A. H 460 

Harris, W. H 337 

Hart, Peter 220-^ 

Harvie, Andrew Sr 217 

Harvie, James 461 

Hasch, John ... .460^ — 

Haslam, Dr. G. J 132 

Hasson, A. R 218 

Hatcher, W. L ... 461 

Hatfield, Capt. J D ;i33 

Hatton, Willits . . 227 

Haun. John 21S- 

Haven, R. M 458 

Haverland, G. P 532 

Hawley, W. H 239 

Hayes, Thomas. . . .484 

Healy, F. M 272 

Heaton, Rev. I E .'{79 

Hecht, J. F 553 

Hecker, W. C 370 

lleimbaugh, HE 217 

Heimrich, John 430 



VI 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Heine, J. F 221 

-«eller, Emiel 24S 

Helmerick, Frederick 131 

Henkel, G. A 501 

-'Herman, G. E 217 

Herman, Michael Jr 270 

Heyne. G. H 4oS( 

Heywood, T. H 21!) 

Hickey, John 330 

Hickok, G. A 4j!l 

High, Charles 73 

Hilbers, John 332 

Hindmarsh, Adam 97 

Hogrefe, Herman 33() 

Herre, F. J 151 

Holbrook, AD 528 

Hoist, John 456 

Hooker, E. W 334 

Hooker, Odom... 50S 

Hooper, Richard 107 

Hoops, P. C 457 

Hopkins, W. L. . . 50!) 

Horton, D. C 530 

_ Hostich, Henry 335 

/^House, J. R 593 

Houston, E. H 567 

Howard, A. J lU!) 

Howe, E. J ...220 

Hughes, M. J. Sr 150 

Hughes, M. J. Jr 151 

Hull, A. C 125 

Hume, R. S 40 

Hunt, A, B 457 

Hunker, Joseph 425 

Hunter, L E 5!) 

Hunter, Dr. M. H 426 

Hyatt, C. W 236 

Isaacson, A. R 394 

Jackson, A. M 339 

Jahnke, John 400 

Janecek, F. D 21.r 

Jarrett, W. H. H 400 

Johnson, Albert 279 

Johnson, Andrew Jr 338 

Johnson, Charley 97 

Johnson, Christopher 74 

Johnson, Edward 340 

Johnson, L. P 338 

Johnson, Mary 70 

Johnson, Michael . . 456 

Johnson, Ola 321 

Johnson, Rasmus 274 

Jones, C. P 215 

Jones. J. W 581 

Jorgensen, Hans 86 



Page. 

Kalal, Joseph 568 

Kane, T. O ,342 

Karls, W. H 103 

Kearney, A. A 113 

Keene, L. M 00 

Keeton, T F ^ 454 

Kelly, Michael 484 

Kenworthy, Elisha 498 

Kenower, G. F , 429 

Kerkow, J H 340 

Kierstead, Lieut. J H .5.58 

Killeen, Thomas Ill 

King, George 342 

King, J. J ,387 

Kingsley, John 508 

Kingston, Thomas 20 

King, W. A 135 

Kirk, T. C 150 

Klingbeil, G. L. E 48 

Klingbeil, Herman 341 

Kloke, Henry 481 

Kloke, Hon. K. F 33] 

Knievel, William 214 

Knoell, Christopher 273 

Knoell, George 214 

Knoell, Thomas 277 

Koch, Herman 400 

Koplin, August 102 

Krause, F. E 158 

Krause, W. E 428 

Kraus, Joseph 34 

Kreader, J . M 454 

Kroger, Christian 343 

Krueger, Franz 58 

Krutz, Mrs. Henrietta .33 

Kryger, Thomas 554 

Kuen, F. F 455 

Kuhn, Mrs. Amelia 508 

Laase, H. W 321 

Ladd, H. H 212 

Ladehoff, Frederick .452 

Laflferty, J. W 427 

Lambrecht, August 343 

Lambrecht, Henry ...... .493 

Lambert, W. B 07 

Lammle, J.J 212 

Langer, A J 387 

Larson, Jorgen 453 

Larson, Lewis 453 

Larson, Hon. L. P 286 

Lawrence, J N 579 

Layton, I. R 498 

Lee, H. J 4:t4 

Lee, W. E 284 

Lehman, H. A 187 



/ Page- 

Lghman, L. C 3u6 

^isy, Rudolph 211 

Licey, John 68 

Lindsay, J. T. Jr 533 

Logan, A. A ,548 

Loney, William 213 

Longacre, John % 

Long, Mark N 87 

Loomis. G. L 210 

Losey, G. W 304 

Lowry, J. J 130 

Lubeley, August 574 

Lucas, J. A 4,8;i- 

Ludwig, H. W 497 

Luhens, Henry 87 

Luis, Conrad 303 

Lundgren, C. P 100 

Lundgren, J. M 149 

Lutthans, Martin Ill 

Lyman, T. W. 130 

Lytle, S. B .539 



McCa£ferty, J. J 344 

McDonald, J. D .451 

McDonald, Dr. R. C .. . . 301 

McFarl.ind, J. J 49 

McFarland, W. T 420 

McGahey, Albert 112 

McGee, G. H 551 

McGuire, R. P 88 

cKeage, John 170 

McKeegan, James 482 

McKeegan, Terry 482 

McKinsey, John .^07 

McLauglin, Milton 346 

McLaughlin, Patrick 265 

McMillen, John 204 

McNish, C. C 435 

McVicker, Robert 450 

Mackay, Dr. J. H 40!) 

Mackey, J. W 500 

Mack, Fred 4!)9 

Mack, Hon Tobias 21 

Madsen, Andrew 140 

Markman, C. J 20<l 

Marr, C. D 138 

Marshall, Allen 200 

Marshall, Judge William 103 

Martens, Hans C 32 

Martin, E 577 

Martin, Dr. E. W il5 

Maskenlhine, H. T 49 

Mast, W. H 543 

Matheson, Donald ;{()5 

Matheson, J. A 441 

Matheson, Hon. J. G 500 



'^^. 



INDEX. 



VII 



Page. Page. 

Mathews, W. D 556 Ogilvie, C. R 401 

Maybury, John 509 Oquist, Olof 481 

Maynard, Demetrius 20G j Ostergard. Thomas 516 



Mead, W. H V2i 

Meecher, F. W 205 

Mewis. L A 114 

Meyer, Fred SS'fOwen, O. V 

Meyer, Gerhard 544 

Middaugh, J. C 450 

M ilander, Hans H45 

Milligan, ], P 57 

Miller, Jacob .•:20 

Miller, Levi 47 

Miller, M. P. Jr 365 

Miller, Robert 381 

Million, E. C 569 

Miltonberger, George 206 

Mittelstadt, Henry 47 

Moderow. A. G 148 

Mohr, J. J 75 

Mohr, Nicholas 76 

MoUe. Frederick 383 

Monnich, Bernard .... 162 

Monnich, Herman 75 

Monnich, John 345 

Montgomery, G. W 148 

Montgomery, J. H 148 

Moodie, P. M 124 

Moorhead, Francis 411 

Morse, E. N 298 

Mortenson, James ,300 

Mosher, E. W 500 

Mullin, G. G 146 

Murphy, Jesse 412 

Myers, J. F. 593 



Nason, Jesse H 138 

Nasi, Gustaf 50 

Neiman, Albert 203 

Neligh, David 350 

Neligh, Jeremiah 122 

Neligh, Hon. J. D 385 

Nelson, Frans 584 

Nelson, G. A 21)3 

Nelson, James C 76 

Nelson, N: M 534 

Nelson, Hon. N. P 289 

Nelson. PA 449 

Neuman, Chribliau 

Neuman. H, R 50 

Newhall, J. F 559 

Nielsen, Mads 319 

Nielsen, Jens 351 

Nixon, A. L ,")0() 

Nye, Ray 350 

Nye, Theron 294 



Osterloh, John .202 

O'Sullivan, Hon. P. F 384 

Owen, E. C 51 

^ 122 



I'anning, Fred 448 

Parker, G. 1 575 

Parker, Peter 77 

Patterson, W. J 202 

Paul, James 513 

Pavlik, Albert 572 

Peller, A 154 

Percy, E. D 94 

Person, Dr. Edwin 352 

Peters, Alexander 305 

Peters, J. H 271 

Peters, J. R 166 

Peters, John 505 

Peters, S W 437 

Peterson, Lars 238 

Peterson, Hon. .\ M 349 

Peyton, R. M 542 

Pfeifler, C. F 263 

Phillips, William 201 

Piere, Wilhelm 201 

Pilger, Adam 305 

Pilgrim, Frederick 353 

Pingrey, J. H 580 

Plumleigh, Charles ,584 

Pollock, Montgomery 95 

Poessnecker, Julius 425 

Primmer, Judge J. W. . . .• 537 

Pryer, R. M 542 

Puflfer, Joseph 352 

Puis, Frank 27- 



Quigley, Andrew 77 

Quinn, Rev. J. C 200 

Quivey, W. W 570 

Ralph, Nicholas 354 

Rannie, Edward 78 

Rapp. G. W 526 

Rastede, Gerhard 78 

Rathmann, Christian 544 

Rayburn, L 1" 578 

241'fReavis, W. F 112 

Rebhausen, Joseph 314 

Releke, Wilhelm 478 

Renkin, E. W 78 

Rennick, James 200 

Rewey, J. L 161 

Rich, A. V 194 

Rich, T. D 89 



Parje. 

Richards, L. D 43 

Richardson, F. W 176 

Rief, Casper 88 

Riley, Hugh 394 

Ringer, William 398 

Risse, Anton 374 

Roberts, Hon. B. F 555 

Robertson, J. E 402 

Robinson, Daniel Jr 535 

Robinson, J. B 197 

Robinson, Hon. J, F 20 

Robinson, Lieut. J. S 139 

Robinson, William 198 

Rogers, E. H 196 

Rohr, E. L 448 

Roll, D. G ,573 

Romberg, Arnold 319 

Rose, Ed 595- 

Rose, Henry 314 

Rosenfield, J. F. L V.M 

Rosenthall, Ludwig 198 

Ross, John liig 

Roubinek, Joseph I'iL- 

Rogers, Alexander 198 

Rogers, I.. H Iil7 

Rubin, August 303 

Ruesing, Rev. Joseph 354 

Ruff, Mathias 145 

Rupp, Christian 122 

Russell, S. B 680 

Ryan, William 504 

Sampson, John 25 

Saspaier, Peter 34 

Sass, C. M 85 

Sass, C. W 309 

Sauers, Joseph 1S4 

Schademann, J J 374 

Schaeffer, C. R 140 

Schaefer, Jacob 492 

Scharfen, Frank 27 

Schavland, Christopher 538 

Schneider, Conrad 20!>" 

Schneider, R B 293"^ 

Schnetzky, Louis , 181 — 

Schorn, John 308 

Schroeder, August 1S4 

Schroeder, Chas 448 

Schueth, Charles Sr 383 

Schultz, W. E 478 

Schulz, F. A 194 

Schultze, Carl 118 

Schultze, Emil 117 

Schulzkump, Herman Jr 398 

Schumucker, Anton 113 

Schwab, Jacob 144^ 



VIII 



INDEX. 



Page. 

Schwarting, John 477 

Schwedhelm, Francis 188 

Scott, F C 310 

Scripture, HE '>2 

Seely. C. T 244 

Selden, Hon. Perry 545 

Seymour, G. N 573 

Sexton, Dr. T. C 291 

Sharp, C. F 192 

Sharp, Henry C ()4 

Shearer. ]. W 120 

Sheldon, Charles W 80 

Shervin, Hon. ]. E 302 

Shiveley, J. M 193 

Shriver, I. T 442 

Siecke, C. L 309 

Sievers, C. C 455 

Sill, Hon. ]. A 380 

Simonson, H J 182 

Sloan, T. L 594 

Slocum, I. G 140 

Sloss, James 119 

Smails, W. E 187 

Smith, C. A 141 

Smith, J H 554 

Smith, J. M .. 280 

Smith, Joseph 52 

Smith, Dr. L. B 120 

Smith, R. C 468 

Smithberger, Louis 19 

Snider, C. H 355 

Snyder, Joseph 316 

Soden, J H 357 

Sommer, J. N 359 

Sonnenschein, Fred 279 

Sonnenschein, Gustave 23 

Sorrensen, Andreas 266 

Sorrick, J. C 186 

Spence, Andrew ]v 504 

Spenner, Conrad 188 

Spillner, W. H 183 

^Sporn, T. F 33 

Springer, William 94 

V Stark, John 186 

Steadman, F. M 182 

Steinkraus, Albert 551 

Stenvers, John 358 

Stephens, D V 185 

Stevens, J. L 547 

Stevenson, J. W 402 

Stewart, J. S 546 

Stockwell, H. M 520 

Stoltenberg, Adam 17(1 

Stollenberg, J. P 79 

Stout, T. K 261 

Straney, S. M 9.'! 



Stroup, J. D 

Stuefer, William 

Stuht, Fred 

Suing, Bernard 

Suhr, Herman 

Sullivan, Peter 

Swan, B F 

Swartz, John 

Sweet, W. A 

Sweet, W. H. Jr 

Sweigard, G W 

Tarbell, E. M 

Tawney, R. A 

Teebken, J G. H 

Thatch, Hon. S. H 

Theisen, Henry 

Thew, R.I 

Thiele, Julius 

Thomas, E. M 

Thomas j. W 

Thompson, O. R 

Thomsen, Hon. John . . 

Thornton, Fred 

Throner, Stephen 

Thrush, Charles, Sr. . . , 

Tillman, F. A 

Tillman, F. M 

Tomek, V. B 

Torrey, G. L 

Trommershauser, J. A . 

Trucks, Michael 

Tunburg, A. E 

Turner, Hason 

Tym, John 

Uehling, Oswald 

Uehling, Theodore. . . . 

Uhing, J. H 

Underburg. E. C. 
Usher.E. C 



rage, 
.167 
.313 
.477 
.585 

357 
. 79 

598 

ixr, 

356 
.192 
.442 

. 85 
.523 
.375 
360 
.477 
.178 
.375 
.147 
.154 
.359 
. 23 
626 
476 
. 92 
.424 
.424 



.180 
.515 

;i60 

.443 
.550 
.16 

299 
.157 
.299 
.118 
.444 

.618 



Vail, H. F 

Vail, Hiram 252 

Vail, Isaac 361 

Vail, S. H 362 

Van Camp, Charles 574 

Vanzandt, M.N .52') 

Vaughan, F. W 14: 

Verges, Ferdinand 164 

Vog.^l, Joseph 50i 

Vroman, C. B 362 

Wagner, George Jr lO.'i 

Wagner, J. B 158 

Wainscott, W. L 372 

Wallace, J R 439 

Wallace, Oscar .... 5.'!(> 

Wallingford, W. C 266 

Walter, August 475 



43fr'Wol 






Page. 

Ward, William 180 

Warner, L. A 173 

Warrick, S. K ;i66 

Watson, C. K 179 

Wattles, W. T :t64 

Weber, Dr. G. C 144 

Weekes, W. H 154 

Weigle, George 65 

Weiser, James 592 

Wellman, Lieut. L. D 527 

Welsh, Rev. Thomas 435 

Wendt, Julius 364 

Wenke, J. H 371 

Wert/, J. W ,553 

Westphalen, W. F 436 

Wheeler, D. N 596 

Wheeler, William 440 

White, CM 578 

White. F. E 529 

Wickert. Frederick Sr 372 

Wilde, C H 179 

Wilkins, George 423 

Wilkinson, Dr. G. W .537 

Willey, Henry 372 

Williams, C C 308 

Williams. Elmer 405 

Wilson, J. A 363 

Wilson, Peter 475 

Windhusen. T. H 371 

Wiseman, Henson 589 

Woeppel, Carl 438 

Wolcott, G. W 38 

Wolcott, H. G 143 

Wolsleger, Herman i 410 

z, G. F 404 

Young, George 281 

Young, J. R 405 

Zander, Frederick 502 

Zarmsdorf , Fred 85 

Zellers, Dr. M. T ^. . 119 

Zimmerman, P. F 66 

Zorn. J T 373 

Zuhlke, A. F 373 



4 p 
12- JO 



PART SECOND. 

Adams, John 14 

Adams, John Q 38 

Arthur, Chester A 113 

Buchanan, James 80 

Cleveland, S. Grover 117 

Fillmore, Millard 72 

Garfield, James A 109 

Grant, Ulysses S 96 

Harrison, Benjamin 120 

Harrison, William H 56 

Hayes, Rutherford B 102 

Jackson, Andrew 47 

flerson, Thomas 20 

ohnson, Andrew 93 

Lincoln, Abraham 84 

Madison. James 26 

Monroe, James 32 

Pierce, Franklin 7t) 

Polk, James K 64 

Taylor. Zachary 68 

Tyler. John '..... 60 

Van Huren, Martin 62 

Washington, George 9 





M^^ 






'H-^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 




GEORGE A. BROOKS, a merchant and 
_ f banker, also proprietor of the mills at 
Bazile Mills, Nebraska, was born at 
Potter's Hill, Rhode Island, August 2, 1851. 
He is the son of George H. and Caroline 
(Lucus) Brooks, whose sketch appears else- 
where in this work. George A. received his 
early education in the district schools, and in 
1870 having- heard much of the West, and th ■ 
advantages afforded for young men to start in 
lite for themselves, and he having a brotlier 
in Knox Count}', Nebraska, came to Bazile 
Mills and took an interest in building up the 
mill and the business of the place. In June, 
1S90, the Bazile Bank was incorporated, also 
the Bazile Milling Company, with George A 
Brooks as president, and S. M. Saunders 
superintendent. In 1888 the Case Roller 
System was put into these mills, where a first 
class article of Hour is manufactured. The 
store they established in 1878 is an honor to 
the place. In connection with his other busi- 
ness, Mr. Brooks started a creamery, which 
is doing a good business. 

In politics, he of whom we write, has taken 
an active interest, and is a stanch supporter 
of the Republican party, having cast his first 
vote for U. S. Grant. In 1884 he was a del- 
egate at large for the State of Nebraska. He 
was postmaster under Gen. Grant's admini- 
stration, at Bazile Mills, and upon the elec- 
tion of Grover Cleveland he resigned, not 
wishing to hold any place under him. 

He is an honored member of the Masonic 
Order, and belongs to the Knight Templers 
degree; also a member of Tangier Temple, 
Omaha. 






He was united in marriage at Norwich, 
Connecticut, March 9, 1874, to Miss Ger- 
trude Congdon, the daughter of Gilbert L. 
Congdon. 

REV. JACOB ADRIANCE, whose farm 
home is on Section 20, of Maple town- 
ship, ranks among the pioneers of 
Dodge County, as he came West in the 
spring of 1857 and first located at Dcsota, 
and in the spring of 1858 came to Fremont, 
which had only been platted a year, and took 
charge of the I'latte Valley Circuit of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, having twelve 
appointments, which required him to travel 
three hundred miles to complete the circuit, 
if he came home each week, whicli he fre- 
quently did. He made this journey once in 
four weeks on horse-back, often traveling in 
fog and snow, with no track broken to guide 
him. Many times snow would be fifteen 
inches deep and then again two feet, while 
the mercury registered twenty-five degrees 
below zero. At that time the villages only 
appeared in name. West Point had onl}- one 
house. 

He remained on this charge one year and 
was then sent to Pike's Peak, where gold 
had just been discovered. He went by team, 
the journey consuming twenty-eight days. 
He was the first resident minister within the 
territor}'. He organized the First Methodist 
Church in Denver, Colorado. At that date 
there was no form of government there, so 
the people organized a Provincial form of 
their own. Our subject was made Chaplain 
of the Lower House. He remained at Den- 
ver from June, 1859, until February, i86o. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



when he attended Conference at Leaven- 
worth City, Kansas, traveling mostly by 
stage coach and boat. Me was there ap- 
pointed to the charge at Golden City, Colo- 
rado, where he remained one year. In 1861 
he was on the Central City Charge. He then 
spent eighteen months in New York, in 
Niagara County, after which he returned to 
Nebraska and ofUciated sixteen months at 
Decatur, the two years following at Fremont; 
Ft. Calhoun, Washington County, three 
j-ears ; at Fontanelle three years, and at 
North Bend eighteen months. 

He was then changed to the Wahoo charge 
for two years; sent back to North Bend, 
where lie remained one year, and the two 
years following he spent in the work of his 
Master in Douglas and Sarpy Counties. His 
health and hearing failing him, he was placed 
on the superannuated list, remained at Fre- 
mont one }ear and then removed to a farm 
that he had located in 1862, with a land 
warrant given him by his father. He moved 
to his farm in 1879, but liad made some 
improvements thereon prior to that date. 
The improvements of the place now show 
him to be a man of thrift, good taste and 
order ; and the magnificent grove containing 
live acres, which he planted out, and the 
beautiful orchard of one hundred fruit trees, 
all stand as living, growing monuments to 
this good man's name. He now has 320 
acres of land, 280 acres of which are inclosed 
and ninety acres under the plow. lie has 
been postmaster at the country olllce known 
as Jamestown for twelve years. 

To give the reader a further understanding 
of this man's life it should be stated that he 
was born in Cayuga County, New York, 
October 22, 1836, the son of Thomas and 
Margaret Adriance, who were also natives of 
the Empire State, whose children were 
William H., Jacob, Mary E. (deceased), 
John and Edgar. Our subject remained in 



New York until he was 22 years of age, and 
then came to Nebraska. The advantages he 
had for obtaining an education were fair. 
After leaving the common schools he spent 
one year in Wilson Collegiate Insti'ute, in 
Niagara County, New York. 

April, i860, was an eventful month for our 
subject, for it was during that month that he 
was united in the holy bonds of matrimon}' 
to Fannie A. Rogers, the daughter of Rev. 
Lucius C. and Fannie Rogers, natives of 
New York, whose five children were Rufus 
L. (deceased), Eliphus H. (deceased). 
Lucius Henry, Joiin E. and Fannie A. 

Mr. and Mrs. Adriance have been blessed 
by the birth of four children — Lillie E., 
Myrtie E. (deceased), Emory R. and P^ffie L. 

Both our subject and his estimable lad}- 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and in his political choice he is 
a believer in and a supporter of the Repub- 
lican party. 

It was our subject's ill-lortunc to live in 
this country during the long-to-be-ri'memlu-red 
seasons when the grasshopper was verily- a 
burden to man. He received so little reward 
for his work that he went without many of 
the necessities of life and did not have 
enough clothing to keep him warm during 
the wintry blasts. He now attributes his 
declining health and loss of iiearing to that 
unavoidable but imdue exposure duiing this 
period. The pork was so lean that butter was 
used in which to fry it. 

Emory R., his son, is a minister of tlie 
gospel ar.cording to the faitli of tiie Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, and is now preach- 
ing at Plain V^iew, Nebraska. 

The fifty-si.\ years vvhicli have thus far 
marked the career of our subject, have been 
more than ordinarih- eventful ; and the good 
results of this life of pioneer preaching can 
only be measured bj' the circling years of 
eternity ; but there are legions of men and 



NORTf/EASTEJiN NEBRASKA. 



women living in the various slates of this 
oreat country, who own much to this man 
who, in the j'ears that have passed, taught 
them the way of Hfe. To have been a pioneer 
Methodist minister prior to the days of raii- 
rdads, west of the Missouri River, indicated 
anything but "flowery beds of ease," but, on 
the contrary, one of constant struggle witii 
the elements, both morally and ph3'sicali3'. 
^Po organize a class or a Sunday-school 
twenty-five years ago, meant perseverance, 
and the true spirit of self-sacrifice. Long 
after he of whom we write, even when these 
pages have become yellow and dimmed with 
age, the seeds of good, sown by this minister 
who gave his time, the own comfort and at 
last liis health, shall blossom, and be seen in 
the Christian graces of generations yet un- 
born. Where he laid down the armor, his 
son took it tp, and thus "the workmen fall, 
but llie work goes on." 

LOUIS SMITHBERGER, present Coun- 
ty Clerk of Stanon Countjs and an 
ex-Clerk of the District Court of the 
same Count}', was born in Clinton County, 
Iowa, August 20, 1859, ^^ ®°" °^ Werner 
Sinithberger, who was born in Wurtenberg, 
(jermany, April 23, 1823, and there grew to 
manhood, receiving a liberal education and 
learning the cabinet makers' trade, as an 
apprentice. In 1853, he emigrated to 
America, and embarked in the cabinet busi- 
ness at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was married at 
that place, to Miss Josephine Rottlcr, the 
(laughter of Zaphir and Geneva Rottler. He 
remained in Cincinnati one year and six 
months and then moved to Guttenburg, Iowa, 
iuul died there seven years later, March 4, 
1861. By this marriage union, four children 
well' born — Amelia, wife of John H. Darling, 
(1 Oregon City, Oregon ; August and Louisa, 
twins, who died in infancy; Louis, the 
subject of this notice. 



After the death of lier husband, Mrs. 
Smithberger, the mother of our subject, mar- 
ried Tobias Mack, now a resident of Stanton 
County, Nebraska. Louis remained with 
his mother, who moved to Iowa City, Iowa, 
where he attended school, and took a partial 
course in the Commercial College, at that 
city. In 1869, he went to Omaha, where he 
remained one year, and then went to Stanton, 
Nebraska, where he assisted in developing 
the prairie farm in warm weather, and went 
to school winters. He left the farm and en- 
gaged as a clerk in a general store at Stanton, 
and afterwards formed a partnership with W. 
A. Kearnej', the firm being Kearney and 
Smithberger. Subsequently he engaged in 
the bu3'ing and selling of stock which he fol- 
lowed for two years. In 1887, he was elected 
as County Clerk, serving one term, and was 
the nominee ior re-election, only being de- 
feated by six votels. In the fall of 1891, he 
was more successful, for the records show he 
was elected by a majority of three hundred 
and thirty votes. 

Po'itically, he is a strong advocate of 
Republican principles, and is one of the 
active forces in his party in eastern Nebraska. 
He is very popular in Stanton County, regard- 
less of party lines, and makes an eilicient, 
painstaking and obliging county ollicial, his 
position being one of the most important 
within the county, as he is clerk of the Board 
of County Commifsioners, as well as register 
of deeds, and ex-oflicio clerk of the District 
Courty. 

Mr. Smithberger was united in marriage at 
Stanton, Nebraska, February 14, 1S8S, to 
Miss Minnie Zahn, daughter of Hugo and 
Lizette Zahn, who settled upon a farm in 
Stanton County, and subsequent!}- moved to 
tlie village, where he clerked in a store and 
was appointed deputy clerk and deputy 
county trea.surer. Mrs. Zahn died December 
24, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Zahn were the 
parents of six chihlren, live of whom are 



20 



NORTHEASTERN hi-.HKASKA. 



living — Earnest, Minnie, wife of the subject 
of this sketch ; Bertha, Fannie and Lydia. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smithbcrger are the parents 
of three ciiildren; two died in infancy, and 
the other, Wallace, was born April lo, 1892. 



HON. JOHN F. ROBINSON, who Hves 
on Section 6, of Humbug precinct, 
came to Stanton Count}- in the spring 
of 1S79 and bought the farm he now occupies. 
It was an eight3-acre tract of wild land. He 
rented a farm near by his land at first, but 
after four years lived upon his own. He 
built a small frame house, in which he lived 
seven years, and then built his present resi- 
dence, which is thirty feet square, [two stories 
high and a basement. It is built of brick and 
has a mansard roof. He also has a good 
barn, granary, double crib and numerous 
other out-buildings. His farm is graced bj- 
an artificial grove of three acres and an 
orchard of seventy-five trees. As he has 
prospered, from time to time he has added to 
his land, until he now has 240 acres, all 
under cultivation but ten acres. 

Mr. Robinson was born in Indiana, March 
12, 1850, the son of John H. and Christena 
Robinson, natives of Ohio, whose four chil- 
dren were John, Racna, George and Willislm. 

He of whom we write this notice remained 
in the "Hoosier" State until 4 jears of age, 
when his parents removed to Polk County, 
Iowa, and he remained at home until he came 
to Nebraska. His education was of tlie com- 
•mon school order. His mother is deceased, 
but the father still lives in Polk County, Iowa. 

November, 1878, marked a new era in this 
man's life, for it was at that time when he 
married Jennie, daughter of Philiji and Jane 
.Sullivan, who were the parents of ten chil- 
dren. Thej' were natives of Pennsylvania. 

Politicall}' our subject votes the Indepen- 
dent ticket, and was a member of the Legis- 
lature in 1885. 



JOHN BATIE, of Section i, township 22, 
range i, residing in Union Creek pre- 
cinct, Stanton Count}', was born in 
Washington County, New York, August 19, 
1814, and lived in his native county until 
four years of age, when his parents moved to 
Cayuga County, of the same State, where 
our subject remained until he was twenly-one 
years of age, then came West as far as 
Illinois, stopping in Chicago in 1835, when it 
was simply a fort and a boat landing. The 
best house in the place, at that time, was 
owned by a half-breed Indian ; the same was 
a brick building, the only one of the place. 
The United States soldiers were stationed 
there near the lake shore. The emigrant 
company, with which our subject wrts travel- 
ing, went to Peoria, Illinois, and he settled in 
Peoria County. 

He was married in Januar\', 1841, and 
four years later bought a farm of one hundred 
and sixty acres in DeKalb County, Illinois, 
upon which he lived for nine years. He sold 
the place, started for Kansas, but changed 
his course and bouglit a quarter section of 
land in Lucas County, Iowa, remained two 
years, sold out and joined the Quincy colon- 
ization company and came to Nebraska. 
This was in 1855, and he stopped at Fonla- 
nelle. Dodge County, where he remained 
until 1883. In 1857 he built a hotel tliere 
which he operated for two years, and tiien 
sold for three thousand dollars. He also 
owned a quarter section of land where the 
town now stands, which he sold to the Town 
Company, he being president of the same. 
He then left Fontanelle, and bought land near 
Fremont anil remained until 1864, and nio\ed 
into the Elkhorn Valley, near where the 
village of Hooper now stands. In 1883 he 
laft that locality and moved to Wayne County, 
where he lived two years. He rented a farm 
west of Wayne, called the Weslcrbrook farm. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



paying cash rent for the same. There he 
remained five years engaged in the stock 
Inisiness. 

Mr. and Mrs. Frances (Young) Batie are 
the parents of seven children living, and one 
deceased — Matilda (deceased): Carrie, Lib- 
hie, Ellen, Frances, Mary, John and William. 

In 1855, when our subject came to Fonta- 
nelle, t\vo citizens of the place were out 
breaking prairie and were attacked by the 
Indians and murdered. The citizens rallied 
and followed the savages, but to no avail. 
The Governor issued a proclamation for the 
soldiers to go and defend the settlement, and 
two companies remained until autumn. In 
May, 1855, four hundred and fifty Sioux 
Indians came down the Elkhorn Valley to 
Fontanelle, but a white messenger made a 
circuitous route and warned the settlers of 
tiieir coming. The Indians passed on down 
to a point where the Elkhorn and Platte 
rivers from a junction, and there had a terri- 
ble battle with the Pawnee Indians, with a 
;^reat loss of life to both tribes. 

The first winter Mr. Batie was in Nebraska 
there came a fearful snow-storm, lasting 
three days and three nights. Many of the 
settlers were illy prepared for such weather 
and a number were compelled to leave their 
homes. After the storm subsided the snow 
was four feet deep on the level. Omaha was 
the market for provisions and it took four 
days to make a trip there by o.x team. In 
1S56 three teams started from Fontanelle to 
Omaha, our subject having one of them. 
They were cauglit out the first day in a storm 
about twenty miles from Fontanelle. The 
thermometer registered twenty degrees below 
zero, and so fierce was the storm tliat they 
were compelled to stop, and our subject 
walked all night in the blinding storm to 
keep from freezing to death. 

During the Civil War he hauled freight for 
the Government along the Platte River, as 



far west as Fort Kearney. All in all, Mr. 
Batie has had an eventful life, and has, 
perhaps, seen as much real pioneer hardship 
as any man in the Elkhorn Valley. 



HON. TOBIAS MACK, one of Uie 
representative German farmers of 
Stanton County, ranks among the 
pioneers of Butterfly precinct. His farm is 
on Section 8, township 22, range 2. He was 
born in Germany, January, 1839, and came 
to America in 1867. He landed at New 
York, and from there went to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he worked in a brewery seven 
months, and then came to Omaha, Nebraska, 
and worked in a brewery two years. In 187 1 
he took a homestead in Butterfly precinct. 
He provided himself with a dug-out, whicli 
served until he could build a frame house. 
His family remained in Omaha until his house 
was completed. His place is supplied wiih a 
good class of buildings, including house, 
barns, machine sheds, granary, etc. He al o 
has a good orchard, and five hundred grape 
vines. His landed possessions comprise 
twelve hundred and fifty acres, four hundred 
of which are enclosed with a wire tence. 
Six hundred acres are under cultivation and 
the remainder in hay and pasture land. 

Of his domestic relation let it be said, he 
was united in marriage in 1871, to Josejihine 
Roltlcr. Our subject's parents, who lived 
and died in Germany, had four children — 
Gottfried, in Cincinnati, Ohio; Anna, now a 
resident of Cheyenne, Whoming ; Catharine, 
in Germany, and our subject, Tobias. Mrs. 
Mack's parents also lived and died in Ger- 
many. They iiad six ciiildren, she being the 
eldest. 

Politically, Mr. Mack votes the Demo- 
cratic ticket, and in religious matters the 
family belong to the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church. He was one of the first commis- 
sioners of Stanton County, and was al.-^o 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



elected two terms as county treasurer, one 
term as county clerk, and served one term as 
a member of the Legislature. 

When he llrst came to the county, all was 
very new and wild and he saw many hard- 
ships, including the loss of his crops by 
grasshoppers, and hail. He hauled his first 
wheat to Fremont, and the streams being 
unbridged, he was compelled to carr}' tlie 
sacks of wheat across the streams on his 
back. He relates that in those early days the 
storms were much more severe, and the rain- 
fall less, than at the present time. 

He has made a financial success of farming 
and stock raising, and is now carrying a 
stock of thirty-tliree horses, one hundred and 
si.xty head of cattle and two hundred and 
fifty head of hogs. 

But few men in the Elkhorn Valley are 
more prosperous and stand higher for good 
citizenship and manly ways, than he of whom 
we write this notice. 



ALONZO W. FORBES, treasurer of 
the city of Fremont, has been identi- 
lied with the interests of that city 
since 1875, and hence very naturally finds a 
place in this connection. 

lie was born in Jefferson County, New 
'S'ork, Ajiril 22, 1840, and is the son of 
Darwin and Amy (Vaughn) Forbes. The 
maternal side were of German e.xtraction. 
When fourteen years of age, our subject ac- 
companied his parents to Illinois, where he 
spent seven years engaged in farming. When 
the Civil War clouds were beginning to 
darken the political sky, and traitorous hands 
sought to trail the llag of our country, and 
mar its loyal beauty, with tlie dust of secess- 
ion, our subject, like thousands of other 
young men from the "Prairie State," in 
whose bosoms throbbed the heart of loyalty, 
enlisted in the cause of his country. His 
enlistment dated September 10, 1861, when 



he became a member of Company "B," 
Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, 
as the sequel will show, his was a long and 
fierce conflict, he being mustered out of 
service January 20, 1866. Duty called him 
to participate in the following engagements: 
Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, 
siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Mississippi, 
Spanish Fort, Fort Blakeley, siege of Mobile, 
and many skirmishes of less note. After his 
service he returned to Illinois and laid aside 
his suit of loyal blue, which had marked him 
as a Union soldier for four years and tnree 
months, and engaged in the peaceful occu- 
pation of agriculture, which he followed until 
1875, '^"'^ then removed to Fremont, Ne- 
braska. One year later he removed to 
Hooper, near which place he opened up a 
farm of eighty acres, and there made it his 
home for three years. We next find him 
engaged in the hotel business at Hooper. 
This he followed one year and then returned 
to Fremont, where he operated a bakery and 
restaurant for one year. He then engaged 
in the lumber business as a clerk for a short 
time, after which he entered the coimt)' 
clerk's oflice where he was an assistant for 
two years. He was elected city clerk of 
Fremont, serving four years, and then 
elected to his present ollice, that of city 
treasurer. 

Mr. Forbes is a member of McPherson 
Post No. 4, of the Grand Army of tl c 
Republic ; Triumph Lodge No. 32 ; Knights 
of Pythias, and was one of the charier 
members of Company "E," First Regiment 
Nebraska National Guards, also a charter 
member of the National Union Lodge of 
Fremont. 

He was united in marriage during the 
month of April, 1867, 'o Mariah N. Barr, a 
native of Illinois. By this union five children 
have come to bless their home: Hattie J., 
born March 27, 1S68 ; William F., born 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



23 



October 12, 1S69; Robert O., born July 2, 
1S74; Mary, born September i, 1878, and 
John A. Logan, born April 20, 1884. One 
child, Hattie J., is deceased. 

Mr. Forbes stands high for respectability 
and good citizenship in Dodge County, being 
true and loyal to every known duty he has 
been called on to perlorni, both in public 
and married life. 



HON. JOHN THOMSEN, one of the 
business factors of Fremont, whose 
ofTice is on "F" street between Fifth 
and Sixth, is engaged in loan, real estate and 
insurance business. He represents many of 
the best insurance companies e.xtant, among 
which may be named the "Home," "Conti- 
nental," "German-American," "Connecti- 
cut," "Hartford," "Phcenix," "Insurance 
of North America," "Pennsylvania, ""Frank- 
lin of Philadelphia," "Springfield of Mas- 
sachusetts," "Imperial," "London and 
Lancashire," and the "Travelers Accident 
and Life" of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. 
Thomsen has been a resident of Fremont 
since March, 1870. He is a native of Germ- 
any, and was born in Schleswig, March 4, 
1862. He is the son of Claus C. and Marg- 
aret (Sprecher) Thomsen. His father died 
immediately after landing at Fremont, Ne- 
braska. The mother, still surviving, lives 
with our subject. The family came direct 
from Germany to Nebraska. Our subject 
was reared on a farm and educated in the 
public schools. In March, 1881, he engaged 
in his present business with L. D. Richards. 
After one year with him, he was associated 
for eighteen months with G. W. D. Reynolds, 
when he bought out his interest and has since 
conducted the business alone. In connection 
with his insurance business he has a real 
estate and load agency, holding city and farm 
property for sale. He also has shares in 
several of the stock companies of Fremont 



and ranks high among the energetic business 
men of the place. 

Politically, he is a Democrat. He has 
been secretary of the Board of Public Works, 
for the city of Fremont, since its organi- 
zation : has held the office of city assessor 
three terms, and was twice city treas- 
urer, and chairman of the Democratic Central 
Committee of Dodge County and was elected 
to the State Senate in the fall of [892. 

He is a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows; Centennial Lodge No. 59: 
Apollo Encampment No. 22; Canton Fre- 
mont No. 4; Rebecca No. 59, and is con- 
sidered one of the social leaders of Fremont. 

He was united in marriage in 1888 to Josie 
M. Otte, but was bereaved of his wife after 
three months of wedded life. He resides on 
East Military avenue and is the owner of con- 
siderable reality in the city and other points. 
He is pre-eminently a self-made man, and 
now occupies a position in the front ranks of 
the well-to-do business men of Fremont. He 
has been a member of the Fire Department 
since 1879, ''"'^ ^''^ been an enthusiastic 
worker ever since. He remained with 
"Company No. i" until 1883, when he, with 
fifteen others, resigned and organized the "J. 
C. Cleland Hose Company," of which he 
was secretary for five years. This company 
is among the best in the West, having 
carried off many honors in hose races. All 
but eight years of our subject's life has been 
spent in Nebraska, and but few of his age 
have been more successful in life than Mr. 
Thomsen. 



GUSTyWE SONNENSCHEIN, a pio- 
neer of Stanton County — the man who 
taught the first term of school in the 
county — is a resident of Section 21, town- 
ship 22, range i, of Union Creek precinct, 
and by reason of his long residence and 
pioneer associations is justly entitled to a 
personal sketch in this connection. 



24 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He came to the county in 1869, and took a 
homestead, to which he has added, from 
time to lime, until he now has four hundred 
and eighty acres. At first he buih a dug-out, 
as did most of the early settlers of Stanton 
County. In that rude abode he lived for 
three years, and then moved into a log-cabin, 
witii a shingle roof, which served as a res- 
idence until 1881, when he built a two-story 
and one-half frame house 20x36 feet, also a 
good barn 44x60 feet, a granary, shedding, 
etc. lie planted out four thousand trees, 
which have come to be a vast grove of arti- 
ficial timber. He has two hundred and 
seventy-five acres under cultivation, and one 
hundred and sixty acres enclosed by fence. 
During the years 1875, '7^' 77' ^^^^ grass- 
hoppers destroyed the most of his crops. He 
was county commissioner for three years, 
from 1S75 to 1878, and taught school in 
Cuming and Stanton Counties twelve terms. 
When he located in the precinct, his neigh- 
bors and himself struck a furrow for sixteen 
miles so as not to get lost in going to Colum- 
bus, that place and West Point being their 
nearest market places. At that time several 
tribes of Indians were camped on Union 
Creek bottoms. 

Politically, Mr. Sonnenschein supports the 
Indepenilent party. To acquire the reader 
with more of our subject's earlier life, it 
should be narrated that he was born in 
German)', February 8, 1839, •^"'^ came to 
this country in 1852. From New York 
harbor he came to Chicago, where he lived 
with his parents until 1861, at the breaking 
out of the Civil War, when he enlisted in 
Company L, Fourth Missouri Cavalr}'. He 
served three years, was in the battle of Pea 
Ridge, Gun Town, Tennessee, Memphis, 
White Station and many smaller engage- 
ments. He was mustered out at St. Louis in 
1864. The last year he was sick and in the 
hospital three monllis of llic lime. Alter he 



came out of the service he went to Chicago, 
and remained until 1868, then came to 
Omaha, stopped two or three months and 
located a homestead, as above related. 

Mr. Sonnenschein is a son of Henry and 
Wilhelmina (Paul) Sonnenschein, natives of 
Germany, who came to America with a 
family of five children. They were the 
parents of the following children : Mar}-, 
Louise, Minna, Louis, Liselte and llenriette. 
Mary (Mrs. L. Repp), Louise and llenriette 
died in Germany. Minna (Mrs. Her Sontag) 
died in New York City. Lisette married 
Hugo Zahn and died in Stanton County; her 
first child (Mrs. L. Smithberger) was the first 
child born in Union Creek precinct, the date 
being December 28, 1869. Our subject was 
married June 11, 1865,10 Anna Underburg, 
to whom has been born nine children: Emma 
Matilda, March 21, 1866, in Chicago ; Clara 
L. , February 10, 1868, in Clucago; Othilda 
L. H., April 1, 1870, in Stanton Count}', 
married D. Siders: Edward R., March 23, 
1872: Ida F., April 5, 1874; Herman Theo- 
dore, April 25, 1876; Hulda A., January i, 
1879 ' Louis C. , August 20, 1882 ; Waller G , 
November 8, 1884. 

Mrs. Sonnenschein was born in Germany, 
March 15, 1847, the daughter of Theodore 
and Charlotte (Heere) Underburg. Her 
father died in Stanton County, and is buried 
on the farm among the trees set by his own 
hands. The mother lives with Mrs. Sonnen- 
schein. They reared a family of seven 
children: Anna, Charley, Mary, August, 
Otto, Charlotte (deceased in infancy), and 
Emil. 



AGGE AXEN, of Union Creek precincl, 
Stanton County, whose farm home is 
on Section 22, township 22, has been 
a resident of that place since 1878, but has 
been in the county since 1S71. He look .1 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



25 



homestead three miles south of Stanton, upon 
which lie lived for seven years, then sold and 
bought his present place. He has a good 
story and one-half house, out-liuildings and 
an excellent orchard. He now has three 
hundred and fifty acres under cultivation. 
Besides his own residence, the place is pro- 
vided with a small tenant house, in which his 
son-in-law now lives. 

Mr. Axen was born in St. Peter, Schlcs- 
wig, German\s in the month of Ma}% 1840, 
and came to America in 1862. He is the son 
of Nickels and Catharine (Fetterson) Axen, 
who never left their native country. Their 
four children were Agge, Peter, Lena and 
Sophia. 

Mr. Axen was married in 1862, to Cath- 
arine Andreae, and bj' this marriage six 
children have been born: Bertha (Mrs. O. 
Reichow) ; Rosa (Mrs. Lewis Mcwis); 
Emma (Mrs. D. Boe) ; Ida, Sophia and 
Arthur, at home. 

Our subject's wife was born in German}', 
in 1840. Her father is deceased and her 
mother still lives in German}-. 

Mr. Axen was engaged in the furniture 
busmess in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, for 
several years. He enlisted in the Union arm}- 
at the time of the Civil War, served six 
months in the Eighty-second Illinois (the 
Hecker) Regiment, was transferred to the 
Sixtieth Illinois, and served until the close of 
that conflict. In 1871, he took a homestead 
in Nebraska, and at the s.ime time was in the 
furniture business at Stanton. He is also a 
carpenter by trade, and has worked at tliat 
considerable. 

Politically, he voles the Repul)lican ticket. 
He has been county commissioner for three 
years, and is at present justice of the peace. 
I le is one of the directors of the Citizens' 
r>ank at Stanton. His farm consists of six 
hundred and forty acres of choice land. He 



is now carrying one hundred and thirty head 
of short horn cattle, twelve head of horses, 
and two hundred head of hogs. He is a 
member of Trcu Bund Lodge, and himself 
and family are members of the German 
Lutheran Church. 



JOHN SAMPSON, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 26, of Logan township, located in 
Fremont, Dodge Countjs Januar}* 5, 
1868. He remained at Fremont one \ear 
and then took a homestead, which is a part 
of his present farm. Februarys, after paj'- 
ing for his homestead, he had fift}' cents left. 
Two other young men took homesteads in the 
same section — N. P. Johnson and Jonas 
Jackson, but the}', not having the staying 
qualities of our subject, only remained about 
two years, when they left and have never 
been heard of since by Mr. Sampson. About 
six months after our subject had located on 
his homestead, he had completed a dug-out 
and hired fifteen acres of breaking done, 
paying therefor five dollars per acre; then, 
finding his cash running short, he worked on 
the railroad for nine months, sleeping one 
night each month on his place in order to 
comply with the law, thus making a good 
m iny miles travel between this and his work. 
There was no bridge across the Elkhorn, and 
at each trip to his claim, Mr. Sampson 
would, on arrival at the river, tie his clothes 
in a bundle, hold them over his head and 
wade across. 

February 25, 187 1, he married Maria 
Monson, who was born in 1853, tl.e 3 0ungest 
daughter of John and Ella Monson. Our 
subject and wife are both natives of Sweden, 
he being born April 17, 1842, son of Samuel 
and Sarah Sampson, who had a famil}' of 
nine children : Bets}-, John, Engre}', Caro- 
line, Martha, Solomon, Jones Peter, Mary, 
and one that died in infancy. Jones Peter 
and Mary are deceased. 



NORr//EAST£XN NEBRASKA. 



Mrs. Sampson's brothers and sisters are: 
Nels, Hannah, Ola, Anna and Mons; Anna 
is deceased. 

Our subject and wife are parents of eight 
cliildren: Allie Ammanda, born September 
II, 1873: Engrey S. Ellen, February 26, 
1875; Victor Emuel, March 17, 1878; Anna 
Matilda, March 18, 18S1 ; Emma Josina, 
July I, 1884; Nels J. Momer, January 24, 
1887; Ester Johann, March 19, 1890, and 
Luella Maria, September i, 1892. 

Our subject has seen the ups and downs 
coincident with pioneer life, commencing, as 
he did, on his farm, with very limited means, 
only one horse to work with and many other 
shortages, which required him to work very 
slow. In 1S72 prairie fire burned nearly all 
he had but his land, and was obliged \o com- 
mence anew: but to da}^ sees him in posses- 
sion of a valuable farm of 160 acres, mostly 
under fence, a five-acre grove, and two acres 
in orchard. Mr. Sampson politically alllliales 
with the Republican parly, while he and his 
wife are both acceptable members of the 
Luther.ui Church. 



I^HOMAS KINGSTON, of Section 31, 
township 23, range 3, east, in what is 
known as Kingsburgh precinct, Stan- 
ton Count}', is counted among the pioneers of 
the Elkhorn Valley, coming as he did in 
April, 1874, when he took a half section of 
wild land, broke it out, made substantial im- 
provements in the way of buildings, provid- 
ing a well with wind power and planting out 
a grove. He has since added to his land 
until he has 635 acres, 300 being under the 
|->low. He was in the country during the 
grasshopper years, and for four years they 
destroyed his crops, and another year they 
were deslrojed by pr.iirie fire. 

Concerning Mr. Kingston's earlier career, 
let it be said that he was born in Ireland in 
November, 1851, the son of James and Sarah 



Kingston, whose nine children were : Marj-, 
Richard, Sarah, James, Jane, Amelia, Sam- 
uel, John and Thomas. James, John and 
Thomas are the only survivors of the family, 
and the two former live in Ireland. Thomas, 
of whom we write this notice, remained in 
his native land until twenty-two 5^ears ot age, 
and then sailed for America, and located as 
above related. He bought railroad land, 
pajing $500 down, and during the never-to- 
be-forgotten grasshopper years he became 
discouraged and offered to give up his con- 
tract to the company on the half section of 
land pro\iding they would give him a deed of 
the forty acres his house was on. However, 
they refused to do this, and he was com- 
pelled to give up the land, with the exception 
of the corn growing on forty acres. But as 
times brightened up, by good management 
and hard work he succeeded in making the 
payment on his homestead, and one by one 
brought the remaining "forties" named in 
the original contract until he finally owned 
the original half section of land. 

Upon coming to America, he had ^2,000 
in mone)' and a good common school educa- 
tion. He was united in marriage, January, 
1874, to Elizabeth Northover, daughter of 
John and Mary Northover, of England, 
whose nine children were: John, Richard, 
Elizabeth, Martha, Mary, Thura (deceased), 
Ellen, Emily and William H. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
three children: Sadie, born September. 
1875; Mary, born August, 1878, and James, 
bom January, 1883. 

(ur subject and his wife are members of 
the Episcopal Church, and j'joliticall}' he 
votes the Democratic ticket. 

The first few years he was in Nebraska he 
struggled hard for an existence, but finally is 
in possession of a handsome ]iroperty and 
enjoying the life of an indejicndent farmer, 
and as one views his well tilled land, anti 



NOR THE A S TEKN NEB HA SKA . 



2? 



observes his good buildings and comforlable 
home, which is in sight of two thriving rail- 
road points — Pilger and Stanton — with swift- 
rolling trains whirling by nearl}' every hour 
of the day and night, his mind reverts back 
to the wild prairie landscape that he first 
looked out upon when he bought his land of 
the railroad company, nearh' two decades 
a<ro. 



FRANK PULS, a highly respected farmer 
of Spring Branch precinct, Stanton 
County, whose farm home is located 
on section 5, township 24, north, range i, 
east, was born at Donop, Lippe-Detmold, 
Germany, April 13, 1844. His parents were 
Frank and Amelia Puis, and he is one of 
three children now living. He received a 
common school education, and when seven- 
teen years of age began to work at brick 
making, and followed that business until 
1S66; that year he went to Sheboygan, Wis., 
near v^'hich place he worked on a farm for 
two seasons, laboring in the pineries during 
the winters. In the spring of 1868 he came 
to Nebraska, and bought college scrip, which 
entitled him to one hundred and sixty acres 
of land which he located in Jefferson County. 
This he afterwards sold, and in the fall of 
1S68 returned to Germany to settle up his 
father's estate. In the spring of 1S69 he 
came to Stanton County and homcsteaded his 
present farm. One family settled near him 
at the same time, but the next nearest neigh- 
bor was five miles away. He built a sod 
house, 16x20 feet, in which he lived one 
year, and broke twelve acres of land the 
lirst season, upon which he raised a small 
(juantily of corn and vegetables There was 
one Cottonwood tree upon his place, and the 
same is still standing as a landmark of pioneer 
days. His present farm consists of six 
hundred acres, one-thrrd of which is under 
cultivation. He keeps from one hundred to 



one hundred and fifty head of cattle, and 
about an equal number of sheep. 

Mr. Puis was married May i, 1869, to 
Louisa Steinhage, who was born at Ilumfeld, 
Lippe-Detmold, German}\ By this union 
the following children were born : Amelia, 
Hermann, Elise, Ernest, Frederick, Louise, 
Emma and Emil. Politically, our subject is 
a Democrat, and among the local offices held 
by him may be mentioned that of justice of the 
peace and clerk of election, etc. Dunop 
postoffice was established about 1873, and he 
was post-master for seven years. Both he 
and his wife with their family are consistent 
members of the Evangelical Reformed 
Church. Upon coming to this country he 
had $1,300, a part of which he loaned out 
and lost. A few years after he located, a 
neighbor boy, Frederick Shroeder, was lost 
in a severe storm, and he with his neighbors 
joined in the search, which lasted for two 
days, before the lad was found. He was 
badly exhausted, but recovered. 

Our subject's present residence was built 
in 1884, and everything about this man's 
place is indicative of thrift and order. 



T7RANK SCHARFEN, a farmer of Sec- 
\/ tion 24, Monterey township, Cuming 
County, and the owner of 250 acres of 
excellent land, was born in Germany, 
October 8, 1855. He came to America in 
1866, landing at Baltimore, and from there 
came direct to West Point, Nebraska, by the 
way of St. Louis, going from Omaha to West 
Point with ox-teams, which journey consumed 
four days. He spent one year in Wyoming, 
burning charcoal, and in 187 1 he bought 
eighty acres of land on Section 24, for which 
he paid $6 per acre. He held this land until 
1880, and was compelled to give it up on 
account of the loss he had sustained liy 
reason of the grasshopper plague, which de- 
stroyed his crops for four years. In 1878 he 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



purchased a quarter section of land, where 
he now lives, for uhich he paid $6 per acre. 
Here one finds good improvements, including 
buildings, a well 104 feet in depth, provided 
witii a wind-power pump. Me also has a 
good orchard and an eight-acre grove. One 
hundred and ninetj'-five acres of his farm is 
under cultivation, and the entire tract sur- 
rountled by wire fence, which cost him $400. 
His farm is well stocked with horses, mules, 
cattle and swine. 

July II, 1S76, our subject was m;uTied to 
Katie Wortman, to wliom eight children 
have been born — Joseph, Lena, Marj', Anton, 
William, Gertrude, Sophia and Frank. 

Our subject's father is a native of Ger- 
many; and there died. His mother came to 
America in 1866, and subsequently married. 

Frank was the second son of a family of 
four children: Casper (deceased); Frank, 
our subject ; Anton and Sophia, all of whom 
are in this country. 

In 1884 he of whom we write returned to 
Germany on a three-months' visit. His 
wife's parents, Joseph and Cecila Wortman, 
were born in Ohio and came to Nebraska in 
1866, and arc living in Cuming County at 
this time. Their children were named as 
follows: Kate, Mary, Lena, Frank, Joseph, 
Lizzie, Sophia (deceased), Dora (deceased), 
William, Cecila and Sophia Ann. 

Upon coming to the country our subject's 
nearest market point was Omaha, and at 
times he had to grind their Hour with a coffee 
mill. His trips to Omaha were made with an 
ox-team, he camping out by some stream 
each night. For seven j'ears his crops were 
more or less destroyed by the grasslioppers, 
wliich at times were so numerous that they 
hovered along the railroad track, trains were 
obstructed b\- them, hi 1S86 liis crops were 
destroyed by chincli-bugs. July 4, 1882, he 
was kicked by a horse, which accident laid 
him up for two months and liis life was 



despaired of, and to add to this affliction, in 
1884, his wife and three children were all 
down with tlie typhoid fever at the same 
time. 

Politicall)% our subject is a Republican, 
and in religious matters tlie family is Roman 
Catholic. The first church he attended in 
Nebraska was the log meeting-house in St. 
Charles township. He is one of the trustees 
of the Monterey Catholic Church, and he 
belongs to the C. K. of A. 



SAMUEL S.MITH CA]\H'FIEL1). of 
Section 30, township 24, Lincoln pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, will form the 
subject of this biographical notice. He was 
born in Honesdale, Wayne Count}', Pensyl- 
vania, December 10, 1839. His maternal 
grandfather, Samuel Smith, was of Holland 
descent, and was one of the pioneers of 
Wayne County. Samuel Campfield, the 
father of our subject, was born in Sussex 
County, New Jersey, and was of English 
descent. He was born in 1799, and was a 
carpenter by trade. When a young man he 
settled in Wayne Count}-, Pennsylvania, and 
built the first frame house in Smith's Hill. 
His grandfather was a Continental soldier, 
and his father, John Campfield, served in the 
War of 1812. Our subject's maternal great- 
grandfather was also a Continental soldier. 
Samuel Campfield married Sarah Ann Smith 
about 1821; the former died at Smith's Hill, 
Pennsylvania, in 1884; his wife surviving 
him four years. Their children were: 
Elizabeth (Mrs. G Romey), David, John, 
William, Henry, Mary (Mrs. George Reed). 
Samuel S., Edward, Lewis, Lura (died in 
childhood) and James. Two others died in 
infancy. He of whom we wiite this notice 
received but a small amount of schooling: 
from a small boy, he was accustomed to drive 
oxen, and otherwise assist upon the farm and 
in the timber. After he was eleven j-ears of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



29 



age, lie worked out among the neighboring 
farmers, and when tiiirteen years of age was 
employed on the Delaware & Hudson canal, 
lie became a captain after four years experi- 
ence, and when eighteen years old went to 
South Canaan, Pennsylvania, where he 
worked in a tannery and on a farm. He also 
got out timbers several years. He and his 
brother furnished timber in 1859-60 for the 
Delaware & Hudson Coal Co , of Penns)!- 
vania. 

At the first call for volunteers made by 
President Lincoln, to put down the rebellion, 
in the spring of 1861, our subject enlisted in 
Company E, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves. 
This company was soon disbanded, and 
January 14, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 
One Hundred and First New York Volunteer 
infantry. Subsequently he was transferred 
to the Thirty-seventh New York* and after 
the battle of Chancellorsville he was trans- 
ferred to the Fortieth New York, known as 
the "Mozarts." In 1864 he re-enlisted in 
Company F, Fortieth New York, and served 
until the close of the conflict. He took part 
in the seven-days' fight — second battle of 
Bull Run, Chantille, the first battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, Chancellorbville, Gettj'sburg. 
Manassas Gap, and several engagements on 
the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, at 
the Battle of Mine Run, Battle of the Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania Court House, sieges of 
Petersburg and Richmond. 

At the battle of Chancellorsville he took 
part in the midnight charge. At the battle of 
Gettysburg he was slightly wounded in the 
right hand. At the battle of the Wilderness 
he was wounded in the breast, and the night 
liefore the fall of Richmond he was wounded 
in the left foot and sent to the hospital for 
several weeks at Washington, but was out in 
time to take part in the Grand Review. He 
was honorably discharged July 27, 1865, as 
orderly sergeant, lie returned to Smith's 



Hill, Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1867 
came to Grand Island, Nebraska, wlvere he 
worked in a railroad eating-house. In 1868 
he moved to Cuming County and took a 
homestead, but in 1869 moved to his present 
location. The lumber in his first house he 
hauled from Fremont. The next winter lie 
logged on the Elkhorn River and rafted logs 
to the saw-mill at West Point the next spring. 
In 1872 he sold his farm and removed to the 
village of Stanton and bought a hotel which 
he enlarged, the same being the first hotel 
building of the place. When he moved to 
Stanton there were but thirteen buildings, in- 
cluding stables and sheds. 

A few years later, when the railroad 
reached the place, he removed his house to 
the site of the present village and built the 
Nebraska House. He also built a drug store, 
a saloon and other buildings. In 1884 he 
bought a part of his present farm, and in 
1S86 built a fine farm-house, one of the best 
in the county. He now owns four hundreil 
and sixty acres, two hundred and twenty-five 
of which are under cultivation. The plate 
has several large barns and other buildings, 
He is what may be termed a general farmer, 
and is also a breeder of Hereford and Dur- 
ham cattle. At one time our subject followed 
bridge building and contracting for several 
years. He is independent in politics, at the 
present time. He was sheriff of Stanton 
County for twelve years and. coroner for two 
years. He is a member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic, and also belongs to the 
Masonic Fraternity. 

He of whom we write was married in De- 
cember, 1869, to Eliza M. Randoljih, who 
bore him one child — Amy R. (Mrs. C. 
Beebe). Mrs. Eliza Campfield died August, 
1874, 'i"f' March 12, 1876, he married Mary 
J. Mathers, who has borne him four children, 
one of whom died in infancy. The living 
children are — May, Ray and Nellie. The 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



mother of these children was born in Harri- 
son County, Iowa. Her parents, James and 
Philena (Caywood) Mathers, were of Irish 
descent. 

In a general review of this man's career, it 
may be said that during the grasshopper 
scourge, when he was sheriff, he frequently 
gave his fees to parties upon whom he was 
compelled to serve legal papers. While in 
the army he was three times offered a com- 
missioned ollice, but declined. At Chanlille, 
he was taken prisoner, paroled after a few 
weeks and joined his regiment. Although he 
had many narrow escapes, he received no 
serious wounds. Several of his comrades 
fell so near him that he was spattered with 
gore, and one man fell against his breast. 
Over seven thousand men were enrolled in 
the Fortieth New York Regiment during the 
war, but only eighty-four of the original regi- 
ment were discharged at the close, and but 
si.\ of these were of Company F. After the 
war he paid off a mortgage on the old home- 
stead before coming West. Upon arriving 
in Omaha, he had but a few dollars in money^ 
and less than two hundred dollars when he 
came to Cuming County. He is an expert 
marksman, and has killed many deer in Ne- 
braska. 

He also had some lively experiences with 
the Indians, and while sheriff of the county 
was stabbed in the back at one time, and at 
another time received a blow over the head 
with a chair. But being blessed with an iron 
constitution, he is still in possession of health 
and happiness. Few indeed are the men 
who could survive the ordeals through which 
he has passed. 



DR. NATHAN H. BROWN, one of the 
leading members of the medical fra- 
ternity at Fremont, has been a resi- 
dent of Nebraska since June i, 1882. 1 lie 
doctor is a native of Northumberland, New 



York, born March 30, 1851. His parents 
were Hilliard and Eliza A. (Hoyt) Brown. 
The father's people came to America with a 
Quaker colony, and located in New York, at 
Quaker Springs. On the mother's side of 
the family tree, they came from Scotland 
with the British Army; the original being 
James Hoyt. He served with the British 
Army during the Revolutionary war, and 
then located near Glenns Falls, and is the 
progenitor of the Hoyt family living in and 
about New York City. The parents of our 
subject died while he was yet a small child; 
the mother dying when he was five years old 
and the father when he was twelve ; leaving 
him one brother and one sister, he being the 
youngest. His brother was Francis M. 
Brown, who died in Boulder, Colorado, 
where he was one of the leading attorneys. 
His sister is Mrs. N. D. Ward, of Viola, 
Richland County, Wisconsin. Our subject 
was reared in Warrenville, Du Page County, 
Illinois, from the time he was ten months old 
until he was seventeen years of age. He was 
reared on a farm and received his education 
in the public schools. At the age of eighteen, 
he began teaching school and reading medi- 
cine. He attended Clark's Seminary at 
Aurora, Illinois, for three years, and in 1873, 
when he was twenty years of age, he entered 
the Bennett Medical College, from which he 
graduated in the spring of 1875. Immedi- 
ately after graduating, he located in Cale- 
donia, Racine County, Wisconsin, where he 
practiced medicine seven years. He then 
spent one winter in Connecticut, and in June, 
1882, came to Fremont, Nebraska, where he 
has been in constant practice ever since. He 
practices both medicine and surgery, and has 
a large, lucrative practice. In his manner he 
is affable and agreeable to meet. He is a 
self-made man in more than an ordinary 
meaning which men attach to that term, for 
it will be remembeixd that he was left an 



NOKTUF.ASTERU NEBKASA'A. 



orphan at a very tender age and commenced 
to work for wages at less than eiglit years of 
age. He must needs do something to earn a 
hving, so at first he attended a ilock of sheep, 
walcliing them while they grazed in the 
woodland. From that time lorward, he sus- 
tained himself, and by hard labor educated 
liiniself and finally secured his present 
financial standing in the world. lie is presi- 
dent of the Farmers' and Merchants' State 
Bank of Leigh, Nebraska, and is largely in- 
terested in realty at that locality, including 
hums and ranch land, to the amount of 
twelve hundred acres. He is local surgeon 
tor the Elkhorn Railroad, liaving been ap- 
pointed in 1S85. 

Like so many of the intelligent men of the 
ilay, our subject is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, belonging to Fremont Lodge No. 
15, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past 
master; also Signet Chapter No. 8, of which 
lie has been scribe. He also belongs to Mt. 
Tabor Commandery No. 9, of which he is 
eminent commander ; Hiram Council No. 9, 
Royal and Select Masters. He is also a 
member of Tangier Temple, Noble of the 
Mystic Shrine at Omaha, also thirty second 
degree Mason of Southern jurisdiction. 

Politically, the doctor has always been 
identified with the Democratic party, believ- 
ing, as he does, that this party best subserves 
the interests of the people. 

He was united in marriage December 22, 
1875, to Miss Gratia C. Hamilton, at Cale- 
donia, Wisconsin, who is a native of New 
York State, and the daughter oi Judge 
William H. and Adaline (Palmer) Hamilton. 
Mrs. Brown is of Irish and old Yankee stock, 
her grandfather Hamilton being born in the 
north of Ireland ; her great-grandmother was 
was buried at sea, leaving her three-weeks 
old babe, who was the grandfather of Mrs. 
Brown. The Palmer family of which we 
have any record came from Chittenden 



County, Vermont, and were five brothers 
who left the Green Mountain State at an 
early day, and went to New York State. 
The father of Mrs. Brown is a resident of 
Fremont, Nebraska, but the good mother is 
deceased. 

Doctor and Mrs. Brown are the parents of 
two children : Frances Hilliard, born March 
2, 1877, and Adaline E. , born February 13, 
1879. 

Whoever reads the foregoing narrative of 
Doctor Brown will be impressed with several 
prominent characteristics, as well as striking 
events in his career. But only he who has 
passed through the deep water of afiliciion, 
occasioned by being left an orphan child, 
with neither father nor mother, at the age of 
twelve years, and having to face the adver- 
sities of a cold world, earning his own food 
and raiment, in the place of being fondled 
and cared for by indulgent parents, can in 
any degree fully appreciate the great struggle, 
the heartaches and labor it has cost our sub- 
ject to raise himself to that almost enviable 
position which he holds in the world to-day. 
To educate one's self means more than to be 
educated at the expense of another. The 
student's brain becomes weary, but how 
much more weary it becomes, when per- 
plexed by a fatigued body, which knows no 
play spell. Yet all that the doctor has passed 
through has not blighted him, but, on the 
contrary, each struggle seems to have nerved 
him for another, and whether one thinks of 
him as the young shepherd boy, working for 
a few cents per day, with which to purchase 
the little necessities of his boyhood life or his 
working his way through school, and finally 
being made the recipient of a well earned 
diploma — a crowning laurel of his college 
days — or of the present skillful practitioner 
of Fremont, they must think of him as of 
having ever been loyal to all that has pos- 
sessed manly impulses. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



DAVID W. BURKE, a farmer of Logan 
township, residing on Sections 3 and 
4, where he has two hundred and 
forty acres of land, will form the subject of 
this notice. He is one of the representative 
men of the township, and is at present one of 
the members of the Board of Supervisors for 
his township. He was born in Canada, 
September 13, 1839, '^"'' came to the United 
States in July, 1865, and went into the 
employ of the Union Pacific railroad as a 
bridge builder : followed that two years and 
then came to Logan township, locating a 
homestead of eighty acres in June, 1869. 
Upon this land he placed good improvements, 
which took all the money he had. His house 
was 14x20 feet, and the same served him 
until the fall of 1884, when he built a more 
commodious one. At present he is one of the 
directors of the Citizens' Bank at Bancroft 
and he also is a stockholder in the Beemer 
Bank. When he commenced in Nebraska, 
all he possessed was a half interest in a yoke 
of oxen, a breaking plow and a cook stove. 
Among the incidents of early settlement 
he relates that in 1870, the Indians cut a 
man's head off, by the name of Munson, 
which frightened the people and caused great 
excitement. 

Our subject was united in marriage. May, 
1870, to Isabella Gilmour, the ceremony be- 
ing performed at Fremont, in the parlors of a 
hotel, before quite a gathering of citizens. 
Immediately after their marriage and before 
any long expensive bridal tour was enjoyed 
their honej'moon commenced in Logan town- 
ship, on their farm. Four children were 
born as a result of their marriage union — 
Atldie, now married: Maud, Edmund J. and 
Alien G. 

Our subject's fatiier and mother were 
natives ol Ireland, and came to Canada, 
where they passed the remainder of their 



days. They reared a famil}' of seven sons 
and five daughters. 

Politically, our subject is a staunch su]i- 
porter of the Republican party. He was 
chairman of the Bridge Committee in 1889, 
and is still a member of such commit<:ee. In 
1888 he was chairman of the County Board. 

In 1875 '^^r. Burke was ill for six months 
with pleurisy, which left him in a bad con- 
dition. 

In 1882, he met with the greatest allliction 
of his life, in the loss of his companion, who 
died during that year. In religious matteis 
our subject is identified with the Episcojialian 
Church. 



HANS C. MARTENS, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 20, Pebble township. Dodge 
County, was born in Moisten, Ger- 
many, June 20, 1828. He came to America 
in 1858, landing May 15, and soon went to 
Moline, Illinois, and Irom there to Cleveland, 
where he worked at coal mining eighteen 
months, after which he worked in Rock 
Island County, Illinois, six years, the follow- 
ing six years being spent at farm labor in 
Henry County. He then came to Nebraska, 
and December, 1871, filed on his homestead, 
the necessary papers being made out at Fre- 
mont ; he came to his newly taken possession 
in March, 1872. 

August 16, 1857, he married Christena 
Sievers; they came to America about one 
year later, accompanied by her parents. Our 
subject and his wife are the parents of seven 
children, as follows: John, Lizzie, Lena, 
(deceased), Fred, Mary, Otto and Tena. 
The family belong to the Lu'heran Church, 
and politically our subject supports the Dem- 
ocratic ]iart3'. 

His original homestead contained eighty 
acres, to which he subseiiuently added a 
quarter section, which is now all under culti- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA . 



33 



vation. He has a good two-story frame resi- 
dence, barns, out-buildings, a grove of one 
acre and an orchard. 

When he came to this countr}- he had no 
means, and for two or three years lost con- 
siderable by grasshoppers, besides losing five 
head of horses, yet he managed to keep add- 
ing to his land from time to time, until he 
possessed a large tract, which he has divided 
up to considerable extent among his children, 
retaining two hundred and eighty acres for 
his home farm. This is stocked with fifty 
head of cattle, nine head of horses and about 
fifty hogs ; this he intends will keep his good 
wife and himself the remainder of their days, 
and eventually come into the hands of his 
yoimgest son. Mr. Martens has lived to sec 
the dark clouds of adversity roll by and is 
now living within the sunshine of prosperity. 



TROUGOTT FREDERICK SPORN, 
of Secton 31, towship 24, of Elkhorn 
preciiit, Stanton County, was born 
near Berlin, Germany, January 15, 1842. He 
is the son of Johanna (Schwefel) Sporn. 
She died at West Point, Nebraska, October, 
1878. When our subject was two years of 
age, his mother with her parents came to 
Watertown, Wisconsin, where his boyhood 
days were spent. At nineteen years of age 
he left home and went to De Kalb, Illinois, 
and in the spring of 1863 accompanied his 
step-father, Martin Stueler, to West Point, 
Nebraska. They came from Wisconsin 
with ox teams, and had intended to go to 
Grand Island, but were persuaded by John 
I). Neligh to remain at West Point. In No- 
vember, 1863, he of whom we write this 
sketch took a 'homestead near that place, and 
in 1867 bought a part of his present farm, 
removing to the same in 187 1. He now owns 
five hundred and fifty acres of land; one 
hundred and si.xt}' of which is under cultiva- 
tion and all well improved. His first residence 



in the county was at West Point and built of 
Cottonwood and pine, the pine being hauled 
from Omaha. 

When he came to the State he had but 
thirty dollars in money, and for several 
winters worked in a livery stable in Omaha, 
and conveyed the surveyors who run the line 
of the Union Pacific Railroad. He was also 
one of a party who looked up a location lor 
the first settlers at Norfolk. 

Our subject was united in marriage, Ma\ 
3, 1868, to Fredericka Wagner, a native ol 
Watertown, Wisconsin. By this union eleven 
children were born, four dying in childhood. 
The names of the children are : Louisa (Mrs. 
A. Hille); Anna, William, Ernest, John, 
Martin and Ida. 

Politically, Mr. Sporn afliliates with the 
Republican party, and has held the ofllces of 
county commissioner and precinct assessor 
for a number of years. Our subject and his 
family are members of the German Lutheran 
Church, and stand high in the community in 
which they live. 

Vast has been the change wrought out in 
the Elkhorn Valley since Mr. Sporn first 
looked out upon what was then a wild prairie 
landscape with but here and there a human 
habitation. Three decades have developed 
this portion of Nebraska, until it now ranks 
among the best in any part of the West. 



MRS. HENRIEJTE KRUTZ, of Sec 
tion 17, township 23, range 3, in 
what is known as Kingsburg precinct, 
Stanton County, located there in the spring 
of 1S84. Her farm consisted of one hundred 
and eighty-three acres, which is well im- 
proved, has good buildings, and an artificial 
grove of one acre and an orchard of fifty 
trees. She has added to her land as she has 
prospered, until she now has two huntlred 
and fifty-three acres, one hundred and forty 
of which are under the plow. 



NOHTJiEASTEkN NEBKASICA. 



Mrs. Krutz was united in marriage in 1866 
to August Krutz, who died February 6, 1886. 
Mr. Krutz was born in Germany, September, 
1841, the son of Franz and Almena Krutz, 
whose five children were — John, Charles, 
August, Henry and Henriette. 

He came to America when twenty-three 
years of age and married Henriette Krans, 
daughter of Christian and Wilhelmena Krans, 
of Germany, whose eight children were : 
John, Henriette, Herman (deceased) ; 
Augusta (deceased) ; Stena, Charles, Augusta 
and Herman. 

Our subject and her husband were the par- 
ents of eight children — Herman, Ferdinand, 
Charles, Louis, John (deceased); Henry, 
Fritz and William. Mrs. Krutz's father is 
deceased. Both herself and husband were 
members of the German Lutheran Church. 



PETER SASPAIER, of Section 15, 
Logan township, came to Dodge 
County in September, 1864, and locat- 
ed on the site of his present place, which he 
took as a homestead. Five years later he 
pre-empted another quarter section of land 
and then purchased forty acres, making three 
hundred and sixty acres in all ; eighty acres 
of his land he gave to his daughter in 1875. 
He also owns a half section of land in Box, 
Butte County, Nebraska. At first our subject 
lived in a dug-out, but after three years 
erected a frame building, which was finally 
burned, and then erected another, twelve b}' 
fourteen feet, which served as parlor, bed- 
room and postollice for eight years. His 
present brick residence was erected in 1882. 
Mr. Saspaier was born near Falun, Sweden, 
May 15, 1828, the foster son of Peter and 
Briela Saspaier. He attended tlie public 
schools of his native country until sixteen 
years of age. He came to America in June, 
1862, and immediately went to Chicago, and 
from there to Detroit, but soon returned to 



Chicago and remained until he came to 
Dodge Count}'. He was married December, 
1849, *° Maty Anderson, by whom nine 
children were born. 

Politically, our subject is identified with 
the Independent party, and stands high in the 
community in which he resides. 



ANDREW N. BANK, a farmer residing 
on Section 8, of Cuming township, has 
been a resident of Cuming County 
since the spring of 1882. He first located on 
the farm he now occupies, which at the time, 
however, was a quarter section of wild land, 
which he broke, and erected a house upon, 
also built a barn, granary, cribbing, etc. He 
made more beautiful and valuable this tract 
of land, by the planting out of a four-acre 
grove and an orchard of fifty trees. He has 
ninety-five acres under the plow and the 
remainder in pasture and meadow-land. 

He of whom we write was born in Den- 
mark, Februar}', 1847, the son of Nelson and 
Maren Bank, natives of Denmark, whose two 
children were Andrew N. and Robert, both 
living in America. The first twenty-four 
years of our subject's life was spent in the 
land of his birth, romantic and picturesque 
Denmark. He then came to this country and 
worked in Wisconsin, on the North-Western 
railroad as a laborer for two months, and 
from there went to Lake Superior, Michigan, 
where he worked in the Jackson mines one 
and one-half years, and then came to a point 
near Hooper, Dodge County, Nebraska, 
where he worked on a farm six months ; then 
went to Burt Count}', where he purchased 
eighty acres of wild land and improved the 
same» living there until 1882, when he came 
to hi> present home. He had a good com- 
mon school education in his native country, 
but came to America, ignorant of our lan- 
guage and without means. At one time he 
was a soldier in the regular army in Denmark. 



NOR Tfl EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Our subject was united in marriage May, 
1S77, to Trine Rasmussen, the daughter of 
Rasmus Crestensen and Mary E. Crestensen, 
who had nine children, all of whom took the 
name of Rasmussen. They were named as 
follows : Christen (deceased), Henry, Trine, 
Jacob (deceased), Henriette, Rasmus H., 
Christian, one who died in infanc}', and 
Christ. 

After coming to America and remaining 
six years, he returned to Denmark and met 
llie lady of his choice, who doubtless had 
given him a promise before he had ever seen 
the New World, for as the sequel sliows, she 
returned with him to America, and was mar- 
ried in Burt County, Nebraska, May, 1877. 
By this marriage union four children were 
born: Camilla, March i, 1878 : Henry, July 
S, 1879 • Lodvig, April 29, 1881 : and Christ- 
ian, September 12, 1885. 

He of whom we write belongs to tlie 
Masonic order, West Point Lodge No. 27. 
He and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church, and in politics he votes the Republi- 
can ticket. 

JOHN BAUER, an enterprising farmer of 
Section 26, and Supervisor of Lincoln 
township, Cuming County, was born in 
Germany, March, 1839, '"^^^ came to America 
in 1867. He remained two years at St. 
Louis where he was employed in a general 
store, and in 1869 came to Nebraska and 
claimed a homestead in Colfax County, upon 
which he lived until 1879, when he moved to 
Olean, where he kept a country store and 
post-ofllce, and there remained eight )'ears, 
during which time he held the position of 
township assessor, school director and notary' 
public for six years. Upon the building of 
the railroad to that point he sold out his 
property and moved to his present farm. His 
house is the one he occupied at Olean and 
was nioved to its present location. 



Our subject was united in marriage in 1873 
to Lizzie Koerber, to whom ten children 
have been born, six of whom are living. 
The children's names were : Mary, Lena, 
Maggie, Christopher, John, Thresia, Anna 
K., Joseph, Katie and Clara. Our subject's 
parents were' natives of Germany and are 
both deceased. They had a family of seven 
children: Christopher, John, Anna, Barbara, 
Mary, Joseph and Maggie. 

His wife's parents were also natives ol the 
German Empire, and came to America about 
1846. The father died about 1887, and the 
mother is now living in Missouri. 

Mr. Bauer lost heavily by grasshoppers 
for three years, and saw many of the hard- 
ships of early life in Nebraska. 

He belongs to the Roman Catholic Churcii, 
and in politics votes the Democratic ticket. 



DR. H. CHAMBERS, V.S., of Fremont, 
has been a resident of the place since 
1883. He is a native of Hereford, 
England, where he grew to manhood. The 
foundation of his education was begun in the 
public schools after which he grew up to the 
profession under the tuition of his father, 
Samuel Chambers, who was so well known 
in the west of England as a veterinar}' 
surgeon. After the demise of his father, in 
1878, he formed a partnership with his 
brother, W. Chambers, at Bromj'ard, Eng- 
land, and enjoyed a great practice until 1883, 
when he obtained a registration at the Roya] 
Veterinary College as a qualified V. S. In 
this year he came to America, located at 
Fremont, where he now has a large practice. 
He is located at .332 Main street. He re- 
turned to England in 1S87 and was united in 
marriage, February 13, 1888, to Clara Helen 
Whitlock, of Wolverhampton, England. One 
•child blesses their home : Mar}', born October 
ir, 1888. 



A'CA" INEASJKhN A'tJikASh'A. 



Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 

During the nine years' residence in Fre- 
mont he has shown himself able to cope with 
the diseases and ailments which the animal- 
kind are subject to, and in the role of a 
veterinary, none are more skilled than the 
one whose name heads tliis sketch. 



ZACIIARY II. GARDNER, located on 
Section 32, of Cleveland township, 
Cuming County, has been a resident of 
the place since the fall of 1881. He bought 
two hundred acres of wild land, did some 
breaking and constructed a dug-out, twelve 
feet square, in which he lived five years and 
then built his present residence, which is a 
i6.\24 foot structure, with an addition 14 feet 
square. He has a good barn, granary and 
other out-buildings, also wells with a wind- 
power pumps. A small orchard and artificial 
grove grace his premises. He has one hun- 
dred and fifty acres under the plow, 
while the balance is in pasture and meadow- 
land. 

I le of wliom we write this notice was born 
in Pennsylvania, May, 1S54, the son of Wil- 
liam and Charity Gardner, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Virginia respectively. Their seven 
children were: Z. H., our subject, Tobias, 
William, Jr., Ruth A., (deceased), Charlotte, 
Harvey and Cora. 

Our subject remained in tlie Keystone 
State until one year of age, when his parents 
emigrated to Scott County, Iowa, where the 
father purchased a farm and remained there 
until 1 87 1. Our subject worked out by the 
month on a farm until 1877, and then went to 
Marshall County, Iowa, and rented land for 
three years, and tlien came to Cuming 
County, Nebraska. 

Eliza Crawford became his wife in Apiil, 
1878. Her parents were Jolin and Margaret 



Crawford, natives of Canada. Their seven 
children were named as follows : Thomas, 
James, EHzabeth, Frank (deceased), Eliza, 
George and Irene. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gardner's children are 
Charles H. (deceased) , Mary, George, Edward 
and Troy. 

Politically Mr. Gardner is a believer in tlic 
principles of the Republican parly. He 
belongs to Wisner Lodge No. 114, of the 
Masonic order. 

JOHN EBBERSON, a farmer of Section 
18, range 9, Logan township, located on 
an eighty-acre homestead in 1868. He 
made the usual improvements for a prairie 
farm, lived in a dug-out for the first two 
years, and then built a story and one-half 
house. He also bought eighty acres of Sec- 
tion 7, and improved that, and now has five 
hundred and sixty-two acres of land in all. 
He has a fine artificial grove on each one of 
his places . also a good orchard and small 
fruits. 

He of whom we write this biograpliical 
notice was born in Sweden June, 6, 1S42, and 
came to Omaha city in 1868, landing May 
20, and at once came on to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. He was united in marriage Jul}- 
3, 1869, to Miss Anna Olson, whose parents 
had the following children: Betsy, Bengt, 
Anna, James, Nels and Hannah. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
three children: Matilda, born April 3, 1870; 
Artliur, horn August 9, 1873 ; Olga (deceased) 
born June 9, 1875, and died January 13, 
1880. 

As one views tliis man's broad acres of 
well-tilled farming land and considers how 
that he had but three hundred and fifty dol- 
lars capital when he came to the country, it is 
almost needless to add that his has been a 
life of industry and frugality. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



PROF. THEODORE R. HAMLIN, 
founder of tlie Fremont Business Col- 
lege, is ;i native of Coldwater, Mich., 
hnrn June 22, 1S42, the son of Jacob M. and 
Rachel M. (Stebbins) Hamlin ; the former a 
native of Mar3'land and the latter a native of 
Penns3'lvania. The mother was ol French 
extraction. Both parents are now deceased. 
He of whom we write was reared on a farm 
in the Wolverine State, receiving his earl}- 
education in the old log school-house, the 
sight of which would be a curiosity of crude- 
ness, both interior and exterior, if erected in 
anv township within Dodge County to-day. 
But in this primitive styled school-house our 
subject began his education, and later on he 
entered the high school at Coldwater, Mich- 
i<Tan, which he attended for a time, but at the 
age of twenty-four j-ears, at which time he 
was a fairly informed man, but not yet satis- 
tied with the knowledge he possessed (for the 
more a man knows the greater interest he 
manifests to reach out a draw from the great 
realm from which a liberal education is to be 
obtained), he entered the Evanston College, 
where he took a select course, subsequently 
taking a business course at Coldwater, in 
Prof. J. S. Conover's Business College, and 
later graduated at the Northwestern Business 
College, Madison, Wis., conducted b}' Prof. 
B. M. Worthington, after which he took a 
practical course with Burton & Wrights' 
Commission House, where he completed his 
practical course, and was compelled to retire 
from the same on account of ill-health. We 
next fmd him connected with school work at 
Jonesville, Michigan, as special instructor in 
jienmanship and drawing in the public school, 
which position he held for two years, after 
which he went to Rochester, Minnesota, and 
engaged in the same work for two years. 
The next three years he was professor of 
penmanship, drawing and book-keeping at 
Cedar Falls, Iowa. After the faithful per- 



formance of such duties as devolved upon 
him in that capacity, he went to Washington, 
D. C, where he was engrossing clerk, and 
wiiile there entered into a most important era 
of liis life, as it was upon June 21, 1881, that 
he was united in marriage to Miss Eva E. 
Wilson, a native of that city. After his year's 
sojourn in Washington, and the securing of a 
life companion, he was recalled to Cedar 
Falls, Iowa, to fill a similar position in the 
public schools, which he had previously 
occupied. One year later he resigned to take 
charge of the Business Department of the 
Sterling Business and Phonographic College, 
at Sterling, Illinois, where he remained 
almost three years, and at the end of which 
period he resigned, to take the principalship 
of the Business Department of the Fremont 
Normal School, at Fremont, Nebraska, with 
which institution he remained for four years, 
resigning for a position tendered him in the 
public schools of Clinton, Iowa, as special 
instructor for one year. At the end of that 
period he returned to Fremont and estab- 
lished the Fremont Business College. 

The Professor is a wide-awake business 
man, as well as a most thorough business 
educator. He has endeared himself to the 
hearts of tlTe people, both old and young, 
within the territory tributary to Fremont. He 
makes penmanship a special feature of his 
work, as he prides himself upon his expert- 
ness in the use of his pen. 

Politicall}', lie is a staunch supporter of the 
Republican part}-. In religious matters, liotii 
he and his estimable lad}' are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being an 
active worker in the Sabbath-school, having 
for the past three years been superintendent 
of the same. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin are the parents of 
five children, Clj'de, Harr\', Margaret, .Mice 
and Raclu'k'ta. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



To be a successful educator, in the day in 
whicli we live, requires the instructor to be 
highly trained in his chosen profession, which 
qualification our subject possesses to a good 
degree, and scores, hundreds and probably 
thousands, of joung men and women in the 
various localities in which he has given in- 
struction in business education are now hold- 
ing lucrative and honorable positions, b}' 
reason of the knowledge he has imparted to 
them. And as the years of their lives come 
and go, he will be a central figure in their re- 
llective hours, when the scenes of the busy 
school-room flit panoramic like across the 
sta<re of their vision. 



C-^ W. WOLCOTT, a farmer of Section 
_J, 26, Hooper township, has been a 
resident of Dodge County since the 
summer of 1857. He first located near Fre- 
mont, pre-empting a quarter section of land, 
upon which he made a sod house 14x20 feet, 
covered witii a thatched roof, in which he 
lived three years, and then built a log house 
16x20 feet. He planted out a few trees, did 
some breaking, and remained on the place 
about six years, when he sold and home- 
steaded his present place, where he again 
erected a log house 16x20 feet, which was 
covered with a shingled roof. He li\ed in 
this structure fourteen years, when he built 
his present residence, wiiich is a 16x30 
upright, together with wings. He also built 
a good barn, granary, cribbing, and other 
outbuildings ; provided iiis place willi good 
\vells of water, brought to the surface with 
wind power. He made his place at once 
attractive and valuable, by the planting of a 
ten-acre grove and an orchard of four hun- 
dred trees. His present farm contains four 
hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and 
fifty being under the plow, and the balance 
in pasture ami meadow-land. During iiis 



residence in Nebraska, Mr. Wolcott has seen 
much of pioneer hardship, coming as he did 
in advance of railroads, and living in the 
country when the grasshoppers infested this 
region. At an early day, he was compelled 
to go four miles for corn, paying one dollar 
per bushel; shelled it by hand, carried it 
three miles, gave one-half for grinding into 
coarse meal, upon which, with a little salt, he 
subsisted, during one winter. When he came 
to the State he had about two hundred dol- 
lars, and Omaha was his nearest market 
point. 

In 1863, he enlisted in Company "A," 
Second Nebraska, and was mustered into 
service at Omaha, under Captain Peter S. 
Reed, and was stationed at St. James, 
where they joined a regiment from Sioux 
City, Iowa, and went up the Missouri River 
to Fort Randall. He was in the service one 
year and was discharged at Omaha. 

Mr. Wolcott was born in Trumble County, 
Ohio, April, 1835, ^^ ^O" o^ Lewis and 
Mary Wolcott, both natives of the Buckeye 
State, whose nine children were: Joseph, 
Henry, Orlow, Lyman, G. W., Nancy, 
Lucretia, Harriett and Florilla; onlj^ three of 
whom still survive. He of whom we write 
remained in Ohio' until twenty-two \'ears of 
age, and then came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. He received a good common school 
education, and January 8, 1S62, was married 
to Jane, daughter of Levi and Ruth Baker, 
natives of Maine, whose nine children were : 
Rachel, Hiram, Levi, Emily, Henry, An- 
drew, Jane, Charles and Matilda. Hiram, 
Emily, Henry and Matilda are deceaseil. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott are the parents of 
two children: Mai)', deceased, born October, 
1862, and Ilarland, born August 17, 1S64. 

In his political choice Mr. Wolcott votes 
with the Republican party. He is a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at 
Hooper. 



MORTHHASTERN NEBRASKA. 



PETER BECKER ranks among the pio- 
neers of Cuming County, coming, as 
he did, to Phim Creek in i86S. He 
was born in Nassau, Germany, _lMay i6, 1825, 
and grew lo manhood, as well as receiving a 
liberal education, in the land of his nativity. 
At that time, in part of the country in which 
he was raised, the compulsory school law- 
obtained, which required eight years' atten- 
dance in the district schools. 

He was united in marriage, November 
19, 1849, to Katherine Hessler, who was 
a nati\'e of the same part of Germany from 
which our subject came. In 1S54, our sub- 
ject left for Quebec, Canada, coming across 
the ocean in an old-fashioned sailing vessel. 
Wisconsin was their objective point, but he 
was told that it was but lit le less than a 
dreary wilderness. So he went to Chicago, 
where he had friends, and after a few dajs' 
visit he went to St. Louis, where he worked 
at the trade of a ship carpenter for two years. 
He then went to Centralia, 111., where he was 
emploj'ed on the Illinois Central Railroad, 
building depots, shops, etc. His health 
failed him, and he was advised to go West. 
So he found employment at railroad work in 
Omaha. He is a good mechanic, and was in 
the employ of the Government seven months 
on the Mississippi, working on a fleet. 

While in Omaha, he concluded to take 
a homestead. He secured a quarter section 
of land in Grant township, Cuming County, 
upon which he erected a small cotton- wood 
house, did some breaking and planted some 
corn, which he says was the best crop he 
ever raised in the State. At that time there 
were numerous bands of Indians in the 
country, but by treating .them kindly, he 
never experienced any trouble with them. 
One year after he came, his family arrived. 
About this time Mr. Munson was killed by 
the Indians, his head being cut off and found 
in a furrow, Tiie soldiers came from Omaha, 



and Mrs. Becker thought the Indians were 
coming, and was terribly frightened, but 
when they came up they told her she need 
not be alarmed, as they would protect her. 
In the spring following, they built a new 
house, the lumber for which was hauled from 
Omaha, it requiring five or six days to make 
a trip. The route was the one opened wy by 
Uriah Bruner, and crossed the same bridge 
he had built in order to get his steam saw- 
mill to West I'oint. In 1870 there was a 
drouth which ruined all the wheat, and he 
only harvested thirty-four bushels from a 
sowing of thirty btishels. The machine 
agents would not sell a machine unless cood 
securitN' could be given, and all he had was 
this crop of wheat. The machine that 
threshed this was the onl\- one in Plum 
Creek. West Point at that time had but one 
store, and most of the goods were brought 
from Omaha. Under the foregoing hard- 
ships our subject started out to build him a 
home. 

Mr. and Mrs- Becker arc the jxirents of 
the following children: Katie, who died in 
1858, at the age of eight years; Julia, wife 
of Michael Grohowske. one of the prominent 
farmers of Cuming County: John, who died 
in 1S65, at the age of nine years : two ivho 
died in infancy. 

He of whom we write this notice has 
always been identified with the Republican 
party. He voted for Abraham Lincoln in 
i860 and for every Republican president 
since. He has served as school treasurer for 
ten }'ears, and helped to build the first school- 
house in district No. 16. In 1S82 he came to 
West Point and is living upon his income. 

He is one of the directors of the First Na- 
tional Bank. Upon his arrival in the coimt}' 
he found'deer, antelope, buffalo and prairie 
chicken ver}' plentiful. Great has been the 
changes wrought in the I'^lkiiorn \'alii'\- .since 
lie fir.st lodkeil upim tiiat fail' domain. 



40 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



FRANK E. BREZINA, of Arlington, en- 
gaged in tlic harness business, will 
form the subject of this notice. Mr. 
Hrezina was born November 22, 1S64, in 
Manitowoc Count}-, Wisconsin, the son of 
Joseph and Mary (Pecinovsky) Brezina, 
natives of Bohemia, where the}- were also 
united in marriage. The father was a farmer 
by occupation, and emigrated to the United 
States, about 1854. Me settled in Manitowoc 
County, Wisconsin, where he was engaged 
in farming until 1S67. At that time he came 
to Cuming County, Nebraska, and availed 
himself of the right, under the most liberal 
laws, of securing a goodly tract of land in the 
way of a homestead and a claim to which he 
added, until he had nine hundred and sixly 
acres. In 1876 he sold this land and removed 
to Fremont, Dodge County, where he en- 
gaged in the hotel and saloon business. 
After three years he sold to his son, John 
Brezina. and has since been living a retired 
life. His wife, the mother of our subject, 
died at Fremont, November 22, 1881, the 
mother of eight children — four sons and four 
daughters. 

Our subject engaged in the confectionery 
business with his brother, Ned A., at Scrib- 
ner, in 1S91. 



NEU A. BREZINA, formerly of Brezina 
Bros., Scribner, Nebraska, but now 
manager of a hotel at Arlington, was 
born September 15, 1867, in Manitowoc 
County, Wisconsin. His parents were Joseph 
and Mary (Pecinovsky) Brezina, the facts 
about wiiose lives are stated in Frank 
Brezina's sketch. The family moved to 
Cuming County, Nebraska, in 1S67, the 
father becoming a homesteader, but now is 
leading a retired life at Fremont, the mother 
having died in 1881. Our subject is the 
seventh child in a family of eight ciiildren. 
At this wiitintr he is unmarried. He is a 



member of the Congregational Church at 
Linwood, Nebraska, where he united March, 
1890. He is also a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, joining that 
society May 30, 188S 

The father of our subject was one of the 
first settlers in Cuming County, there being 
only two houses at West Point, when he 
effected liis settlement, and great has been 
the changes wrought out since the family first 
looked out upon that fair domain, now- in- 
cluded in the well-tilled garden spot of the 
West. 



PETER EBERHARD, located on Sec- 
tion 21, of Everett township. Dodge 
County, has been a resident since 
June, 1875. He first located at Hooper, 
working out by the day and month for seven 
years, when he purchased the farm he now- 
occupies. It was an eighty acre wild tract, 
upon which he placed substantial improve- 
ments, including a farm house, 16x24 f*-'»Jt» a 
good bai-n, cribbing, etc. He planted a two- 
acre grove of timber and provided his place 
with an orchaid of seventy-live trees. His 
present farm comprises 160 acres, 120 of 
which is under the plow. He came to Dodge 
County with about $300, and now is in 
possession of a good home. 

Mr. Eberhard is a native of Germany, 
born June 17, 1852, the son of Frederick and 
Margaret Eberhard, natives of the same 
countr\-. Their four ciiildren were: Simon, 
Margaret, Peter and John (deceased). 

Our subject remained in Germany until 
two years of age, at which time his parents 
came to America, landing at New York har- 
bor, and from there went to Calumet County, 
Wisconsin, wl.ere his father engaged in 
farming. 

Peter remained at home until he was 17 
years of age, and for the next five years 
worked out for otliers, coming to Dodge 





) ' -» 




NOK 7 HE. I S r£A'N NEBRA SKA. 



Count}-, Nebraska, after that. The advan- 
tages he had for an education were poor. He 
was united in marriage in October, 1883, to 
Johanna Kassten, daughter of Peter and 
Henrietta Kassten, natives of German)-, who 
had four children — Johanna, Herman and 
two deceased. 

Our Subject and his wife are llie parents of 
three children — John, born December 17, 
18S4 ; Linda, born November 17, 18S8, and 
Earnest, born December 18, 1891. 

In his political belief Mr. Eberhard votes 
the Independent ticket. 



LOUIS GRAUNKE, a farmer of Section 
36, Elkhorn township, became a 
homesteader in Cuming County in 
1867, when he located on Section 15 of the 
above township, where he lived si.x years; 
sold out, rented land for three years, and 
then purchased eighty acres on Section 34, 
where he remained ten years, and then sold 
again and bought the 120 acres he now lives 
upon. He was born in Germany in 1827, 
and came to America in 1854, hmding at 
Quebec, Canada, where he worked by the 
month for twelve j'ears, and then came West. 

He was united in marriage in his native 
ccjunti\- to Sophia Schinke, by whom eight 
ciiiklren were born — Otellia, Anna, William, 
Amelia, Elizabeth, Emma, Herman and 
Augusta. 

IJoth our subject's and his wile's parents 
died in Germany. 

When our subject came to Nebraska he 
was a very poor man and was compelled to 
work by the day in order to get a start to im- 
prove his homestead. He had to borrow 
money to pay for a cow, which cost him $50. 
He hired his breaking done at $3 per acre, 
and lived in a dug-out. The first year, when 
the assessor came to his place and asked him 
wiiat he had, he replied, " My wife and 
children and one chicken!'" For two years 



all our subject's crops, including his garden, 
were destroyed by the grasshoppers, but as 
time went on and the country became more 
developed, our subject prospered, and is now 
in the possession of a comfortable home. 

LUCIUS DUNBAR RICHARDS, of 
Fremont, Nebraska, was born on a 
farm of poor parents, at Charleston, 
Oilcans Coimty, Vermont, November 26, 
1847. 

His ancestors were among the early settlers 
of New England, and fought in the French 
and Indian War, the War of Independence 
and tie War of 1812. 

Mr. Richards lived on the old homestead 
until he was eleven j'ears old, when his home 
was broken up, and he went to work for his 
board and clothes for neighboring farmers 
until he Was fourteen years of age. What 
education he secured during his youth was 
that acquired at the Yankee district school. 

In i86[ the mutterings of Civil War were 
heard all over the land, and though he was 
but fourteen years old, he determined to 
enlist as a defender of the flag of the Union. 
On account of his extreme youth, he found 
tiis difficult to do, but finally succeeded, 
September 5, 1862, in enlisting as a member 
of Conipan}' I, Fifteenth Regiment Vermont 
Infantry for nine months. John P. Sartle, 
State Mustering Officer, forbade young Rich- 
ards to attend the meeiing when tiie company 
officers were elected, but disregarding the 
this order he succeeded in getting to Brattlc- 
boro, the rendezvous of the regiment, where, 
but for the intercession of the Colonel (jf the 
regiment with tlie United States Mustering 
Officer, he would have been thrown out. 

His regiment was commanded by Redlield 
Proctor, afterward Secretary of War and 
Senator from Vermont, and was one ol (he 
five Vermont regiments constituting Slan- 
nard's Brigade, which afterward did such 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



cflcclive service on Pickett's flank in his 
lamous charge at Gettysburg. 

Before leaving Brattleboro for the front, 
young Richards was detailed as orderly and 
general utility man for Colonel Proctor, and 
it was while serving in this capacity that a 
friendship was formed between the Com- 
nuinder and the bo}' soldier which has in- 
creased in passing years. He served in this 
capacity with his regiment until it was 
mustered out of service in August, 1863. In 
the summer of 1864 he re-enlisted in Com- 
pany K, Seventeenth \'^ermont Infantr}-, car- 
rying a musket until the close of the conflict. 
In the winter of 1864-65 he was with Iiis reg- 
iment in the front line before Petersburg, 
most of the time at Fort Davis, on the 
Jerusalem plank road. On April 2, 1S65, he 
was with his regiment when it charged and 
captured the works in front of Petersburg, 
going into that city bright and early on the 
morning of the 3d. The regiment then went 
witli tlie rest of the army as far as Burksville, 
near Appomatox, where General Lee sur- 
rendered. During the halt at Burksville, the 
subject of our sketch was detailed to guard 
llie property of a widow woman, with orders 
to remain until relieved. After Lee's sur- 
render the army was ordered back to Wasli- 
ington and the boy was forgotten, but the 
second da}' after his regiment started on its 
return marcli he commenced a retreat across 
the country without orders, and reaching 
White's and Black's station, got into a freight 
car and rode to Petersburg, passing the regi- 
ment marching in tlie mud on the way ; spent 
a day or so in Petersburg, when he continued 
iiis retreat to Cit\- Point where he went into 
camp all l)y liinisell, and waiteil until tlie 
regiment sliould arri\e. When lie reported 
for duty, he wore a high, white fui' liat, 
bought from a negro, having lost his cap, 
and was greeted l>y tlie Sergeant, "where did 
you come from? You'll just get li — 1 :"' but 



the war was over. 

After being mustered out of service he 
went to Michigan, wliere his mother had 
moved in the meantime. Here he worked on 
a farm during tlie summer of 1S65, and tlie 
following winter attended Eastman's Business 
College at Pouglikeepsie, New York. In 
March, 1866, he went to Hannibal, Missouri, 
wliere for a lime lie was employed by his 
uncle, he being City Engineer. Later, lie 
was emploj-ed at work about a lime kiln. 
While in his uncle's employ he acquired 
some rudimentary knowledge of engineering, 
which subsequent!}' served liim to a good 
purpose. 

lie remained in Hannibal until Julv, 1S67, 
when he started for Colorado, but on liis 
wa}- west he ran out of money and stopped 
at Missouri Valley, Iowa, then the head- 
quirters of construction of the Sioux City and 
Pacific Railway, and applied for a job, in- 
forming Mr. Burnett that he had some little 
knowledge of engineering. But the onlv 
thing to offer was work on a pile driver, 
which was accepted, and for six weeks he 
bathed more or less in the sloughs and lakes 
between California Junction, and tlie Little 
Sioux river. lie worked on the pile tliiver 
for six weeks, receiving $65.00 per monlli, 
when lie went into the engineering depart- 
ment as axman at $40.00 per montii. Here 
he studied and added to his engineering 
knowledge, and in April, 1S68, was ])roniotid 
to transitman on tlie survey of the Sioux Cit}' 
and Pacific Railway from California Junction 
to Fremont, and after the completion of this 
work the engin'eering party under llie direc- 
tion of Mitchell \'^incenl, made the surve)' for 
what is now the Illinois Central from Sioux 
Cit}' to Fort Dodge. After this Work was 
finished, Mr. Richards returned to the Sioux 
City and Pacific road, and in the winter 
of 1868 and '69 assisted in laying out the 
town sites. While at Arlington, the jiarly 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



45 



boarded with Mr. Calvin Morley, a farmer 
living a mile or so away. One niglit, Super- 
intendent of Construction Burnett stopped at 
Morley's, and the next morning laid a letter 
upon young Richards' plate, which read in 
substance as follows: "You will take charge 
of all railway work between the Missouri 
river and Fremont, and will be respected and 
obeyed accordingly," and further said that 
"the track-laying, the pile-driving and the 
bridge force are not working well togettier; 
you must straighten them out." It was a 
responsible position for a young man twenty- 
one years of age. The tracklaying was com- 
pleted to Fremont in February, 1869. From 
Fremont Mr. Richards went to Cherokee, on 
tlie Sioux City and Fort Dodge line, where 
he had charge of construction of a division 
crossing the Little vSioux River, where he 
remained until November, 1869, when he 
was ordered to Fremont, and in about six 
weeks built the first ten miles of the Fremont, 
Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railway, which 
was, during the year 1870, under his charge, 
completed to West Point, and to Wisner 
early in 1871. 

Railway construction having for the time 
ceased, he was appointed road master and 
superintendent of bridges and buildings on 
the line from Sioux City to Wisner, wiiere 
he remained till August, 1872. Meantime 
he had exercised his right under the land 
laws of the government, and homesteaded 
eighty acres of land near Scribner, Nebraska, 
which constituted iiis first real estate pos- 
sessions. 

In January, 1871, Mr. Riciiards returned 
to Vermont, and was on January 91)1 united 
in marriage to Miss Carro E. Hills, at Bur- 
lington, returning with his wife to Fremont, 
and later moving to Missouri Valley, wiiere 
they lived until the fall of 1872, when Mr. 
Richards took his wife and child back to her 
Vermont home and went to Costa Rica, 



Central America, where he was engaged in 
engineering and railway construction until 
November, 1874, when he returned to Bur- 
lington, Vermont. 

In April, 1875, ^^ brought his family to 
Fremont, e.\-pecting to make it his home. He 
had come to be considered a fair railroad 
man and tried to get work in that line, but 
the hard times had put a stop to all railroad 
work, and he could find nothing to do. He 
had saved about fifteen hundred dollars with 
which he bought a modest home, and not 
knowing what else to do, embarked in the 
real estate and insurance business with W. 
C. Ghost, as a partner, continuing for about 
one year. He was afterwards associated 
with a Mr. Reynolds, and later without any 
partner until the present firm of Richards, 
Keene & Co. was formed. 

His business career in Fremont is known 
by all his fellow citizens as one absolutely 
above reproach. He has been a man of un- 
tiring industry and successful activities, and 
has become to be recognized as one of Fre- 
mont's foremost citizens. He has been 
closely identified with a large number of the 
leading industries of the place, and an impor- 
tant factor in making Fremont a manufac- 
turing center. 

He is a member of several civic societies, 
being Past Grand High Priest of the Grand 
Royal Arch Chapter of Nebraska; Past Com- 
mander of Mt. Tabor Commandery No. 9, 
Knights Templar ; Past Commander of Mc- 
Pherson Post No 4, G. A. R., and was 
chosen by the Department of Nebraska as 
delegate-at-large to the National G. A. R. 
Encampment at Boston, 1890. 

Politically, he is a stalwart Republican. 
He has been Mayor of Fremont two terms, 
and Surveyor of Dodge County three years. 
Our subject is not a politician in the ordinary 
acceptation of the term, but has always enter- 
tained a conviction that it is the duly of everv 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



man to identify himself with some political 
party, and assist in directing it in proper 
channels for the public good. He commenced 
forming a state acquaintance in political 
circles in 1886, when he was a member of 
the State Central Committee. Two years 
later his excellent judgment and splendid 
executive abihty came to be fullv recognized, 
and he was elected chairman of the Republi- 
can State Central Committee by acclamation. 
In 1889 he was re-elected to the same 
position at the Hastings Convention, again by 
acclamation. It was this party service, to- 
gether with a great popular confidence he 
iiad acquired through his extended acquain- 
tance as a man possessing in an exceptional 
degree, the qualifications for Governor, for 
which he was the Republican nominee in 
1S90. The manner of the nomination was 
unprecedented in the history of Nebraska. 
No candidate ever before received on a 
regular ballot, by roll call, all but two votes 
of the entire convention, as was the case in 
the convention in which Mr. Richards was 
nominated, he receiving eight hundred and 
twelve out of the eight hundred and fourteen 
cast. His speech of acceptance was as 
follows : 

"I am deep]}- mindful of the high honor 
you have bestowed on me by this nomination. 
I accept it with a realizing sense of the grave 
responsibilities which attach to the office, 
and with not the fullest confidence in my 
ability to discharge satisfactorily the duties 
devolving upon the Chief Executive of this 
grand commonwealth. If elected, as I hope 
to be, I pledge you that so far as it lies 
within my power, the laws shall be faithfully 
executed and the financial affairs Jiomstly 
and economically administered." 

A combination of circumstances defeated 
him in the election, which he accepted with 
the same good grace that he would have 
accepted an election. 



ROBERT STUART HUME, a farmer 
of Section 27, Stanton precinct. Stan- 
ton County, is a native of Scotland, 
born at Strathmore, October 25, 1835. He is 
a son of John and Christina (StuartJ Hume, 
whose children were: William, Ellen (Mrs. 
J. Bruce), Peter, John and Robert. The 
last named is the only one of the family who 
ever came to America. His boyhood was 
spent in his native town, and when nineteen 
years of age he began to work as a slater, 
serving an apprenticeship of four years. In 
1869 he came to America, and in September 
of the same year to Stanton County, Ne- 
braska, and homesteaded his present farm. 
Four of his neighbers located at the same 
time. After having secured his land under 
the homestead act, he returned to Fremont 
and worked on the Union Pacific Railroad 
until the following spring, when he bought a 
yoke of oxen and after a journey of eight 
days landed his family upon his homestead. 
He had built a small cabin at Fremont, which 
he removed in the spring. As he iiad never 
been accustomed to farming, l,e did not make 
a very skillful teamster or plowman. How- 
ever, he set to work, with a right good will, 
to build for himself and family a home, lie 
now recalls, with considerable amusement, 
some of his first experiences as a husband- 
man. With the exception of the grasshopper 
years, he has been favored each recurring 
harvest time with an abundant yield from his 
soil. His present place contains a quarter 
section of land, all fenced and provided with 
good improvements. 

July 16, 185S, Mary A. Janieison, daugiUer 
of James and Margaret (Stuart) Jameison. 
became his wife. 

Mr and .Mrs. Hume arc the parentsof seven 
living ciiildren (three having died in child- 
hood) — Margaret (Mrs. E. Dollan). James, 
Robert. Jolianna, W'iliiam, Alex. wider and 
Charles. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Politically he, of whom we write, votes the 
Independent ticket. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity and is one of the trustees 
of the Old Settlers' Association. 

Mr. Hume and his family endured much 
hardship and privation the tirst few years 
they were in the county, but he is now one 
of the forehanded prosperous agriculturists 
of the Elkhorn Valley. Besides his own 
farm he has been able to ])urchasc several 
farms for his children. 



Politically, our subject is identilied with 
the Democratic party. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Mittelstadt are members of the Congre- 
gational church. I'he names of their childien 
are as follows: Henry (deceased), Emma, 
Ida and Pauline. 



HENRY MITTELSTADT, one of the 
pioneers of Stanton County, has been 
a resident since the autumn of 1868. 
Of his earlier career it may be stated that he 
was born in Prussia, near Berlin, Germany, 
June 6, 1828. He there grew to manhood, 
and received his education in the district 
schools common to that countr}-. In 1S56 he 
was united in marriage to Paulina Shlusser, 
and in 1857 he emigrated to America and 
purchased forty acres of an oak opening in 
Dodge County, Wisconsin. In 1868 he sold 
this place for sixteen hundred dollars, and 
came to Stanton County, Nebraska, where he 
took a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres, upon which he built a log-house. He 
subsequently parchased more land until he 
had four hundred acres. In 1883 he sold 
this place and built a comfortable home in 
the village of Stanton, where he is now living 
off of the work of his earlier j'ears. He 
started in with nine hundred dollars in Ne- 
braska, and has added to that until he is now 
one of the wealthiest men of his county. 
Himself and brother Carl were the first to 
establish the name the}' bear in the United 
States. At the time he made his settlement 
here there were but few settlers scattered here 
and there over the prairies, and Indians were 
not unfrequently their callers. 



LEVI MILLER, President of the First 
National Bank at Stanton, Nebraska, 
was born in Franklin County, Ohio, 
October 28, 1838. He is a son of Daniel 
Miller, born in Lebanon County, Pennsj-1- 
vania, 1812. His mother was Catharine 
(Winey) Miller, of the same count)*, 
born in 1818, of German descent. When 
young people they crossed the Alleghan}' 
mountains to Ohio, where thej' were 
married. After that event the husband 
followed carpentering for a livelihood 
a for several years, but later became 
farmer, in which role he was very success- 
ful. They were the parents of eight children 
— Anna, wife of Oran Pratt, of Ntbraska; 
Levi, the subject of this sketch: George, 
who settled at Fort Madison, Iowa, where he 
died June 7, 1S88 ; Rebecca, wife of Alex- 
ander Wymans, of Indian Territory ; Daniel, 
a farmer of Wright County, Minnesota : 
William A , of Keokuk, Iowa ; Joseph, resid- 
ing at Peoria, Illinois, and John H , deceased, 
John H., Levi, William A., and Daniel 
served in the Civil War. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller moved to Iowa, in 
1852, and settled in Van Buren County, they 
being among the pioneers of that locality. 
The mother died in 1857, and the father in 
1864 They were members of the Lutheran 
Church. The subject of this notice was educat- 
ed in the district schools, attending about three 
months each year, the remainder of the time 
being employed assisting his father on the 
farm. He remained at home until February 
12, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second 



48 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Missouri Cavalry, he being mustered in at 
Alexandria, Missouri, and was in a raid 
against the rebel leader Marmaduke, which 
lasted for nine da3's and nights, with a fight 
each night. He remained in the service until 
April 9, 1S65. 

1S64 marked a new era in this man's life, 
for it was during that year he was married in 
Van Buren County, Iowa, to Lucretia Tuten- 
viler, born near New Lexington, Ohio, in 
1S43. 

After the war closed our subject went to 
farming in Lee County, Iowa, where 
he remained four years, and then 
moved to Marengo, Iowa, where he 
engaged in the mercantile business, continu- 
ing until 1872, and then formed a partnership 
with F. McGiverin. They sold out in 1872, 
when our subject engaged in business at 
Avoca, Iowa. In 1881 he came to Stanton, 
moving his family the next year. 

In politics, our subject is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic party, and while living in 
Iowa held several local ofllces. Having 
access to law libraries, he read law, and was 
admitted to the Bar in 1881. After coming 
to Stanton, he was elected Count}* Attorney. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of five 
living children — Alfie, wife of Dr. Nixon, a 
dentist of Stanton; Harry D., assistant 
ca'-hier of the First National Bank ; Walter, a 
harness-maker ; Gertrude and Bessie at 
home. 

Mr. Miller is a member of Hebron Lodge 
No. 148 of the Odd Fellows Order at 
Merengo, Iowa. He has alwaj's manifested 
a lively interest in educational matters and 
has been chairman of the board since the 
organization of the high school. 

GL. EMIL KLINGB-EIL is a promi- 
, nent merchant at Hoojier, and the son 
of C. W. Klingbeil, also of the same 
place. Of our subject's father it may be 



said he located in Dodge County in the 
autumn of 1867. He first settled in Cuming 
township, where he took an eighty acre 
homestead, which he improved and added to, 
until he had three hundred and twent}' acres 
of land, two hundred of which was under 
cultivation. He broke up his land, provided 
the place with good buildings, including a 
small frame house, 12x14 ^*^^^i >" which he 
lived one year and then erected a iiouse 
14x28 feet, with a wing twelve feet square, 
the upright being a story and one half build- 
ing. He planted out a grove of four acres, 
set out an orchard, and built a barn 30x64 
feet, granaries, a blacksmith shop, and dug 
good wells upon the premises. He remained 
upon this farm eighteen years, when he sold 
out and removed to the village of Hooper, 
investing in town property. When he came 
to Nebraska he brought about three thousand 
dollars with him. He met with quite severe 
losses during two or three years of tlie grass- 
hopper siege. 

C. W. Klingbeil, is a native of Germany, 
born November 23, 1814. He is the son of 
Daniel G. and Christena Klingbeil, also 
natives of Germany, whose three children 
were: August(deceased), Caroline (deceased), 
and our subject, G. W., who remained in 
Germany until forty-nine years of age, when 
he sailed for America, landing at New York 
harbor, and from thence made his way to 
Dodge County, Wisconsin, where he pur- 
chased forty acres of land upon which he 
livid until he came to Nebraska. 

An important event in this man's life oc- 
cured March 1834, when lie was united in 
marriage to Dorath}' S. Schuliz. daughter of 
Carl ane Dorathy Schultz, natives of Germ- 
any, who were the parents of seven children, 
born in the following order: Dorathy, Fred- 
erica, Caroline, Louisa, Albertina, Wilhel- 
mena (deceased), and William (deceased.) 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



49 



The home of our subject and his wife has 
been blessed by the following children : 
1 hressa, Emma, Helen, Augusta, Agnes, 
Herman (deceased), and G. L Emil. 

Like every oilier loval. adopted or free- 
horn citizens of this country, Mr. Klingbeil, 
who appreciates the advantages found in our 
form of government, gives politics due con- 
sideration, and he casts his ballot with the 
Republican part}', believing it comes nearer 
to measuring up to the just administration of 
governmental affairs, than an}- other party 
now contesting for supremacy, 

Herman;. MASKENTHINE.of Sec- 
tion 15, township 23, Elkhorn pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, was born at 
Hustisford, Dodge County, Wisconsin, July 
10, i860, the son of John and Christena 
Maskenthine, who came to Wis onsin in 1854. 
In 1866 the family removed by ox team to 
Stanton County, Nebraska, being seven 
weeks on the road. Many of the streams 
had to be bridged before they could cross. 
John Maskenthine took a homestead on Sec- 
tion 20, the present site of the village of 
Stanton. Here he commenced the erection 
of a log cabin, but before it was completed 
he was taken sick and died, October 13, 
1866. Mrs. Maskenthine afterwards married 
John Mather, of Rock Creek, Cuming Coun- 
ty. She bought the original homestead claim 
of the United States Government, at one 
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and 
retained the same until 1878. John Masken- 
thine and W'ife had two children — Herman 
John and Frank. After her marriage she 
removed to Wisner, and by her second mar- 
riage three children were born — Amelia, 
Amanda and Lawrence. Mrs. Mather now 
resides with our subject. At the age of 
seventeen, he of whom we write this notice 
began life as a farm laborer. In 1878 his 
mother bought a farm on Section 10, town- 



ship 22, which he carried on until 1885, at 
which time he removed to his present place. 
His farm consists of two hundred and. sixty 
acres, upon which he carries on general 
farming. 

Politically Mr. Maskenthine is a Democrat. 
He is the present assessor of his precinct. 

He was married November, 1885, to 
Theresa, daughter of Vir.cent and Rosa 
Schwartz, now residents of Washington. 
Our subject's wife was born in Austria. She 
has borne her husband two children — Lud- 
wig and Paul. Mr. Maskenthine is a mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, and it may be 
added that he is one of the most intelligent 
and progressive agriculturists of his precinct. 
It was in honor of his father that Masken- 
thine Creek was named. 



JAMES J. McFARLAND, editor of the 
Stanton Weekly Register, was born in 
Marion County, Indiana, March 9, 
1857, the son of Alexander and Elizabeth 
(Cowger) McFarland, natives of Indiana, who 
were married in and settled in Marion 
County, Indiana. They were the parents of 
eight children : Ann E., wife of C. N. Lowry, 
of Stanton County, Nebraska; James J., of 
whom we write this notice; Samuel R. , of 
Dodge County, Nebraska; Milton H., of 
Stanton; Martha E. , died at the age of six- 
teen years : Eva, a teacher in the public schools 
at Stanton ; Albert C, a printer; Etta B., 
at home. 

In 1868, Mr. McFariand, the father of our 
subject, came with his family to what is now 
Stanton County and settled upon a home- 
stead, where he remained for several years, 
and then moved to the village where he still 
resides. James J. came with his parents to 
the county when all was yet wild and un- 
develojied. He attended the pioneer schools, 
assisted his father in impro\ing his home- 
stead ; but being possessed of a studious 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



nature, he soon became a teacher and fol- 
lowed school teaching for six years, after 
which he entered the olllce of J. H. Slater, 
editor of the Register and commenced to learn 
the printer's trade. He remained with him 
two years, when he entered the ofTice of the 
Stanlon Democrat and in 1886 purchased 
one-iialf interest in the same, and one j'ear 
later became sole proprietor, and continued 
to operate the paper for three years, when he 
sold the plant to its present owner, and a few 
weeks later purchased the Register, the 
history of which is given in the village historj' 
of Stanton. 

Our subject was married August 14, 1878, 
to Miss Hannah E. Lovett, a native of Indi- 
ana. This union has been blessed by four 
children; Lillie V., born October 14, 1879; 
Chester R., born October 28, 1881, and died 
April 28,1884: Elmer M, born March 2, 
1882 ; Orvil, born December 5, 1887. 

Mr. McFarland is a member of the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows, has passed all 
the chairs of that order, and represents his 
lodge at the Grand Lodge. He was also one 
of the charter members of the Modern Wood- 
men of America, at Stanton. 

No man stands higher in the estimation of 
his fellow citizens than does Mr. McFarland. 
He has long been associated with every 
interest of the Elkhorn Valley, and, though a 
young man, has been an important factor in 
the development of liis community. He is 
one of those quiet, thoughtful and true men, 
of which the world has none too many. In 
the role of a local journalist, he is indeed the 
right man in the right place. 



HERMAN R. NEUMAN, a farmer of 
Section 25, township 23, of Elkhorn 
precinct, Stanton Count}', was born 
near Horicon, Wisconsin, August 23, 1863. 
He is the son of Christ, and Mar}- Neuman. 
Soon after his birth, the family removed to 



West Point, Nebraska, where his father took 
a homestead. Herman R, spent his youthful 
da^'s there. He attended the German school, 
but has picked up the most of his knowledge 
of the English language b\' observation. He 
spent one season at carpenter work. In iSSi 
the family removed to tlie village of Stanton, 
and the ne.\t season he and his brother took 
charge of a twelve-hundred-acre ranch in 
Elkhorn precinct. They kept 150 head of 
cattle and about 700 head of sheep, together 
with swine in proportion. He spent the 
summer of 1S85 in traveling over the western 
portion of Nebraska, and in 1886 he took 
possession of his present farm of 200 acres, 
upon which he has placed good improve- 
ments, and is now contemplating the erection 
of a fine residence. In 1888 his entire corn 
crop was destroyed by hail. 

He of whom we write this notice was 
united in marriage, February 26, 1889, to 
Emma Koch, daughter of Frederick Koch. 
Their two living children are Awald and 
Alexa. One child died in infancy. 

Politically, Mr. Neuman afliliates with the 
Democratic party. Both he and his estima- 
ble wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church. 

When this family came to West Point, 
Omaha was their nearest trading and milling 
point, and our subject well remembers a time 
when the family were obliged to subsist upon 
bread made of bran. It usually required a 
four days' trip with an ox team, and upon 
the occasion just referred to a storm had 
delayed them. 



GUSTAF NAST, whose farm home is 
on Section 10, of Evert townshiji. 
Dodge County, Nebraska, has been a 
settler since the spring of 1873. He first 
located in Ridgley township, where he rented 
land for tliree years. He then bouglit the 
farm he now occupies, upon which he placed 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



51 



substantial improvements and added to his 
original tract, until he now has one hundred 
and seventy-seven acres, one hundred acres 
of which is under the plow. It was his ill- 
fortune to live in the country during the 
plague of grasshoppers, b}^ reason of which 
he lost much, but time changes all things, 
and he has lived to see Nebraska develope 
into one of the grandest States in the Union. 

Our subject is a native of Germany, born 
April 15, 1844. ^^ '^ '^'^^ ^O" °* Jacob and 
Anna Nasi, who were also born in Germany, 
and the parents of the following children: 
Charles (deceased): Fred, Paulina, Louis, 
Rose, (deceased); Gustaf, Tena and Minnie. 
Gustaf remained in his native country until 
he was twenty-six years of age and then bid 
farewell to the scenes of his childhood, and 
came to America, where for the first three 
years he worked for others, in New Jersey, 
after which he came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. The advantages afforded him 
for an early education were ver}? poor. He 
was in the German army two years, in the 
war between Germany and Austria. 

He was united in marriage, in 1869, to 
Augusta Meister, daughter of Frederick and 
Minnie Meister, natives of Germany, who 
had six children: Fred, Augusta, Adolph 
and Matilda, (deceased) ; Bertha and Gustave. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four children, born in the following order : 
Rosa, May 7, 1872; Henry, August 7, 1873; 
Frederick, August 12, 1878, and Matilda, 
March 16, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. NjsI are 
members of the Lutlieran Church, and 
politically he adheres to the Democratic 
party. 

- -♦• • 

EDWARD C. OWEN, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 28, Grant township, has been a 
resident of Cuming County since the 
autumn of 1882, when he located on Section 
32, purchasing a quarter section of land, with 



forty acres of breaking on the same. He 
built a house, stables, granary, and other out- 
buildings, planted a grove of five acres and 
an orchard of eighty trees. He had one 
hundred acres under the plow and remained 
on this place five years. He then exchanged 
for a half section of land in Stanton County, 
which had one hundred and five acres under 
the plow. He made the necessary improve- 
ments, remained one year, sold out and 
purchased his old farm in Grant township, 
upon which he lived another year; sold out, 
and went to Sheridan County, where he 
bought an improved farm upon which he 
lived one year, and then returned to Cuming 
County, and purchased a quarter section of 
land, one hundred and twenty acres of which 
he had broken up this year, 1892. 

Our subject was born in Marion County, 
Iowa, in 1861, the son of Ora and Sarah Ann 
Owen, natives of Indiana, whose ten children 
were: Virgil, Alice, deceased; Edward, Etta, 
deceased; an infant, deceased, Charles, Nel- 
lie, Ada, deceased: Alva, and an infant 
deceased. 

When fourteen years of age our subject 
went to Mills County, Iowa, where he worked 
on a farm by the month for five years, after 
which he rented land for two years and then 
came to Cuming County, Nebraska. His 
mother died when he was eleven years of age 
and his early advantages for obtaining an 
education were poor. He was married 
October, 1882, to Ella, daughter of Daniel 
Cook and wife, natives of Illinois, and Ken- 
tucky. Their ten cliildren were : Mary, 
Willis, deceased ; Lizzie, William, Julia, 
Etta, Ella, John, Cynthia and Webster. 

Mr. and Mrs. Owen have three children : 
Mable, Ray and Edna- 

He belongs to the Sons of Veterans, is a 
>tanch supporter of the Republican party and 
lioth himself and wife are members of the 
Melhoclisl Episcopal Church. 



52 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



HERBERT E. SCRIPTURE, a repre- 
sentative farmer of Maple Creek pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, residing on 
Section 3, township 21, range 2; was born in 
New Hampshire, September, 1856. He is a 
son of George and Maria (Wheeler) Script- 
ure. His father was born in New Hamp- 
shire, and his mother died when he was but 
five j'ears old, so he knows nothing of her 
ancestry. After the death of his mother, he 
lived with an uncle nine years, after which he 
worked out for others until seventeen years 
of age, and then came to Stanton County, 
Nebraska, where he followed farm life, work- 
ing by the month for five years. In 1888 he 
came to his present place and bought one 
hundred and sixty acres of land. 

Our subject's father died in 1880, leaving 
a family of four children: Frank (deceased), 
Josephine (deceased), he of whom we write 
this sketch and Anna; she is now Mrs. Wil- 
ford and lives in Massachusetts. 

Mr. Scripture started in life with no capital 
save his own energy, and now owns, besides 
his good farm, seventeen head of horses and 
a one-halt interest in one hundred and 
twenty-five cattle and one hundred and 
seventy-five hogs. 

Politically he is identified with the Indepen- 
dent party, and is a member of the Indepen- 
dent Order of Odd Fellows. 



JOSEPH SMITH, an enterprising farmer 
of Cuming County, residing in Blaine 
township, on Section 16, will form the 
subject of this notice. He was born in 
Austria, January 17, 1861, and is the son of 
Joseph and Catliarine (Rohatch) Smith. The 
former was a soldier in the Geiman and 
Austrian war of 1866. He died of cholera 
while in the service. He also had another 
son, Stephen, now a resident of Humphrey, 
Nebraska. When our subject was thirteen 
years of age he with the balance of the family 



went to Baltimore, Maryland, where our 
subject served an apprenticeship at the shoe- 
maker's trade. Later, he worked on a farm 
near Baltimore, coming to Nebraska in 1879. 
In 1884, he purchased his present farm in 
Blaine township, which was then a wild tract 
of land. 

He of whom we write was united in mar- 
riage March 8, 1883, to Addie Sharp, of 
Beemer, Nebraska, the daughter of Cyrus 
and Lydia (Wheat) Sharp, who were the 
first settlers of Beemer township. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of five 
children: Howard S., Thomas K.,LeeR., 
Oliver E and Paul R. 

Politically, Mr. Smith is in harmony with 
the Peoples' party of to-day. He has served 
as justice of the peace in his township for 
several years. He belongs to Camp No. 
1061, Modern Woodmen of America. 



WILLIAM GLAUBIUS, a representa- 
tive farmer of Cuming Count}-, re- 
siding on Section 29, of Wisner 
township, is justly entitled to a place in this 
connection. 

He was born near the City of Berlin, 
Prussia, March 23, 1840. He is the son of 
Michael and Louisa (Witte) Glaubius, who 
were the parents of three children, our 
subject being the eldest. One sister, Mrs. 
Breitkreutz, resides in Bismark township. 
William received a good common scliool 
education and his boyhood days were spent 
between the school-room and labor on ihe 
farm. When fourteen years of age, he left 
home for the first time. In 1868, he came to 
Nebraska, and homesteaded a quarter section 
of land, now embraced in his present farm. 
His nearest neighbor on the east was lour 
miles distant, and on the west ten miles inter- 
vened. He now owns eight hundred acres 
of land, devoted to grain and stock raising. 
For the first live years, he was obligeil to 
draw his grain to Fremont by team. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



53 



December 3T, 1865, our subject was united 
in marriage to Emilie Miller. They have 
seven children: Otto, Ida, Walter, Emerette, 
Ottilie, Paul and Gustav. Since 1890, Mr. 
(Jlaubius has retired from active labor, leav- 
ing the management of his farm largely to 
his sons. Politically, he is an Independent, 
aUhough he has usually supported the Demo- 
cratic party, but has hever been an a-pirant 
to public onice. He came to this country 
with borrowed money, and began business 
one hundred and thirty dollars in debt. Both 
himself and family experienced many hard- 
ships during their early settlement. Their 
crops were repeatedl}' destroyed by the 
grasshoppers, and in the month of February, 
1876, incredible as it may seem, at that time 
of the year, all' of his out-buildings and 
personal property were destroyed by a prairie 
fire. His present residence was erected in 
1S85. For three years, his only vehicle was 
a sledge which he made by splitting a log. 
He often worked for his neighbors six or 
seven miles away, walking from home each 
day and upon returning, work nearly all night 
to take care of his own crops. 



EDWARD GAMBLE, a farmer of Ever- 
ett township, residing on Section 29, 
came to Dodge Count}' in the spring 
of 1S70, locating on the farm he now 
occupies, which at the time was but two 
hundred and forty acres of wild land. He at 
once set about to improve the place by break- 
ing and erecting buildings and fences. He 
set a small grove, the trees of which now 
tower up in their strength and beaul}^ as 
monuments of those pioneer days. He has an 
orchard of one hundred and fifty trees, and a 
willow hedge around his entire place. When 
he came to Nebraska, all that he possessed 
was the above wild land, his team and wagon. 
He was a resident during the famous grass- 
hopper raids in tiic seventies, by reason of 
which he lost much. 



He of whom we write was born in Wauke- 
sha County, Wisconsin, April 7, 1840, the 
son of George and Mar)- Gamble, natives of 
Ireland, whose nine children were as follows : 
Maria, (deceased) ; Elizabeth, an infant, 
(deceased); Edward, William, Robert, 
Margaret, Sarah and James. 

Edward remained in Wisconsin until he 
was thirty years of age, and followed farm- 
ing for a livelihood. His father came to 
Nebraska, in 1876, and died October, 18S8. 
Our subject received a common school edu- 
cation and thus far has led a single life. 

Politically, he votes the Republican ticket, 
and in religious matters is a Roman Catholic. 



PROF. WILLIAM H. CLEMMONS, 
President of the Fremont Normal, 
School and Business Institute (a history 
of which appears elsewhere in this wor-k), is 
a native of Madison County, Ohio, born 
April 6, 1857. His pai-ents wer-e Wm. M. 
and Ellen O. (Bethards) Clemmons, who 
were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respec- 
tively, and of English and German ancestors. 
They are both deceased; t'le mother when 
our subject was but eight years of age The 
father was a farmer and died in Van Wert 
County, Ohio, in 1885. Our subject was 
but a mere babe when his parents removed to 
Van Wert County, in wl ich section he was 
reared. At the age of nine years, he was 
bound out to a farmer, to remain until he was 
twenty-one years of age, at which time he 
was to receive for his labois a suit of clothes, 
horse, saddle and bridle. At the age of 
si.xleen, he became tired of his bonded life, 
and thought to liberate himself. Conse- 
quently, he agreed to clear fort)' acres of 
timber, and fence the same into ten-acre lots, 
which he faithfully did, and completed his 
task only six months before his time would 
have expir^ed. Up to the time he became of 
age, he received but about two months' of 
schooling out of the year ; this being at the 



54 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



district school. After reaching the j-ear of 
his majority, he worked until he had secured 
some money, with which he entered the 
Valparaiso school, where he took a thorough 
course. lie also took a supplementary 
course, at the Indiana State University. 
After completing his course, in 1880, he at 
once took charge of the schools, at Tipton, 
Indiana, and remained there in that capacity 
until 18S6, when he came to Nebraska, to 
take the professorship of the sciences, as 
taught by the Fremont Normal School ; but 
not finding tilings to his liking, he accepted a 
position in the city schools, for one year, 
after which he took charge of the 
schools at Ponca, Nebraska, where he tauglit 
one term. He then returned to the Fremont 
Normal School, as its assistant. 

Mr. Clemmons was united in marriage, at 
Tipton, Indiana, Oct. 8, 1885, to Miss Dell 
U Harding, who was a native of Indiana. 
Our subject was a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to Austin Lodge, No. 
152, A. F. & A. M. at Tipton, Indiana. He 
is now a member of the A. F. & A. M. No. 
15, at Fremont, Nebra'-ka. Both he and his 
wife are members, of the Congregational 
church, and are highly prized for their many 
accomplishments in the communitj' in which 
they live. 

Some men achieve success in life, b}' hav- 
ing it thrust upon them, as it were, b}- being 
the heirs of wealthy families, surrounded by 
social adx'antages, not known to the poor 
class. But such was not the case with our 
subject, for his success has been chiseled out 
by his own higli aim in life, backed up by an 
untiring induslr}-, which originated during 
the earliest years of his life. The best friend 
the world ever afforded him — his mother — 
died when he was but seven years of age, 
and two jears later, he was by the old-time 
custom "bound out" among strangers, who 
intended to care for him until he u'ew to 



manhood. While this custom is not as popu- 
lar as in former j'ears, the present spirit of 
the age devising better means for the support 
of orphans than that custom, which made a 
tender youth little less than a slave ; but not- 
withstanding the heartaches and hardships 
endured by the boys, who were bound out in 
those times, there was a certain degree of 
reward, as the pages of histor}' contain more 
biographies of truly great and strong men 
who were thus chafed and aggravated by the 
perplexities, only known to the orphan boy, 
who had but an adopted home, than of 
almost tenfold the number who have been 
nurtured in the cradle of luxur}', being the 
pride and pet of their own father and mother. 
It will be well for the young generation, who 
read this sketch, to reflect upon the vast 
amount of labor, the perspiration, backaches 
and calloused hands, it would require upon 
their part, to fell the timber, clear up the 
underbrush, and build rail fences with no 
reward at the end, save having their own 
time for a few months or years at most. 
Such was the task our subject elected for 
himself; but as "Antagonism is the law of 
development," the ver}- hardships above 
named gave a strength of body, mind and 
character, which has influenced for the good 
all the subsequent )'ears of our subject's life. 
And while such earlj-, youthful hardships 
cannot be coveted by the present generation, 
the narration of these facts ought to give 
them a higher appreciation of home, parents 
and all of the hallowed influences which 
cluster around these words. 



GEORGE CLOSE, whose valuable farm 
home is located on Section 25. of Elk- 
iiorn township, was the son of one of 
the settlers who wended their way to Dodge 
County in the springs of 1867. His parents 
first located on a farm in this townshi)i and he 
remained at home until he was of age, when 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



he bought the farm he now occupies, wliich 
at the time was a partly improved, eighty 
acre tract, upon which he built a house 14x26 
feet, provided the necessary' out-buildings, a 
well, a grove of shade trees, and planted a 
small orchard. 

He of whom we write was born in Craw- 
ford County, Wisconsin, February 7, 1856, 
the son of John A. and Nancy Close, natives 
of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectfully. Their 
eight children were: Sarah M., Mary E., 
Henry C, Caroline E. (deceased), George, 
Frank (deceased), Martha M. and Rebecca 
E. When eleven years of age our subject 
accompanied his parents to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. 

September, 18S1, he was united in marriage 
to Martha Clay, daughter of Robert and 
Ellen Clay, natives of England and Scotland 
respectively. This lady died February 27, 
1886, and for his second wife he married 
July 3, 1888, Nettie M. Gwynn, daughter 
of Samuel and Lucy Gwynn, natives of 
England and New York respectively, whose 
three children were William, Arlliur and 
Nettie. 

By this marriage our subject has three chil- 
dren: Earl F. , born March 25, 1889; Myrtle 
I., born October 29, 1890 and Ralph E., born 
July 26, 1892. 

Politically Mr. Close is identified with the 
Independent's, and has held the otlice of 
justice of the peace three terms. Both he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



HIRAM BURGER, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Union township, 
residing on Section 28, came to 
Dodge County in the autum of 1866 and 
rented a farm from Mr. Graham, which is 
still owned by his widow. In the fall of 1867, 
he took the homestead, where he has lived 
ever since. He has sold forty acres of the 



homestead, but bought one hundred and 
twenty acres more, giving him a quarter 
section of land in one body. His first house 
was erected in 1868; it was a frame structure 
one story high, 14x22 feet, and is now used 
as a dining-room. In 1884 he built a com- 
modious barn, calculated especially for cattle. 

Mr. Burger is a native of the Empire 
State, born in Steuben County, N. Y., Aug. 
21, 1845. His parents were John and Per- 
melia (Hauber) Burger, both natives of New 
York. Our subject remained at home with 
his parents until he became of age. When 
he was nine years of age his parents removed 
to Illinois, where he remained until he came 
to Nebraska. 

August 8, 1866, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma Mason, daughter of Rev. J. 
F. and Maria (Tyler) Mason, the father 
being a native of New Hampshire and the 
mother of New York. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of four children: Ella, 
born July 20, 1867 ; Millie (Mrs. Kern), born 
December 29, 1868: Cora, deceased: and 
Lewis, born April 2, 1879. 

Emma (Mason) Burger was born in Cat- 
taraugus Count}', New York, July 8, 1847, 
and in the autumn of tliat year her parents 
moved to Franklinville of the same county: 
her father being a minister, their home was 
in various places. Our subjects wife re- 
mained at home in New York until iier 
mother died, July 28, 1856. Her father at 
the time was in Nebraska, and returned in 
1857, and brought his son H. O. Mason: and 
again in i860, lor his two daughters, Mrs. 
Burger and her sister^ now Mrs. Smith of 
Burt County. Mrs. Burger's father, Josiah 
F. Mason was born in Cheshire County, New 
Hampshire, May 22, 1803. His father 
(Joseph) was a farmer and a niitive of Mas- 
sachusetts and served as a "Minute Man" in 
the first company that lired the first gun at 



56 



NORTIIEASTERtf NEBRASKA. 



Lexington Ridge, Boston, during the Revolu- 
tionary War, in April, 1775. 

Mrs. Burger's lather remained at home 
with his parents until twenty-one years of 
age, teaching school the winter before he 
was twenty-one. He went to work May i 
(his twenty-first birthday coming on the 
twenty-second of that month) and had to pay 
fifty cents per day for his time, until his 
birthday. After si.\ months, he went to the 
academy at Alstead one term, after wliich he 
went to the iiigh school in Walpole, New 
Hampshire. March, 1825, lie started by 
stage, for Rochester, New York, taking him 
seven days and nights to make the journey. 
He rented a saw-mill and remained until the 
autumn of 1829, when he went to Cattaraugus 
County, and followed lumbering until the fall 
of 1843, but during that time he had made a 
visit home and found that a great many of 
his friends had joined the church, and he, 
being convinced that his duty, also became a 
member, and commenced to preach about 
1S32 as a local minister. From 1843 to 1856, 
he devoted all his time to the ministr)-. He 
came to Burt Count)', Nebraska, in Juh', 
1856, and calculated to enter land here, and 
leave a nephew who had come with him to 
hold the land for liim and he would return 
and go to preaching. But he had not been 
here long before he received the intelligence 
that his wife was dead, so he made up his 
mind that he would remain in the West, and 
in 1857 bouglit a horse, rode to Topeka, 
Kansas, for the purpose of getting an oppoint- 
ment and admission into the conference. 
The presiding Elder was a Southern man and 
did not introduce his case before the Confer- 
ence, so he did not do a great deal of preach- 
ing as the result of his journey. He entered 
a homestead in Burt Count}', Nebraska, and 
proved up on it. Upon failing to get an 
appointment to go to preaching, he turned 
his attention to gardening in Tecamah, where 



he had twenty lot*'. He was elected probate 
judge of Burt County in the fall of 1S60, 
holding the office for six j-ears. He was 
superintendent of schools in Burt County; a 
ju.stice of the peace and one of the commis- 
sioners to lay a road from Simpson's Land- 
ing to Briggs Mill. He has made his home 
with his daughter, Mrs. Burger, for about 
three years. 

He was married in Cattaraugus County, 
New York, February 12, 1829, to Miss 
Maria Tyler, daughter of Alvin Tyler and 
wife. Mr. and Mrs. Mason had three 
childen who grew to manhood, and three 
who died in infancy. Our subject's wife 
bein<r the fifth cliild. 



JOHN ARPS, a farmer living on Section 
32, of Pleasant Valley township, came 
to Dodge County in March, 1873, and 
bought the claim upon which he now lives by 
paying the original owner $140, after which 
he homesteaded it. There was a sod shanty 
on the place, and twelve acres of breaking 
done. Mr. Arps never lived in this shanty, 
but dug into the hill side about four feet and 
then built a small frame structure over the 
excavation, covered it with shingles, and this 
served as a house for five years. He then 
built a frame house, 16x24 feet, one and ( ne- 
half stories high, and in 1879 added a kitchen. 
In 1890 he built what is now the main part of 
his house, and as a whole he has one of the 
finest residences in his part of Dodge 
County. In 188S he erected a barn 50x56 
feet; also a granarj', corn-crib, buggy and 
wagon house, with numerous other out-build- 
ings After getting into the county and 
purchasing a yoke of oxen and two cows 
he liad ten dollars to start through the winter 
with. He worked on the Elkhorn River, 
chopping wood for tweuty-fvc cents per daj; 
That was tlie beginning of the liard-time 
period, whicli lasted until after the grass- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ho|ipcrs had tukcn llieir linal dcpaiUux' from 
Dodge Coiiiit)', sonic live \ears attervvard, 
during which time our subject nu-t with great 
losses. During one year he had in seventy- 
live acres of wheat, and thrashed fifty two 
bushels of very poor quality of wheat. 

Our subject's present farm contains 320 
acres of land, 200 of which are under culti- 
vation. He generally keeps about sixtv head 
of cattle and fourteen head of horses. 
Everything about his premises indicates that 
he is a man of more than ordinary business 
ability. 

Our subject was born in Holstein, Germ- 
an}', February 15, 1837, the son of Peter and 
Lena(Motig) Arps, both natives of Germany. 
From the time our subject was twe'.ve 3'ears 
of age until 1870 he worked out on a farm. 
In June of that year he sailed for America, 
and went direct to Detroit, Michigan, ac- 
companied by his wife and one child. lie 
landed at Detroit, among strangers, with only 
twelve dollars in his pocket, but he came 
with a determination to accomplish some- 
thing in the way of securing a home, so he 
went to work on a farm, where he remained 
two months, and then went to Freeport, 
Illinois, where he had friends living. There 
he worked in an elevator, and chopped cord- 
wood the following winter, coming to Dodge 
County the next spring. 

He was married in Germany, May 4, 187 1. 
to Miss Lena Dahl, daughter of Henry and 
Wilkie (Halda) Dahl, who was born in Ger- 
many in 1851. Our subject and his wife are 
the parents of thirteen children : Peter, Ilenr}-, 
John, Mary, Emma, Herman, Christi m, 
Lena, Dora, August, Frederick (deceasedj, 
Hans and William. 

Mr and Mrs. Arps, together with their 
famil}', are members of the German Lutheran 
Churcli, and politically he is a Democrat. 

About 1876 he h?d his granary burned, 
with 550 bushels of wheat worUi ^1.25 per 



bushel. Also all of his farm macl incr\', 
including a new harvester : also 4110 bushels ol 
corn, worth ^900. Tliis was a great loss, 
and he did not have an^' insurance upon the 
property, and was still living in his dug-out 
and calculated to build that season, but had 
to live in the dug-out three 3'ears longer. 
But he bore all this manfully, and is now sur- 
rounded with all the comforts of life, and has 
the satisfaction of knowing that he has 
honestly earned every dollar he possesses, as 
well as every acre of land he owns. 



JAMES P. MILLIGAN, of Cuming 
Count}', who is a farmer on Section 21, 
of Wisner township, was born near 
West Newton, Penn., January, 26, i860. 
He is the son of Joseph and Margaret Mil- 
ligan. His paternal grandparents, Jamts and 
Debora Milligan, were natives of Scotland. 
Joseph Milligan was born in Pennsylvania 
and now resides at Manilla, Iowa. Wiien 
James P. was five years old, the family 
removed to Cedar County, and in 1873 to 
Crawford County, Iowa, where he spent the 
remainder of his days. Our subject's boy- 
hood was spent upon the farm and at twenty 
years of age he engaged at breaking prairie, 
following that and running a threshing 
machine for the ne.xt tl ree years. In thi» 
spring of 1884 he removed to Wisner town- 
ship, and purc'.iased a cjuarter section of land. 
Considering the length of time since he 
effected his settlement, Mr. Milligan has 
succeeded in producing one of the best 
improved farms in the township. He now 
owns two hundred and eighty acres. 

Politicall}-, he alliliates with the Republican 
party, and has been township assessor fur 
three )'ears. 

February 20, 1883, marked an imjiortant 
era to our subject, for upon that day he was 
united in marriage to Miss Callie Hayes, and 
by this union they have five living children : 



58 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



AltaM., William A., Eugenia B., Lulu M. 
and Guy. 

FRANZ KRUEGER, a farmer of Section 
32, Wisner township, Cuniinjf County, 
was born near Koenigsberg, Germany, 
July 23, 1842. He is the son of Christian 
and Louisa (Engle) Krueger, who were the 
parents of six children, of whom five now 
reside in the Elkhorn Valley. Franz re- 
ceived a common school education and began 
liis active life as a farm overseer, at the age 
of twenty-two years. In 1867 he came to 
Dodge Count)', Wisconsin, and in the fall of 
the same year to Nebraska, and homesteaded 
one hundred and sixty acres of his present 
farm, which is now included in Wisner town- 
ship, lie brought about one thousand dollars 
with him, the most of which he used to get 
other emigrants to remove thither and locate. 
His tirst house was a small log affair and his 
team was oxen. His wagon was the only one 
in the neighborhood for seveial j'ears and 
was borrowed by everyone who had to make 
a trip to Fremont, then the nearest market 
and railroad point. Mr. Krueger now owns 
three hundred and twenty acres of land all 
well improved. His present residence was 
built in 1889, and is a model farm-house. 

Politically, he alliliatcs with the Demo- 
cratic part}', but does not aspire to public 
ollice. He is a member of the Lutheran 
Church, and donated the site for the church 
building and cemetery, on his farm. The 
building was subsequently destrojed by fire 
and was rebuilt on another site. 

He of whom we write was united in mar- 
riage November 15, 1869. to Louisa Hoehne. 
They have three children: Frank A., Edward 
W. and Ottelia. Frank A. is naturally in- 
genious and skilllul with tools, and assisted 
in building the family residence, and per- 
forms the carpentering, blacksmithing and 
cabinet work for the farm. 



SARAH (JOHNSON) HALVERSON, 
widow of Halver Ilalverson, who died 
May 17, 1890, will form the subject of 
this sketch. Her home is on Section 34, 
township 22, range i, in Union Creek pre- 
cinct, Stanton County. 

Mrs. Halverson's maiden name was Sarah 
Johnson, whose parents were natives of Nor- 
way. She married Mr. Halverson in 1866, 
in her native country, and two years later 
they sailed for America, being nine weeks 
crossing over to Quebec. They came direct 
to Stanton County, w^here Mr. Halverson 
took a homestead. The following eleven 
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Halver- 
son : Julia, now Mis. Andrew Thompson : 
Mary, Henr)-, Minnie, Nellie, Emma, John, 
Clara, Olof, Sadie, and Hannah. Nellie, 
Emma and Clara are deceased : the latter 
died October 28, 1891. 

Mr. Halverson was born in Norwa\-, De- 
cember 3, in 1828, and his wife April 6, 
1844. 

Upon coming to his homestead, our sub- 
ject's husband built a dug-out and log-house 
together, in which he lived until 1876, when 
he built another log-house, whiih the widow 
still lives in. One hundred and twenty acres 
of her land is in cullivation and the balance 
in hay and pasture land. Upon coming to 
the county he was very poor, financially, and 
took work near Wisner, his wife accompany- 
ing him and working for her board. One 
year after they took their homestead, they 
lived permanently upon their place. For 
nine years prior to his death, Mr. Halverson 
lingered with consumiition. But he was able 
to work, until the last year before he died, 
since which time the widow has operated the 
farm, which in all consists of three hundred 
and twenty acres. The family are all mem- 
bers of the Lutheran church, as was Mr. 
Ilalverson. The Indians came to our sub- 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



50 



ject's liouse in the early da3'S of tlieir settle- 
ment, which greatly alarmed them. They 
gave them whatever they asked for, and 
hence avoided any trouble. The grass- 
hojipers destroyed their crops for three years, 
all but enough to live upon. They saw great 
hardships. In the fall of 1887, Mr. Halver- 
son was caught out in a storm about two 
miles from home, and walked back and forth 
all night on the banks of Union Creek, and 
could not find his house until daylight He 
kept from freezing by rubbing his horse and 
walking constantly. He never fulh' recov- 
ered from that exposure to the elements. 
Misfortune seldom goes single-handed, which 
action proved true in this family's ca.= e. In 
November, 1878, tlieir four-year-old daughter 
fell from a wagon and was killed by the 
wheel running over her. Another child was 
born a cripple, and died six years afterwards. 
In 1887, one of their boj-s while hunting 
prairie chickens, placed the gun between his 
legs ; the hammer caught his pantaloons 
which discharged the gun and shot his arm 
off at the shoulder. 

Mrs. Halverson is entiiled to much credit 
for keeping her famil}' together and manag- 
ing the farm so well. In the spring of 1892 
she had the misfortune to break one of her 
limbs, caused b\- a team running away. 
This accident leaves her crippled for life. 



LOUIS E. HUNTER, editor and pro- 
prietor of the Beemer Times, was 
born at Paw Paw Grove, Illinois, 
March 17, 1861. He is the .'^on of Cjrus E. 
and Mary E. (Agler) Hunter, who came to 
Nebraska in 1869, and became the first sett- 
lers in Wayne County, Nebraska. They 
now reside at Wakefield, Nebraska. 

George Hunter, grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Tioga County, Penns\'lvania. 
Emaline (Weeks) Hunter, wife of George 



Hunter, was of Welsh descent. She now 
resides at Wakefield, Nebraska. Our subject 
was the eldest of a numerous family of chil- 
dren and was eight years of age when the 
famil}' moved to Nebraska, and his schooling 
was necessarily limited. At the age of fifteen 
he began to work in the ollice of the Wayne 
Review, which was established by his father. 
One year later, he took full charge of the 
mechinical work of the oflice He continued 
at that point until iS82,when he engaged in 
the hardware trade at Clarke, Nebraska. In 
1S88, he removed to Beemer, and purchased 
the Beemer Times, which he has since pub- 
lished. Politically, he is a Republican. 

November 27, 1884, he was united in mar- 
riage to Susan, daughter of George and 
Sarah Knag, of Merrillan, Wisconsin. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have three children: 
Claude, George and Aileen. 

IRA GOOD, a photographer of West 
Point, was born in Adams County, 
Pennsylvania, September 17, 1866, and 
came to Dodge Count}' in 1889, locating in 
West Point in 1891. He was educated in the 
district schools, and when twenty 3'ears of 
age went to Harrisburg, to learn the photo- 
graphic art, in a first-class gallerj^ While 
there he took crayon work, in which he is 
quite skilled. His parents were Hiram J. and 
Anna M. (Zug) Good. The}- were married 
in the Ke3'stone State. In the spring of 1891 
they removed to Waterville, Kansas. Their 
six children were, Florence, wife of William 
Christ, of Altoona, Pennsylvania: Ira, the 
subject of this notice: Carrie A., wife of 
Theorus Bernheisel, residing at Bixler, 
Penns3'lvania ; Harry C, Leiitia and Charles, 
of Kansas. 

Politically, Mr. Good is non-[iarlisan. He 
is a young man of good address, takes great 
interest in his profession, and keeps abreast 
with the times. 



60 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



DANIEL J. CRELLIN, a resident of 
West Point, came to Cuming Count}-, 
in October, 1869. Ho was born on 
the Isle of Man, England, December 3, 1830. 
His great-grandfather, Matthew Crellin, was 
a native of Lancashire, England, and moved 
to tlie Isle of Man. His grandfather was alto 
named Matthew and his son Thomas, the 
father ot our subject, was a native of the Isle 
of Man and married Ann Connal. They were 
the parents of six sons and one daughter. 
William, of the County of Cumberland, Eng- 
land, was a railroad conductor. The next 
child was the subject of our sketch: then 
came George: Thomas died at about the age 
of fifty-one years: Joseph, a shoemaker by 
trade, living in Colby City, Isle of Man; 
Ann di d at the age of fourteen years: 
Edward, living a retired life at Scranton, 
Pennsylvania. The parents both died in their 
native country, the father aged eight3--seven 
and the mother forty-five years. After the 
death of our subject's mother, the father mar- 
ried a lady named Cundra, b}' whom he had 
two children, Matthew and M. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
a subscription school, which required his six- 
pence every week and a piece of coal or turf, 
whi.h was a rule of the school, Mr. Crellin 
was united in marriage in 1S51 to Miss 
Hannah Cornwall, a native of the Isle of 
Man, who became the mother of five chil- 
dren. The three daughters died before com- 
ing to maturity; a son, William II., of Keya 
Paha County, Nebraska: James D., of 
Indian Territory. 

Our subject landed in New York Ma}-, 
1S66, and went to the copper mines of Lake 
Superior where he was engaged four years 
and a half at mining. He then cime to West 
Point, Nebraska, where he assisted in the 
survey of the town Platte, and subsequently 
took a claim in Logan township, finally se- 
curing three hundred and twenty acres of 



land, one hundred and eighty of which is 
under the plow. In May, 1870, he removed 
his family to his newl}' built house. In 18S0 
his wite's health failed and he purchased 
a lot on Lincoln street, in West Point, where 
he built himself a residence. His good wife 
died November 7, i88i,and December, 1882, 
he married May E., the widow of John 
Herring. 

Mr. Crellin is a supporter of the Repub- 
lican party, and while a resident of Logan 
township VNas elected justice of the peace, 
serving four j'ears, and was also assessor and 
road commissioner. In 1890 he took the 
United States census in his township. In 
religious matters he was raised an Episco- 
palian. 

LEWIS M. KEENE, President of the 
Fremont National Bank, and who was 
County Clerk of Dodge County, from 
1871 to 1875, resides in the City of Fremont, 
where he has attained a good degree of prom- 
inence. The following is a record of the 
principal events of his life. 

He is a native of Maine, having been born 
in Knox County of that State, September 16, 
1844. He is a descendant of Benjamin and 
Elizabeth Keene, who came to the coast- 
bound State of Maine, in a very early day 
from Conn cticut. Benjamin Keene was a 
thrifty New England farmer, who spent the 
latter part of his life in the Pine Tree Stale. 
They had a familj' of five children, four sons 
and one daughter, all deceased. Charles A., 
the father of our subject, was the youngest 
son. He was brought up in Maine, devoting 
his early life to the lumber business, after 
which he became a country merchant. Ik- 
ceased from his labors in June, 18S1, when 
he died at the advanced age of eighty years. 
He was married to Jerushia McLain, who 
was a native of Maine, born in 1804, anil 
died March, 1890. She was the daughter of 
Alexander McLain, of Irish extraction. He 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



was a man of considerable prominence in tlie 
locality in which he lived. During his early 
life he lived in the town of Bremen, on the 
coast, but in an early day moved back into 
the country, in Knox County, or what is now 
thus known. Here he erected some woolen 
and grist-mills, being one of the very first set- 
tlers in that region. lie also founded a village, 
known as McLain Mills. For twenty years 
he was one of the officers of his town, and 
served several years in the Legislature, giv- 
ing his principal attention to milling and lum- 
bering. He was a man of great worth and 
broad business capacities. His family con- 
sisted of ten children, of whom the mother of 
our subject was one of two daughters. 

L. M. Keene was one of a family of child- 
ren, of which six survive — Charles A., a re- 
sident of Rockland, Maine ; Horatio N., a 
merchant of Rockland, Maine : Mar}- E., 
wife of Harrison Pease, a resident of McLain 
Mills, Maine ; Almeda, Melissa and Alma 
deceased, also Alonzo, a resident of Boston, 
Massachusetts: Maria, wife of Morris Hew- 
ett, of Minneapolis : our subject, L. M., be- 
ing next to the youngest child. He was 
reared in his native village and there received 
his education in the public and high schools 
of the place, with three terms in a graded 
school. When eighteen years of age he be- 
gan teaching school, and at twenty went to 
Massachusetts, where he engaged for two 
summers in the manufacture of shoes. But, 
owing to the custom of those days, he was 
expected to remain at home until he was 
twenty-one years of age, so he hired a man 
to take his place at home, while he went out 
in search of a broader field of labor. He 
taught school several terms in the East, and 
in the spring of 1867 came West to Nebraska, 
arriving in Fremont the last day March of 
that year, since which time he has made that 
his home. 1 he first summer he was here he 
rented a farm, but having no team with 



which to attend his crop, he got the use of a 
team b}' putting his time against that of the 
team, dividing his share of the crop witli the 
owner of the team. By thus doing and get- 
ting odd jobs of work he managed to pay his 
board, so that at the end of the season he had 
his crop clear. This he gathered and stored 
into cribs where the Farmers' and Mer- 
chants' Bank of Fremont now stands. This 
being done he was ready for an3^thing that 
might open up in the way of legitimate work. 
He was soon waited upon by a delegation of 
school officers from the little settlement of 
Maple Creek, they having heard that he was 
a school-teacher. He engaged to teach their 
school, and was retained in the same district 
three winters, and during the summer months 
he engaged at anything that he could find to 
do; making brick, clerking in a store and at 
farm labor. He was determined to make a 
success of life and not to let any opportunitj' 
escape, whereby he could add to his little 
store of wealth and so by degrees he saw it 
growing in magnitude. In 1868 he pre- 
empted a quarter section of land on Maple 
Creek, eight miles from Fremont. After he 
had this claim secured he purchased eighty 
acres of a homestead which adjoined it, and 
devoted himself to the improvement of his 
land, and in [870, was elected to the ofilce 
of County Superintendent of Public Schools, 
serving one year. November 30, 1871, he 
was married to Miss Lizzie Dorsey, daughter 
of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton Dorsey. She was 
born in West Virginia, and died in June, 
1873. In the autumn of 187 1, Mr. Keene 
was elected to the ofilce of County Clerk, 
which office he filled for two terms, ending 
January i, 1876. The office was also ex- 
otficio of the District Court ; but during his 
official career as county clerk, the ofilce was 
changed to one of appointment by the County 
Judge, so he was appointed to continue as 
clerk of the District Court, which position he 



64 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



held until 1880 During this time he was 
engaged in real estate, loan and abstract bus- 
iness, and after he retired from the office as 
clerk of District Court he formed a partner- 
ship with L. D. Richards in the loan and real 
estate business, in which they are still en- 
gaged. Later, he was one of the principal 
promoters of the Western Trust and Security 
Company, being one of its directors and stock 
holders ; also connected with the Security 
Savings Bank, being one of the organizers 
and directors of that institution ; also treasurer 
of the Fremont Stock Yard and Land Com- 
pany; one of the directors of the Nye- 
Sciineider Company ; one of the directors of 
the Fremont Carriage Company, and treas- 
urer of the Fremont Manufacturing Company. 
He is also interested in the Union Block, of 
Fremont. He and L D. Richards erected 
the Post-OlTice building, aside from others of 
minor mention. He is president of the 
Masonic Temple Craft of Fremont. 

For his second wife our subject married 
Jennie Marr, daughter of Solomon and 
Bridget Marr, that event occurring in De- 
cember,. 1875. Mrs. Keene is a native of 
Canada. By this marriage union, two chil- 
dren have been born: Lewis M., Jr., aged 
twelve years; Charles A., aged seven j^ears. 
He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being 
a member of Fremont Lodge No. 15., A. F. 
& A. M.; Signet, Chapter No. 8; Mt. Tabor 
Commandery No. 9: Hiram Counsel No. 6. 
He was High Priest of the Chapter for two 
years; Eminent Commander two years, and 
was Grand Commander of Nebraska one 
year. 

In addition to the property interests already 
enumerated, our subject has an excellent 
farm of thirteen hundred and twenty acres, 
south-east of Fremont some five miles, where 
he propogates horses, cattle, sheep and hogs; 
making a specialty of tiie higher grades of 
swine. He has several ijood farms in Ne- 



braska. Aside from his landed interests in 
company with L. D. Richards, he owns 
nearly two thousand acres in all. 

Some men rise to eminence in the role of 
professional callings: others through fortun- 
ate speculations : some through tiie judicious 
investments of money bequeathed to them, 
while still another class only reap the harvest 
of their own sowing, which is the case with 
our subject, who commenced life's battle 
single-handed, possessing nothing but a sound 
body, pressed forward bj'^ the determination 
to achieve something in life for himself, and 
how well he succeeded this brief review of 
his life will tell. 



HENRY C. SHARP, of Section 35, 
township 24, Humbug j)recinct, came 
to Stanton County in June, 1867. He 
first located where he now lives, took a home- 
stead of 160 acres, where he built a house, 
the lumber of which he hauled from Sioux- 
City, Iowa, and from Omaha. He set an 
oi chard of fifty trees and had 130 acres under 
cultivation, all well fenced. At first his grain 
market was Fremont. He met with the 
usual amount of discouragements in those 
early years, occasioned by the grasshoppers. 
Mr. Sharp was born in Virginia in June, 
1839, ^^ ^o" of Milton and Mary L. Sharp, 
who reared a family of nine children, onlj- 
three of whom survive. When he was seven 
years of age his parents moved to Clinton 
County, Indiana; remained a year and a half, 
then moved to Richland County, Wisconsin. 
Our subject remained at home on the farm 
until he was of age In 1864 he went to 
Colorado ; remained one season, went to Wis- 
consin, and from there to Nebraska, bringing 
if 1, 200 with him. 

Mr. Sharp was married in October, 1867, 
to Clara A. Webb, whose jiarents were 
natives of New York and reared a family of 
fourteen children. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



65 



Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are the parents of 
eight children — Bertha, Alice, Allen, Eugene, 
Henry, Roy, Claude and May. Alice is 
deceased. 

Politically our subject is a supporter of the 
Democratic party, and has held the office of 
county superintendent of schools of Stanton 
County two years. He is an acceptable 
member of the Masonic Lodge No. 41, A. F. 
& A. M. at Stanton. 



OLE HANSEN, a resident of Section 
26, Maple township, has been a resi- 
dent of Dodge County since the sum- 
mer of 1866, when he located at Fremont, 
where he worked by day and month for 
about three 3-ears. In 1869 he homesteaded 
tlie place he now occupies, which was at the 
time eighty acres of wild land, upon which 
he placed his time and energies. At first he 
lived in a dug-out, 12x16 feet, which was 
provided with a shingle roof. He also had a 
sod stable. He occupied this primitive form 
of a residence for three years. His farm now 
consists of two hundred acres, one hundred 
and forty of which is under the plow. In 
1880 he built a house, 18x26 feet, with a 
wing 14x16 feet. He also built a barn, 30x74 
teet; a granary, 12x16 feet; double cribs, 
twenty-four feet square, shedding for fifty 
head ol cattle : planted a si.x-acre grove of 
limber, and an orchard of two hundred trees. 
During the grasshopper plague years, our 
subject was a heavy loser, as he was one year 
by hail, which destroyed his small grain. 

Mr. Hansen is a native of Denmark, born 
in February, 1849, '^'^^ '^o" '^'^ Hans Johnson 
and Anna Catharena Johnson, whose seven 
children were as follows: Rasmus, Mary, 
Ole, Hans, James, Dorthea and Christian. 
All of these children, except one, and also 
their mother live in Nebraska. Our subject 
was eighteen years of age when he came to 
America. From the age of fourteen years to 



the time he was eighteen he was on the seas 
with a fishing craft. His advantages for an 
education were somewhat limited. 

In the month of November, 1874, ^^*^ ^^^''^ 
united in marriage to Sine Anderson, daugh- 
ter of Andrew and Martha Anderson, natives 
of Denmark, who had a family of seven 
children, all of whom are deceased except 
our subject's wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hansen's home is blessed by 
the following children: Celia, born August, 
1875; John, November, 1876; Edward, born 
November, 1S78 ; Andrew, born February, 
1881 : Walter, born September, 1883 ; Trenie, 
'born September, 1888. 

Politically, our subject casts his vote with 
the Democratic party, and in religious matters 
both he and his good wife are identified with 
the Lutheran Church. He belongs to Cen- 
tennial Lodge, No. 59, of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, at Fremont. 

GEORGE WEIGLE, a retired resident 
of Hooper, r.mks among the earliest 
of pioneers of the Elkhorn Valley, lo- 
cating, as he did, on Logan Creek in the 
spring of 1863. He claimed a quarter sec- 
tion of land, and commenced improving the 
same by breaking, building a log house, etc. 
He lived there about seven years in his 
original log cabin, which was 12x14 feet. 
His next residence was a frame building, 
16x24 feet, two stones high. He has since 
added to his land until he now has seven 
hundred and forty acres, one-halt of which is 
under cultivation, while the other is pasture 
and meadow-land. He remained on that 
place until 1890, when he moved to the 
village of Hooper, where he purchased a 
place and now resides. When he first came 
to the county he lived upon fish for two 
weeks, Omaha being the nearest point at 
which groceries could be bought, while 
Calhoun furnished the nearest mill, and not 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



unfrequently meal was ground in coffee mills. 
He was in the county before there were any 
bridges over the streams, and also when there 
were grasshoppers enough to carry off the 
entire crop. Indians were very numerous in 
those early days and they stole one of his 
oxen, and in order that he might have a team 
he yoked a cow and an ox together, which 
was not exactly according to Scriptures, but 
was not in violation to any pioneer law, as 
ends justified means in those days. He 
worked this kind of a team for three years. 
When our subject came to Nebraska, he only 
had twenty dollars in money and a family of 
eight children on his hands. Upon one occa- 
sion the Indians came to the house and threat- 
ened to kill him unless he gave them some- 
thing to eat, but his good wife said she could 
not spare him, as she had so many children, 
so the Indians took two bushels of potatoes, 
which was all they had, and left the premises. 

Mr. Weigle was born in Germany, Sep- 
tember 14, 1820, the son of Frederick and 
Catharine Weigle, natives of Germany, whose 
eight children were: Frederick, Catharine, 
Godfried, Jacob, George, Rachel, Dora, 
Frederica. Our subject remained in his 
native country until twenty-seven years of 
age, when he came to this country. He 
landed at New York, and went from there to 
Buffalo, where he remained two years, and 
then came to Lake County, Illinois, where he 
remained two years. He rented eighty acres 
of land just prior to coming to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. 

It was in 1848 that our subject was mar- 
ried to Chnstena Kinuer, the daughter of 
Ludvvic and Dora Kirmer, of Germany, 
whose five sons and five daughters were as 
follows: Louisa, Christena, Paulina, Dora, 
Gotlogen, Ludwick, Godtope, Frederick, 
Gustave and August. 

Mr. and Mrs. Weigle arc the parents of 
eiglit cliiidrcn : Paulina, Rachel, Godfred, 



Louisa, John, George, Jr. (deceased). Gus- 
tave, Mary, (.'ur subject and his wife are 
both members of the Lutheran Church and 
politically he votes the Democratic ticket. 

PETER F. ZIMMERMAN, one of the 
present county commissioners of Mad- 
ison Count}' (representing the third 
district), and an agricultural implement dealer 
at Battle Creek, was born in Grant County, 
Wisconsin, September 5, 1861. He was the 
son of Charles Zimmerman, of Baden, Ger- 
many, born in 1828, and Mary E. (Brechler) 
Zimmerman, of the same place. In 1849 
Charles Zimmerman emigrated to America 
and located at Poughkeepsie, New York, 
and in 1851 was married in New York. In 
1S57 the family moved to Grant County, Wis- 
consin, where the father pre-empted land and 
cleared up a farm. He first built a log-house 
which served well its purpose, and is now 
displaced by a two story frame dwelling. 
Upon the premises may be found a four-acre 
bearing orchard. By dint of industry this 
worthy man has succeeded in accumulating a 
good property. Our suljject is of a family of 
ten children. The following lived to be 
adults: George, of Battle Creek; Chiistena. 
wife of Charles Lampert, of Humphrey, Ne- 
braska : Peter S., our subject: Katie, Mary, 
single; Charles, at home; William M., at 
home: Anna, a student of Boscobell College, 
Wisconsin 

Politically, Mr. Zimmerman, the father of 
our subject, is a Democrat. The parents are 
both living in Wisconsin, enjoying the fruit 
of their labor. 

Peter F. was educated in the ])ublic school.s 
of Grant County, Wisconsin. He remained 
on the farm and at home until twenty-four 
years of age. In 1886 iiu ciime to Battle 
Creek, Nebraska, and entered into partner- 
ship with his brotiier George in the agri- 
I cultural iinplemeiil business. He was mar- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



lied in 1888 at Battle Creek. B3' this union 
two children were born. 

Politically, he afHliates with the Demo- 
cratic party, and in the fall of 1891 was 
elected as county commissioner, and re- 
elected in 1892 for three years. The family 
were brought up in the German Presbyterian 
church. 

WILLIAM B. LAMBERT, of Neligh, 
(retired), was born at Nockamixon, 
Bucks County, Pa., May 6, 1843. 
His parents were Michael and Ellen (Deem- 
er) Lambert, the former born in that county. 
His father represented the fitth generation of 
the family in America. They were originally 
English Quakers and settled at or near 
Ciiester, Pa., about the close of the seven- 
teenth century. Michael Lambert was a 
farmer, and died in Warren County, New 
Jersey, in 1S44. Mrs. Ellen Lambert is also 
a native of Bucks County, her present resi- 
dence being at Milford, N. J., opposite her 
former home. The Deemer family settled at 
Germantown, Pa., early in the eighteenth 
centar)-. Three brothers of that name came 
at til at time from"Palatinate-upon-the-Rhine," 
Germany. Two of these brothers were 
named Jacob and George. Jacob assisted in 
organizing one of the first German Reformed 
churches in the United States, it being located 
at Skipp.ick, Montgomery County, Pa. This 
was in 1727. Our subject represents the fifth 
or sixth generation of the lalter's descend- 
ants. Solomon Deemer, maternal grand- 
tallier of our subject, and his sons carried on 
a freighting business between Philadelphia 
and Pittsburgh and other Western cities. As 
early as 1830 their teams made a trip as far 
as St. Louis. Several members of the earlier 
generations of the Deemer family were em- 
ployed in the iron works at Durham, Pa., one 
of the earliest furnaces of the Stale. One of 
these, Joseph Deemer, served through the 
Revolutionary War. He enlisted from New 



Jersey, and served in the following organi- 
zations: Captain Longstreet's Company and 
in the First Regiment New Jersey troops, 
also in the Statp troops. 

After her husband's death, Mrs. Ellen 
Lambert married Henry Beckman, and re- 
moved to the village of Bridgeton, Bucks 
County. Here our subject spent his youthful 
daj^s. He attended the public school and 
Milford Academy in winter lime. In the 
summer he worked in a butcher shop, and 
part of the time as a drover. When the war 
broke out he offered to enlist, but was 
rejected on account of disability. He then 
taught school for a year, and in the fall of 
1862 went to Washington, D. C, and was 
employed in the quartermaster's department. 
In the latter part of 1863, he sold new.-papers 
in the army of the Potomac, and in 1864 re- 
turned to Hunterdon County, New Jersey, 
and worked on his step-father's farm and 
canvassed for county maps. In the spring of 
1866 he came to Omaha and worked at 
different pursuits, and was clerk and porter 
in a wholesale ane retail grocery store a part 
of the time. In March, 1869, he went to 
West Point, Cuming County, and clerked in 
the store of Neligh, Douglas & Bruner, and 
the next year engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness in company with A. Clemens. This 
firm was the first to start in that business north 
of Fremont. He was a member of the first 
Village Board at West Point, when the town 
was first incorporated. In 1873, in comjiany 
with John D. Neligli and J. B. Tliompson, 
he went to Neligh and was one of the 
founders of the ttjwn, which Mr. Lambert 
himself named "Neligh." He built a store 
building on the town site, 24x40 feet, draw- 
ing the lumber from West Point. He also 
drew a stock of goods from that place by 
team, and opened up his store the latter part 
of July. July 4, 1873, was celebrated b>- a 
dance held in Mr. Lambert's store building. 



NOK THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



this being the first celebration in the new 
town. Mr. Lambert continued to deal in 
general merchandise until 1878, when he sold 
out. In 1874, he sold an interest in the same 
to Mr. Galloway and the new firm also pur- 
chased the grist-mill and saw-mill, and about 
one-third of the town site. In June, 1892, 
Mr. Lambert sold his interest in the mill to 
his partner. 

January 14, 1880, he was appointed by 
President Hayes, as receiver of the United 
States Land Oflice at Norfolk and in 1884 
was re-appointed by President Arthur, con- 
tinuing to hold the office until October i, 
1888, 

In politics, Mr. Lambert has always been 
an active Republican, casting his first vote 
for the re-election of President Lincoln in 
1864. He represented Antelope County in 
the Nebraska House of Representatives, in 
1877-79, and took an active part in the 
election of Alvin Saunders, to the United 
States Senate. During 1881, he took an 
active interest in securing the location of 
Gates College, at Neligh, and contributed 
liberally toward that enterprise. He was 
elected as one of the first trustees, which 
position he still holds. He was also treasurer 
from the organization of the college up to 
1892, when he resigned, having served 
eleven years. 

During the infanc}' of the institution, he 
often used his private means to tide over 
pressing financial dilliculties. He was the 
first notary public appointed in Antelope 
County, the date being 1S74. ^" 1875-6, he 
served as postmaster at Neligh, and during 
his administration it was made a Money 
Order Oflice. 

Mr. Lambert was married January 2, 1875, 
to Sarah K. Galloway, who was born at 
Scotland, Loudoun County, Virginia. Their 
children are : Sciuiyler C , a student of Gates 
College : Grace Virginia, who attends tiie 



Conservatory of Music connected with Gates 
College. 

Mrs. Sarah K. Lambert is a member of the 
Congregational Church. 

Mr. Lambert's library contains many vol- 
umes of history and biography and he is one 
of the best informed persons of the State on 
the subject of biography. Being a thoroughl}' 
posted man, it is not to be wondered at that 
he has represented the people in so many 
official and public capacities. 



JOHN O. LICEY, an attorney of Norfolk, 
is presented in this connection as per- 
haps the youngest representative man 
whose biography will appear in this work. 
He is not yet 27 years of age, yet his ability, 
industr}' and application to business have 
already made him a prominent business factor 
in the community, and it is predicted /or him 
that in the near future he will rank among 
the most successful business men of the 
country. He is a member of the well-known 
firm of Mapes «& Licey, who have distin- 
guished themselves as among the best citizens 
of Norfolk. 

He was born in Medina County, Ohio, 
April II, 1866. He is the son of Hon. Alvaii 
D. Licey, a prominent attorney of Medina, 
Ohio, who was born in Pliiladelphia in 1832. 
He was a Quaker and always adhered to that 
faith. When 18 years of age he crossed the 
Alleghany Mountains with his parents and 
became a pioneer in the wilds of Ohio, where 
he assisted in opening up a farm in the hcavj' 
timber. There he remained and grew to 
manhood, becoming a prominent factor in 
that pari of the State. He was honored b}- 
being elected as a member of the Consti- 
tutional Convention, State Board of Equali- 
zation, four years in the House of Repre- 
sentatives, and four years in the State Senate. 
He was united in marriage in Medina 
County, Oliio, to Miss Martha Wilson, a 



MORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



native of that county, born in 1833. By this 
union there were four children born: Des- 
cU'mona, wife of Dr W. S. Rowley, of 
Cleveland, Ohio; Ilziiide, wife of M. E. 
Siiontz, of Akron. Ohio; Kate, widow of C. 
S. Bisbee, and John O. In early life our 
subject's father was a Whig and a great 
admirer of Henry Clay, and being opposed to 
the extension of slavery he joined the Re- 
publican part}'. His Hfe has been distin- 
guished by that liberaHty which caused him 
to interest himself in those matters pertaining 
to the general welfare of the people, and has 
given a cordial support to the projects calcu- 
lated to insure their standing, socially, mor- 
ally and financially. He numbers his friends 
by hundreds among the good people of 
Medina County, Ohio, who have rendered 
appropriate tokens for his generous labors 
among them. Our subject's mother died in 
1887, a sincere Christian and a devout mem- 
ber of the Disciple Church. 

John Wilson, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was a soldier in the War of 181 2, and is 
credited with being the first regular manu- 
facturer of matches. He engaged in manu- 
facturing matches at Medina, out of which 
grew the great Diamond Match Company, 
now located at Akron, Ohio. 

John O. Licey, the subject of this notice, 
was educated at the Ohio State University, at 
Columbus, and at the law department of the 
State University at Ann Arbor, Michigan, 
from which institution he graduated in 1885, 
after which he returned home, and for tliree 
years engaged in farming, and then entered 
the office of his father and commenced the 
practice of his profession, coming to Norfolk, 
Nebraska, in 1888. No young man ever 
came to Nebraska better recommended, as he 
lirought letters from many of the leading 
public men of Ohio, among wiiich was one 
from the Hon. John Siierman, which reads as 
follows : 



United States Senate, Noz'. 2J, iSyS. 
To the Members of the General Asseuihly of Dliin: 

Gentlemen: John O. Licey, the son of 
my old friend and former member from 
Medina County, will be a candidate for 
Journal Clerk of the House of Represen- 
tatives. He is highly spoken of as a compe- 
tent and worthy man for the place and a 
good Republican, and as such I recommend 
him to your friendly consideration. 

Very Respectfully Yours, 

John Sherman. 

He has equally as strong recommends and 
complimentary notes from Charles Foster, 
George W. Crouse, President of Aultman, 
Miller & Co., manufacturers of the Buckeye 
reaper and mowing goods; also from Mc- 
Kinley, General Gibson, Governor Conrad 
and others. 

In the fall of 1892 our subject was elected 
county attorney for Madison County. To 
show his popularity it onl}' needs to be said 
that he was elected on the Republican ticket 
by a majority of 21, while the county went 
300 Democratic majority on the- State ticket. 

CARL FERDINAND BRUMMUND, 
of Spring Branch precinct, Stanton 
County, whose farm home is situated 
on Section 23, township 24, range i, was 
born at Pflugrad, Pomerania, Germany, 
April 27, 1856. His parents were August 
and Anna (Scheaneman) Brummond. "i'he 
family came to Stanton County, in 1873, the 
father taking a homestead upon whicli he re- 
mained until his death, February i, 1890. 
His wife now resides at Norfolk. They 
were the parents of five children : William 
(deceased); August (deceased); Carl F. ; 
Herman F. (now publisher of the Norfolk 
Anzeiger), and an infant son (now de- 
ceased). Our subject attended the day and 
night school in Germany, and when seven- 
teen years of age accompanied the family to 
America, and three years later he bought a 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



farm near West Point, which he sold after 
one 3ear and became a renter in Stanton 
County, until I^i8I, vvlien he bought his pres- 
ent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one- 
half of which is under cultivation, It was 
railroad laiul, willioul any improvements 
when he purchased it, l)ut is now a well im- 
proved place, containing good fences, farm 
house and out-buildings. The residence, 
which was built in 1891, is surrounded by a 
pleasant grove and orchard, both of which 
he planted himself. Like many of the most 
successful farmers of Stanton County, our 
subject pays specialattention to raising stock. 
Although he received no schooling in this 
country, by observation he has come to be 
well versed in our language. 

He was united in marriage May 10, 1877, 
to Mary Brockman, who was born at Middle- 
town, Wisconsin. Her father, Carl Brock- 
man, settled in Cuming Count}', Nebraska, 
in about 1863, but now lives at Los Angeles, 
California. Mr. and Mrs. Brummund have 
one child — Otto. 

Politically, Mr. Brummund i^ a Democrat, 
while his wife and himself in religious 
matters are members of the Reformed 
Church. 



MARY JOHNSON, (widow of John 
Johnson), living on Section 35, town- 
ship 22, range i, in what is known 
as Union Creek precinct, Stanton County, 
was born in Norwaj', September, 1843. The 
following sketch is concerning her own life 
and that of her late husband: 

Mr. Johnson was born in Norway, Decem- 
ber, 1833, and came to America in 1866, 
landing at Montreal, from which city he went 
to Iowa, and worked one 3'ear by the da)'. 
In 1867 he with his wife came to Nebraska. 
The}' drove overland by the way of Sioux 
City, he taking a homestead upon which the 
widow now lives. He built a lotT-house in 



which the family lived fourteen years. Like 
most of the homesteaders, they came to the 
country without means. They had an ox 
team, which he brought from Iowa, where he 
paid one hundred and eighty dollars for 
them. Mr. Johnson was the first white settler 
on the south side of the Elkhorn River 
in Stanton County. In 1874 '1*^ leased a 
quarter section of school land, which he held 
until the time of his death, since which time 
the widow has bought it. He also bought 
eighty acres in 1878, making her present 
landed interests three hundred and sixty-six 
acres. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were united in mar- 
riage in 1862, in Norway, and to them nine 
children were born : John, Lena, Henry, 
Martin, Albert, Louis, Sr. (deceased) : 
Samuel T., Clara, Lewis, Jr. 

Politically, Mr. Johnson was a Republican 
and never voted any other ticket. He and 
the family were consistent members of the 
Lutheran Church. He strove hard to pro- 
vide a comfortable home for his family, and 
had succeeded quite well when he was cut off 
from the scenes of life. May 14, 1884, by in- 
flamation of the bowels. 

Mr. Johnson's father died in Norway, but 
at this time his mother is living in Stanton 
County. Mrs, Johnson's parents, both natives 
of Norway, died in that country. 



EDWIN CARSON, of Kingsburgh pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, residing on 
Section 16, township 23, range 3, 
came to the county in the spring of 1885, and 
the first two years rented a farm in Humbug 
precinct, and then bought a quarter section 
where he now lives, which was partly 
broken out at the time. He built a story 
and one-half house 18x26 feet, a good barn, 
granary and machine house, also jirovided 
an excellent well over which he erected a 
winil-niill. He planted a grove of one 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



acre and an orchard of one hundred trees. His 
present farm contains three hundred and 
twenty acres, two hundred and fifty of which 
are under the plow, and the balance in pasture 
and meadow land. 

He of wiiom we write was born in Nortli 
Carolina, June, 1837, the son of John and Ann 
Carson, natives of Ireland, whose eleven chil- 
dren were: John, Margaret, Kobert, AViliiam 
and Thomas (twins), Jane, Smith, James, Ed- 
win, Andrew and Edwin. 

Our subject lived in Nortli Carolina until 
twenty-four years of age and then went to Vir- 
ginia and lived there until he went to Nebraska. 
His earl}' advantages for an education were 
poor. He was united in marriage in October, 
1860, to Sena, daughter of Cox and Violet Ed- 
wards, natives of Virginia, whose five children 
were : Mary, Sena, Jennie, Susan and Houstan. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
ten children, named as follows : William, Rufus, 
Monrovia, Thomas, Jane, Susan, Virondia, 
Inez, Charles and John. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Carson are members of 
the Baptist Church and politically he alliliates 
with the Democratic party. 



JAMES BBADBUEY, one of tiie enter- 
pi-ising farmers of Everett township, 
residing on Section 28, came to Dodge 
Count}' in July, 1874. He first located at 
Fremont, where he worked at the carpenter 
trade one season, and then came to Everett 
township, where he leased land for three years, 
during which time he bought eigiity acres of 
tlie farm he now occupies. Subsequently he 
bought eighty acres more, and built a liouse 
l(!x30 feet, with a wing 14x24 feet, and an 
additional wing 12x14 feet. He built a barn 
18x40 feet, together with a tool house, shed- 
ding, etc. He provided his place witii a good 
well, with wind-power attachment. He has an 
artificial grove of ten acres and an orchard of 
two liundred trees. From time to time, he has 
added land, until he now owns two hundred 



and forty acres, one hundred and sixty of 
which is under fence. During the grassiiopper 
years, our subject met with considerable loss. 

]^[r. Bradbury was born in Pennsylvania, 
March, 1850, the son of William and Ann 
Bradbur\', natives of England, whose fourteen 
children were as follows : Xelson, Sarah (de- 
ceased), Elizabeth, Mary A., William, James, 
Wilbert (deceased), Emma, Benjamin (deceased), 
Abraham L., and his deceased twin ; John 
(deceased), Paul (deceased), and one who died 
in infanc}'. 

He of whom we write remained in Pennsyl- 
vania until twenty-four years of age, when he 
came to Nebraska. His advantages for obtain- 
ing an education were good. After leaving 
the common school he attended the high scliool 
for several terms. His fatiier was superintend- 
ent of a coal mine in Pennsylvania for thirty 
years. 

Our subject was mari'ied July, 1874, to Mary 
Swinehart, the daughter of Fred and Esther 
Swinehart, natives of Pennsylvania, whose 
three children were: Mary, Ellen and Howard. 
The last two are deceased. 

Our subject and his wife are the jiarents of 
ten children: William II., Esther, Alice, Ella 
M., Luruqua, Mary A., James M., Fred C, 
Charles and Josie. 

Politically, our subject believes in the princi- 
])les of the Re))ublican party. He belongs to 
Aqua Lodge No. 737, of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows of Pennsvlvania. 



CHARLES AXEN, a farmer of Section 7. 
Everett to\vnshi]i, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 1883. He first located 
upon the farm he now occupies, which con- 
sisted of one hundred and sixty acres of partly 
improved land, which he has increased to one 
hundred and eighty acres, one hutulred and 
fifteen acres being under the plow. 

Our subject was born April, 1SG7, in Germany 
He is a son of August and Dorette Axen, 
natives of Germany, whose family consisted of 
three children : Henrietta, Ernst and Charles. 



72 



XOR THEA S TERN NEBKA SKA . 



1 



Our subject lived in Germany until he was 
seventeen years of age, at which time he came 
to America and direct to Dodoe County, Ne- 
braska. His parents still live in their native 
country'. 

June 27, 1890, marked a new era in this man's 
life, for it was upon that day he was united in 
marriage to Amelia Elierman, daughter of Peter 
and Sophia Elierman, natives of Germany, who 
had seven cliililren : Margaret (deceased); 
Henry, Amelia. Nicholas, William, Charles 
and Tena. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
one child, August, born September 18, 1891. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Axen are members of the 
Lutheran church, and in politics he votes the 
Independent ticket. 



DR. LUTHER J. ABBOTT, of Fremont, 
Dodge County, is the son of Doctor 
Nicholas Abbott, of Troy, Ohio. 
Luther J. was born at Blue Hill, Maine, Sept. 
15, 1831. His mother was Mira (Jewett) 
Abbott, the daugiiter of Doctor Luther Jewett, 
of St. Jolinsbur}', Vermont. Our subject's par- 
ents were both of old Puritanic stock, and trace 
their ancestry back to about 16S0, when they 
first settled in IMassacliusetts. The paternal 
grandfather was a soldier in tiie Revolutionarv 
War. 

Luther Jr.'s early schooling was received at 
Troy, Ohio, under a private tutor, Reverend 
Doctor Rice. Wiien fifteen years of age, he 
entereil St. Joiinsbury (Vermont) Academ\% 
remained tiiere tliree years, and then entered 
tiie Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, where 
he remained three years; then spent two years 
at Jefferson Medical College, Philadel|)hia, and 
received a diploma from that institution March 
12, 1854. He commenced the |)ractice of his 
profession with his father at Troy, Ohio, con- 
tinuing there six years. In the autumn of 
18><0 he came to Douglas County, Nebraska, 
and purchased a claim at what is now Irving- 



ton, Douglas County. He developed the claim 
and practiced medicine, as settlement came in, 
and demanded his services. His chief business, 
however,' at that time, was raising sheep ; he 
being the lirst large sheep raiser in Nebraska. 
He continued this until the spring of 1866, 
when he sold his land and moved to Fontanelle, 
where he ])racticed medicine two years, and 
then located at Fremont ; in which city he has 
lived and practiced medicine ever since. In 
pioneer days the doctor has driven fifty miles 
to see a patient, and is known up and down the 
Elkhorn and Platte valleys as the pioneer doc- 
tor. He jocosely remarks : " They had to have 
me whether they liked me or not. " 

Dr. abbott enjoyed a liberal practice, and 
has performed most of the difficult obstetrical 
and surgical operations. 

To the request of Dr. Livingston, of Platts- 
mouth, for a meeting to organize the Nebraska 
State Medical Society in 1868, he gave a 
ready assent, becoming a member in 1869, and 
from the date of his admission to 1S91, when 
he severed his connection with it, lie was 
always active and diligent in promoting its best 
interests. Dr. Abbott was elected president of 
the society in 1877, and for years before and 
after was a frequent contributor on profess- 
sional subjects. 

He was United States examining surgeon for 
pensions from 1871 to 1881. He has ever taken 
great interest in all educational matters, and 
was a member of the School Board at Fremont 
six years. He has been a member of the Board 
of Insanity for Dodge Conntv for over twenty 
years; and represented Washington County in 
the last session of the Territorial Legislature, 
and in February, 1866, when that body was in 
a dead-lock, and Speaker Cliapin was thrown 
out of the chair, Dr. Abbott was chosen speaker. 

Indeed, his has been a trul}' busy life. He 
has devoted much time to literary work, which 
has always been a pleasant line for him to fol- 
low. Much of the valuable data found else- 
where in this volume has been (•ari>fully 
"leaned to<a'ther bv him in 1876. 



NOR n/EA S TERN NEB A' A SKA . 



7.^ 



Ey request of the City Council of Fremont, 
he delivered the iiistorical address at the Cen- 
tennial Fourtli (){ July celebration in the pub- 
lic park. Tiie mailer contained therein lias 
since become authority' of the early histoiy of 
Dodge County. His journalistic work, both 
professional and secular has been valuable. 

By request of the supervist)rs of Dodge 
County, he delivered the address on the laying 
of the coi'ner-stone of tlie court-house, an ac- 
count of which is given elsewhere in this work. 

lie of whom this sketch is written was mar- 
ried September 12, 1854, to Miss Clara Culbert 
son, youngest daughter of Colonel Henry Cul- 
bertson, a pioneer of Ohio. Her father served 
in the War of 1812. Dr. and Mrs. Abbott have 
been blessed witii eleven children — seven sons 
and four danghtei's, seven of whom still sur- 
vive. Their children's names are as follows : 
Anna E., Henry N. (deceased), Ephraim E., 
drowned in the Platte River in 1877; Catiic- 
rine S. (deceased), Katiierine O., John W., a 
prominent attorney of Fremont; Jane H., of 
Chicago; Luther H. (deceased), Luther J., a 
student at the Lincoln Law School ; Ned C, 
also a student at the Nebraska University; L. 
Keene. at home. 

Mrs. Abbott is an active member of the Epis- 
copal Church. 

rolitically, the doctor votes the Indei)entlenl 
ticket. 

GIIACE 15ULL0CK, widow of Thomas 
15ullock, will form the subject of this 
notice. They came to Dodge Count}' 
in the spring of 1872 and settled on Section 19, 
in Hooper townsliip. In December, 1882, Mr. 
iiidlock died after a serious illness which lasted 
through a jjeriod of nearh' ten weeks. When 
tliey first came here they bougiit eighty acres 
(jf land, which is yet cmbi'aced in the present 
home farm of one hundrt'tl and eighty-five 
acres. As was usual willi the early pioneers, 
their first buildings were rather rutle affairs, 
but as the country progressrd they wci'c im- 
proved ujion until at the pii'sciil time the farm 



iianv a citv 



house is more pretentu 
residence. 

Mr. Bullock was a gilder by trade, and came 
to this country from England a poor man. lie 
settled first in New York, removing from there 
to St. Louis, and then to Nebraska, and with 
tiie balance of the early settlers saw hard 
times during tlie grasshopper plague. 

Mr. Bullock was the fourth cliild of Samuel 
and Elizabeth Bullock, and was born August 
12, 1831. He was twenty-seven years old when 
he came to this county. In July, 1858, he was 
married to Grace Hughes, the youngest of the 
thirteen children of John and Margaret Hughes 
i of England. This marriage was solemnized at 
St. James Episcopal Church in Liverp(j(jl. To 
this worthy cou})le were born the following 
nine children : Mary E. (tleceased), born Jan- 
uary 18, 1855; Thomas, born November 2, 
1856 ; AVilliam, born October 26, 1S5S; Alfred, 
born January 12, 1861; Grace (deceased,) born 
December 26, 1863 ; Etl ward, born Sejitembei" 
16, 1865; Ida, born October 6, 1867; Eunice 
born June 4, 1870 ; (4corge, born September 
15, 1872. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Hullock wci'e members of 
the Presbvterian Church. 



CHARLES HIGH, a farmer of Section 28, 
Cotterell township, came to Dodge 
County in the spring of ISSO, and rented 
a farm near North Bend for one year, and then 
bought eighty acres where he now lives. The 
same was a partly improved tract which he broke 
out, and erected a small liouse upon. He finished 
the house and built an addition to it, and has 
added to his farm until he now has two hundred 
and forty acres. Wiien he purchased his farm, 
he gave one thousand dollars for the eighty acres 
and got the crop, which brought the place down 
to eight hundred tiollars. In two years he pui-- 
chased the other one hundred and sixty acres 
with no improvements on except a fence, and 
he gave twenty-live dollars |ier acre, which 
shows how fast the countrv advanced. "When 



74 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



he first came, he was one and one half miles 
from a school-house, and now tiiere is a school- 
house on his own land, built in the fall of 1885. 

Our subject was born in Knox Count}', Illi- 
nois, July 30, li52, the son of Lemuel J., and 
Sabinu (Reed) High. The father was a native 
of Ohio, and the mother oT Indiana. The 
father was reared in Knox Count}' Illinois ; his 
futlior, E. M. High, was a pioneer of that 
county. Our subject remained at home until 
he was twenty -three years of age. His father 
died wiien he was but seven years of age, after 
which his mother married J. W. Kays. When 
twenty-three years of age, our subject com, 
menced farming for himself, and continued 
until he came to Dodge County, Nebraska, 
bringing one thousand dollars with him. 

lie was married in Knox County, Illinois, 
July 3, 187i, to Miss Susan Edwards, daughter 
of Kobert and Ann (Minsninger) Edwards- 
both natives of Virginia. 

Susan (Edwards) High was born in Virginia 
October 11, 185;-5, and when she was quite small 
she came with her parents to Knox County, 
Illinois, in about 1860, and there remained 
until the date of her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Iligli are the parents of three 
children: Sabina, Bertha and Robert.' Mr. 
Iligii is a member of the Masonic Order, 
belonging to the Lodge at North Bend, but had 
belonged pj'ior to his coming AVest. 

In political matters our subject, until recently, 
has always been identified with the Demo- 
cratic party, but now favors the Independent 
movement. He was appijinted to the office of 
County supervisor in the spring of 18Sr) and 
the following autumn was elected to that office 
for one year. In the fall of 1 887, he was elected 
township treasurer, and collector during 
1888-89, and in the fall of 1889 was again 
elected county supervisor, his term of office 
exi)iring Jan. 1,1892. In the fall of 1891, he 
was again elected collector and treasurer of 
his township, for one year. He has been a 
member of t!ic school board ever since he has 
been a resident. 



Our subject is a thorough-going farmer; 
keeps one hundred and thirty heatl of cattle, 
feeds from forty to sixty head, and keeps fifteen 
head of horses Since his coming from Illi- 
nois here, several families have been induced to 
come from the same place, among whom may 
be named his two brothers-in-law — Albert 
McGahev, and George Sindlinger, both of 
whom settled in Cotterell township. 

Our subject's mother still lives in Knox 
County, Illinois, aged fifty-nine years. By 
her former husband she had four children, of 
whom our subject was the oldest, and by her 
last marriage she had two children. She is a 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Our subject's father dieil in the spring of 
1859, aged thirty-six years. 



CHlilSTOPHER JOHNSON, a farmer of 
Section 21, Nickerson township, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1887, 
and bought the farm he now occupies, which at 
the time was partly im))roved. He built a 
house, 22x36 feet ; a barn, 26x34 feet ; double 
corn crib, 21x28 feet, and provided his place 
with a well and wind-mill. He also made his 
place valuable by setting out an orchard of one 
hundred and fifty trees, together with a large 
grove of shade trees. In addition to his home 
farm, he has ten acres of meadow-land on Sec- 
tion 35. 

Mr. Johnson was born in Denmark, January, 
1850, the son of Jogen and Dortha (Christo- 
])hersen) Johnson, natives of Denmark, and wiio 
had a family of eleven children, as follows: 
Christopher, Jacob, Carrie, Anna, Louis, Stena, 
Christian, Andrew, Anna, Inger and Mary. 
Nine of this family are living : one in Denmark, 
four in Wisconsin and four in Nebraska. Our 
subject left his native land and came to Amer- 
ca when he was twenty years of age. From 
New York harbor, he came to Kansas City, 
Mo., where he became a month or day laborer, 
as he came to this country a poor young man. 
He went from Kansas City to LUica, Mo., 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



where he had tlie ague for five months. After 
his recovery he cliopped wood three months, 
and then went to Osburn and went to woi'k on 
the railroad, and finally sliifted about until he 
got into Chicago, where he followed day labor 
for six months. He then went to Morton, Til., 
and worked in a gravel pit one year, and from 
there went to Milwaukee, Wis., and followed 
railroading until became to Xebraska. He had 
the misfortune to have his leg broken by being 
struck by an engine in 1S7S. 

July 5, 1874, lie was married to Anna Chi-is- 
tensen, daughter of Christian and Barbara 
Christensen, natives of Denmark, who were the 
parents of ten children : Mary (deceased), Dor- 
othy, John, Kels, Anna (deceased), Anna, Mary, 
Pauhna, Louis and Chritena. Our subject and 
his wife are the parents of nine children, born 
in the following order: George C. (deceased), 
born September, 20, 1875 ; Barbara D., Novem- 
ber 12, 1876; George C, December 27, 1877; 
Andrew C, May 15, 1880 ; Julius M. (deceased), 
born July 15, 1882; Theodore W., July 23, 
1884; Louis P. and James (twins), June 3, 
1886 (James died) ; Anna M., April 27, 1889. 

Our subject belongs to Fremont Lodge No. 
15, of the Masonic Fraternity. 

Politically, lie votes with the Republican 
party, and in religious matters both he and his 
wife are members of the Lutheran Cliurch. 



HERMAN MONNICH, located on Section 
1, of Everett township, is a son of one of 
the early settlers of Dodge County. 
His father effected settlement in the spring of 
1857. The father took a scpiatter's claim, wliicli 
forms a part of his present farm. He built a 
log-cabin 12.\I6 feet, which was covered with 
a thatched I'oof. This building served for about 
four years, after which a hewed log-house was 
built, and again, after nine years, the third 
house was built on the place. The father died 
in the spring of 1878. Our subject remained at 
homounil 1886, at whicli time lie and his brotlier 
divided the old homestead. His half was about 



four hundred and thirty acres, about two luin' 
dred of which was under the plow. Wiien our 
sui)j(!cL's father crossed the Missouri River, lie 
had but twenty dollars in money and a wife 
and four children to look after and support. 
Their nearest milling point was forty miles 
distant, and Omaha was their nearest market 
place. The streams at that date were all un- 
bridged. 

To acquaint the reader with our suijject's ear- 
lier life, it may be said that he was born in 
Iowa County, Iowa, November, 1855, the son of 
Jerd and Anna Monnich, natives of Germany, 
who had eleven children, named as follows : 
George, Mary, Tonges, Henry, Herman, John, 
Dora, Bernard ; three died in infancy. 

Our subject lived in Iowa City until he was 
two years of age, when his parents moved to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. In December,1881, 
he was married to Maggie Parkert. By this 
marriage union five children were born : George, 
November 27, 1882 ; John, January 26, 1884 ; 
Benjamin, December 10,1886; Nettie, March 
20, 1888 ; Edward, April 5, 1800. 

Politicall\^ our subject affiliates with the Dem- 
ocratic party. He belongs to the Masonic 
Order, being a member of Hooper Lodge No. 
72. He is also a member of the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. 



JOHN JOEHIM MOHR, one of the repre- 
sentative farmei's of Everett township, 
residing on Section 19, came to Dodge 
County in the spring of 1868, and first 
took a homestead of eigiity acres, which he im- 
proved and lived upon one season, and then paid 
for his land and went to Omaha, where he worked 
at the carpenter's trade one year, and then 
made a trip to Chicago and Germany. He 
remained in Cliicago until 1875, and then came 
back to Dodge County, Nebraska, and began 
to farm on the land he had owned before. He 
added valuable improvements to iiis place in 
the way of buildings, water-works, a beautiful 
in-ove and an orchard of lift v trees. He now 



16 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



owns four hundred and forty acres of land, two 
hundred and seventy of wiiich is under the plow. 
When he came to the country, Fremont 
was his nearest market and on account of 
the roads he was compelled to go with an ox 
tean). 

Of his earlier career let it be said our subject 
was born in Germany, April 19, 1841. the son 
of Hans and Anna Moiir, natives of Germany, 
whose four children were Nicholas. Anna. John 
J., and J(;hn Fridrich. 

John remained in Germany until twent^'-iive 
years of age, when became to America. He 
landed in New York and from there came to 
Oiiicaiio, where he remained one year and a 
half, and then came to Omaha, stopped six 
months and then located in Dodge Count}'. 

In May, 1878, he was united in marriage to 
Anna Harder, whose parents were natives of 
Germany, anil whose three children were: Hans, 
Catharine and Anna. Bv this marriage union, 
there were two children born : William ]\[ohr, 
born April 19, 1879, and Jfary Molir, born 
March 21.1883. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



NICHOLASMOHR, a farmer of Section 
19, Everett township, came to Dodge 
County in August, 1875, and bought a 
quarter section of railroad land, which he im- 
proved in a substantial manner, including the 
erection of good buildings, fencing, planting a 
three-acre grove and a small orchard. From 
time to time he has added to his land until he 
has one half-section, two hundred acres of 
which is under the plow. 

Our subject was born in Gernuiny, March 17, 
1837 (see sketch of John Mohr for family his- 
tory). He came to America in the spring of 
1872, spent three yeans, and over, in Chicago, 
and tiien came to Dodge County. Nebraska. 
He was united in marriage Fei)ruary, 1872, to 
Anna Wessel, daughter of Jacob and Abel 
Wessel, who had a family of six children. 



Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
seven children : Walter, Anna. Arthur. Barney, 
Hugh, Henry anti Wale. 

Tolitically, our suijject attiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



JAMES C. NELSON, whose valuable farm 
home is situated on Section 22 of Maple 
township, came to Dodge County in the 
si)ring of 1867, first locating at Fremont. He 
was then a young, single man and worked by 
the day at railroad work, which business lie 
followed for two years and then took a claim 
of eighty acres, included in his present farm. 
Here he built a dugout of sufficient size to 
accommodate himself and wife in one end, and 
his team, cows and hens in the other. In this 
primitive style he lived for two \'ears, when 
a part of his present residence was built" 
From time to time he made good improvements 
on this place, including buildings, a magnificent 
grove of nine acres, and an orchard of forty 
trees. His farm now comprises two liundred 
acres, one hundred and sixty of which is now 
under the plow, while the balance is in meadow 
and pasture land. Upon coming to the county 
our subject liad but little means with which to 
operate, for he related that he was compelled 
to borrow money to come to the country with. 
He of whom we write was boi-n across the 
sea, in Denmark, the date of his birth being 
March 10, 18-12. His parents were Nels Christ 
Otterson and Mary Johannah Otterson, whose 
nine children were as follows : Lena, Martha J., 
Carrie, Mary, Christena, Jorgan S., James C!., 
]\raria, Senie. 

James C. lived in Denmark until he was 
twenty-four years of age, when he came to 
America. He landed at t^uebec, Canada, and 
went from there to Milwaukee and from there 
to Manistee, Michigan, where he worked in a 
saw-mill one yeai-, and then came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. For three years he did not 
raise much of any tiling on account of the rav- 
ages of the grasshoj)pers. Se|)tember, 1808, he 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



11 



was married to Carrie Clauson, the daughter 
of Rasmus II. and Ann Christena Chuison, 
natives of Denmark, whose three cliildren were 
John, Mary and {,'arrie. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with the following children : Carrie, born Feb- 
ruary 16, 1874; Christ, born July 11, 1S76 ; 
Hannibal, born October 21, 1878; Matilda, 
born March 7,1881; Annie, Hannah, and John 
are deceased. 

Politically, our subject is an Independent. 

Much credit should be attache<l to a nuin 
coining from a foreign shore, with not enough 
means to jiay his passport across the ocean, but 
who by hard work and a conformance to our 
form of government, succeeds in building for 
himself so good a home as is possessed by our 
subject. 

PETER PARKERT came tu Dodge County 
July, 1808, and first located at Fremont, 
as he accompanied his parents. lie went 
to work on a brickyard, worked one season, and 
then went on the farm he now occupies, consist- 
ing of six hundred acres of wild land. Here he 
made substantial improvements, including the 
building of a house 16x2i feet, with a wing 16x 
20 feel ; a barn 26x56 feet, a granary 21x26 
feet, double cribs, dug wells, erected a wind- 
mill, set out five acres of a grove, and planted 
seventy-five fruit trees. 

Our subject was born in Germany, January 
17, 1840, the son of Nicholas and Anna Park- 
ert, natives of Germany, who had three chil- 
dren: Barbara, Maggie and Peter. He remained 
in (iermany until he was four years and a half 
of age and moved with his parents to Wiscon- 
sin, where he remained five years; then went to 
Michigan, and from there to Nebraska. His 
early advantages for ol^taining an education 
were ])oor. He was united in marriage Febi-u- 
ary, 1876, to Louisa Went, by whom one child 
was born. The same was a boy and is now 
deceased . 

In 1883, for his second wife oui' subject mar- 
ried Marv Tillman, danghtiM' of Frank M. Till- 



man, whose family sketch appears elsewhere. 
Our subject and his wife have been blessed by 
four children: George M., March 15, 1884; 
Peter, Jr., August 30, 1887; Annie F., Decem- 
ber 25, 1889. and Ella M., October 13, 1891. 

The famil\' are members of the Roman Catho- 
lic Ciiurch, and the sul)ject of this sketch is 
politically a Democrat. 



ANDREW QITIGLEY, a farmer, living on 
Section IS, of Union township, came to 
Dodge County in the springof 1869, and 
rented land where he now lives. He took a 
homestead of eighty acres; built a house 14x24 
feet, and made other substantial improvements. 
In the springof ISSti he built his ])resent resi- 
dence, which is 16x24 feet, with an ell sixteen 
feet square. He has good out-buildings and all 
about his premises shows him to be a man of 
thrift and order. He has three hundred and 
sixty acres within his farm, and forty acres of 
hay land on the bottom. 

He was born in Ireland (County Benygall), 
about 1829, the son of John and James (Ram- 
sey) Quigley. At the age of twenty, our sub- 
ject bid farewell to his native land and came 
to America. It required six weeks for him to 
make his passage over the briny deep, as he 
came in the old-fashioned sail vessel. Soon 
after he landed in Philadelphia, he went to 
work in a rolling mill and workeil for one firm 
seventeen years, and until he came to Dodge 
County. 

Mr. Quigley was united in marriage at Phil- 
adelphia in 1855 to Miss Mary J. Johnson, 
daughter of Fldward and Jane (Piatt) Johnson, 
both natives of Ireland. 

Mr. and Mrs. Quigley are the parents of seven 
children: Jane, John, Edward, Mary, Anilrew 
and Isabel (twins), and Benjamin. 

Mr. and Mrs. (Quigley are members of the 
Presbyterian Church, and in his ]U)litical belief, 
he is in sym|)athy with the Re])ublican party. 

Of their children, it may be said that Jane 
married R. Hunt, and lives in Ottawa. Kansas; 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



Mary married Frank Darling, and lives in 
Union township ; Isabel married Edward 
Huglies and lives in Union township. 



EW. EENKIX, one of the prominent 
business factors of Hooper, will form 
the subject of this sketch. Mr. Een- 
kin was born in St. Clairsville, Belmont 
County, Ohio, July 2i, 1854. He came to Ne- 
braska and settled in Dodge County in the fall 
of 1883. His first occupation was teaching 
school, and he was engaged iu this pursuit for 
eigiiteen months when, in the summer of 1886, 
he purciiased the Sentinel at Hooper and 
turned his attention to journalistic work. In 
1889 he, in company with Mr. E. H, Airis, 
purchased a stock of drugs, which he runs in 
connection with his newspaper business. Mr. 
Renkin is an enthusiastic Democrat and 
thoroughly believes in the principles of his 
party. He was postmaster of Hooper during 
the last year of President Cleveland's first 
term. As soon as Mr. Harrison was inaugu- 
rated he resigned to make room for a Eepubli- 
can, believing in the old Democratic doctrine, 
that " to the victor belongs the spoils." 

Our subject is quite prominent in secret so- 
ciety circles, belonging to the Masonic, Odd 
Fellows, Knigiits of Pythias and Ancient Order 
of United Workmen societies. 

He was married in June, 1888, to Miss Ida 
Bullock, daughter of Tiiomas and Grace Bul- 
lock, old and resi)ected citizens of Hooper 
township. 

GElllIATlD RASTEDE, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 27, Cuming township, was born in 
Germany, September 9, 1850, and came 
to New York, and on to Dodge County, 
Nebraska, September 27, 1869, and bought one 
hundred and twenty acres of land upon which 
he erected a liouse 12x14 feet, in which he 
lived several years and then built a story and 
one-half house, with many more conveniences. 
He has a good orchard and fine grove. 



Our subject was united in marriage in the 
spring of 1873, to Anna Tunges. To them 
were born five children : Sophia A , Henry J. 
Gerhard II., Mary G., Joiianna. 

Our subject's mother came to Amei'ica and 
lives with him, his father having ilied in tiie 
old country. 

Our subject now has one hundred and eighty 
acres of land, and at present has one iiundred 
and forty head of hogs, sixteen horses and 
sixty head of cattle. He has been eminently 
successful in agriculture, as he only had three 
hundred dollars when he came to this country, 
one-half of which he paid for a yoke of oxen, 
and then paid for his land. He passed through 
the grasshopper plague, and was also injured 
by tiie hail storm which destroyed his crop. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and in religious matters is a Lutheran. 



EDWARD RANNIE, a farmer of Section 
15, Maple township, came to Dodge 
County during the month of May, 1872, 
when he located on the farm he now occupies. 
At first he had a quarter section of wild land 
upon which he built a story and one-half house, 
14x26 feet: a barn, 12x20 feet; double cribs, 
18x25 feet; a single crib, 10x18 feet; a stable, 
14x36 feet; granary, 12x16 feet, and additional 
granary, 10x18 feet, and a cow barn, 12x32 
feet. He provided four bored wells, beautified 
and made more valuable his farm by the plant- 
ing out of a five-acre grove and an orchard of 
eigiity trees. He now has one hundred and 
thirty acres under cultivation ami the balance 
in pasture and meadow-land. When he came 
to the township there were but verv few houses 
to be seen; all was yet new and wild. There 
were no fences, and wagon tracks went diagon- 
ally hither and yon across the country without 
regard to lines. Since his residence in the 
county he lias been greatly annoyed I)}' the 
vast army of grasshoppers, which made life a 
burden for the Nebraska farmer iu ihe" seven 
ties." 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



79 



Our subject was born in Midlotliian, Scotland, 
May 26, 1822, tlie son of Alexander and Ann 
llannie, natives oE Scotland, wiiose seven chil- 
dren were: Mary A., Robert, Ellen, Edward, 
Joseph, Jesse and Ann. Our subject remained 
in Scotland until he was seventeen j'earsof age, 
and went from there to England, where he 
worked as a fireman in a cotton manufactory. 
After six years thus employed, he came to 
America, landing in New York, and from there 
went to Pennsylvania, and engaged as an en- 
gineer in the mining regions and there remained 
for twenty-four years, after which he forsook 
the Keystone State and came to Dodge Countyj 
Nebraska. In his native land he was fortunate 
in being given a good education. 

February, 18-tt], he was united in marriage to 
Elizabeth Marland, daughter of James and 
Sarah Marland, of England, whose three chil- 
dren were: Ruth, Ann and Elizabeth. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with the following children : James M., born 
December 10, 1S4G; Robert (deceased), born Sep- 
tenber 12, 1849 ; Alexander, September G, 1851; 
Joseph, July -i, ISSi; Edward, January 14, 
1857 ; William A., July 16, 1862. 

Mr. Rannie is a Republican in his political 
affiliations. He is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias Order, belonging to Mt. Carmel Lodge 
Xo. 181, of Penns\'lvania. 



PETER SULLIVAN, a farmer living on 
Section 9, of Maple township, became ^ 
citizen of Dodge County in the spring 
of 1888, when he located on one hundred and 
sixty acres of wild land which now comprises 
his present farm. He made the necessary im- 
jirovenients upon the land, including breaking, 
buildings, an orchard of sixty trees, etc. 

Mr. Sullivan was born in New Jerse}^, Feb- 
ruary, 1863. His parents were Abraham and 
Caroline Sullivan, who were also natives of 
New Jersey, and the parents of three children: 
Peter, Charles L. and Albert T. Peter lived in 
his native State until he reached the years of 



his majority, when he went to Henderson 
County, Illinois, and there worked on a farm 
four years, after which he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. His educational advantages 
were of the common school order. 

December, 1887, he was married to Henrietta 
Durling, daughter of Abraiiam and Mary A. 
Durling, natives of New Jersey, whose four 
children were: Gorgianna, Augusta, Mamie 
and Henrietta. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
by the advent of one child : Edgar M., born 
February 15, 1891. 

Politically our subject is a supporter of the 
Republican party, and in religious matters he 
and his wife are members of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 



HANS P. STOLTENBERG, a highly re- 
spected citizen of Pleasant Valley 
township, residing on Section 28, cama 
to Dodge County, Nebraska, in the month of 
April, 1871, and located where he now lives. 
He took a homestead which had been claimed 
by another man, paying him for his improve- 
ments and right of title. He found a small 
frame building upon the place, 12x16 feet, 
papered inside with tar pajier. He has since 
made additions to this house until it is now 
a comfortable resi<lence. In 1887, he built a 
barn 26x26 feet, also large corn-crib, wagon 
shed and granary. His farm now comprises 
one hundred and twenty acres. He was here 
during the grasshopper years and for three 
seasons he did not make a living. The country 
was sparsely settled, and his nearest school- 
house was a sod shanty two miles away, but it 
was not until several years after that date that 
our subject had any need for schools, for he was 
yet a single man. 

Mr. Stoltenberg is a native of Germany, 
born April 9, 1843, the son of Hans II. and 
Angle (Paustian) Stoltenberg, who were the 
parents of five children, four sons and one 
daughter, our subject being ilie second child. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



His father was bom in 1808, and died in Dodge 
County in 1874. Tlie motlier was born in 1811 
and lives witii lier flaugliter, Mrs. I.adelioff. 

Wiien our subject was ten jeai-s old, he com- 
menced working out on a farm, receiving about 
ten dollars £V year for his work besides his l)oard, 
wool for stockings and linen for pants and 
jacket. As he grew older, his wages advanced, 
and when he was able to do a man's woil- he 
got thirty-two dollars per year. In the spring 
of 1865, he sailed for America, and for the next 
four years worked on a farm in the vicinity of 
Davenport, Iowa, where he received three 
hundred dollars per year, which, compared to 
the wages he had been receiving in the old 
country, seemed to be a large pay. The man 
for whom he worked owned over a section of 
land, and our subject, after working for him 
seven months, became manager of the farm. 
In 1869. he came to Omaha and peddled milk 
as a hired man for two years, and then came 
to Dodge County. 

July 2, 1871, he was united in marriage in 
Dodge County to Miss Frederica Dunker, 
daughter of Henry and Pauline (Clausen) 
Dunker, both natives of Germany, and the 
parents of nine chddren, Mrs. Stoitenberg being 
the eighth child. Iler father died in Germany 
in 1860 at about the age of forty-two years. 
Mrs. Stoitenberg was born in Germany, Sep- 
tember 8, 1S56, and accompanied her mother 
to America, direct to Omaha, in the spring of 
1869. , The mother came on to Dodge County 
the same year, but Frederica woiked out in 
Omaha two years. Our subject and his wife 
are the parents of nine children : Anna P., 
born August 17, 1872; Max Edward, born 
March 27. 1S7-1: ; Henry C, born September 9, 
1875; Martha W., May 26, 1878; Albert D., 
born August 26. 1880; Hans IL, born Decem- 
ber 10, 1881; Hertha M., born May 2, 1884; 
Frida M., born December 4, 1885; Gerhart, 
January 11, 1887. Henry C. died February 10, 
1889 and Gerhart died July 6, 1887. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Stoitenberg are members of 
the German Lutheran Church. He has been a 



member of the Grange ever since the organi- 
zation started in 1873. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. 

CHARLES W. SHELDON, who resides on 
Section 11, of Platte township, came to 
Dodge County in the autumn of 1881, 
and bought the farm he now occupies, which at 
the time consisted of a quarter section of wild 
land which he broke out and erected a house 
upon, 16x36 feet, with a wing 18x20 feet. He 
built the necessary out-buildings, including sta- 
bles, shedding, ice-house, bank cellar; provided 
drive-wells with a windmill and water tank. 
He also set out an orchard of one hundred 
tress, aside from a large amout of shade trees, 
a large vineyard and considerable small fruit. 
He has eighty acres under the plow, and is one 
of the independent, thorough-going farmers of 
his portion of the township. He pays much 
attention to dairying — having as fine a herd of 
grade Holsteius as can be found in the State. 

Mr. Sheldon was born in La Grange County, 
Indiana, August 21, 1853, and is the son of 
Thomas J. and Mary E. Sheldon, the former a 
native of New York and the latter of Indiana. 
They were the parents of the following chil- 
dren : Their first born died in infancy, Charles, 
Sumner, deceased; and Rayard, deceased. 
Charles lived in Butler, Indiana, until he was 
eight years of age, when his parents removed 
to Cleveland, Ohio. His father was a physician 
and druggist, but after two years in that city 
moved to South Bend, Indiana, and finally 
retired. Our subject lived in Indiana until lie 
was eighteen years of age, when he went to 
Michigan and entered the Agricultural College, 
where he remained lour years, graduating with 
the class in 1875. He spent the following 
year in Indiana, and then went to Burr Oak, 
Michigan, where he purchased a farm and fol- 
lowed farm life until August, ISSl, and then 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska, bringing 
with him about fifteen hunilred dollars, as his 
earthly possession. He was united in marriage 




^}y{rhi^'-( 



NOkTHEASmHN NEBRASKA. 



83 



in the month of May. 1SS2, to Helen B. Par- 
sons, tlie daughter of Chauncey and Amelia 
Parsons, natives of Vermont and New York, 
res[)ectiveiy. In her fatlier's famil\' were : 
Julia, Charles and Helen, as the children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Slieldon are the parentsof three 
children: Dotte, born December 13, 1883; 
I'.essie. born January 31, 1885 ; Warren, born 
Arpril 1, ISS'J. 

He belongs to Fremont Lodge No. 15, A. F. 
A: A. M., and the Chapter of the Masonic Or- 
der. He is also a member of the Phi. Delta 
Theta. 

Politically he affiliates with the Re])ublican 
party. In religious matters he makes no 
profession ; his wife, however, being an accept- 
able member of the Congregational (Jhurcli. 



FP.ED MEYER, whose residence is 1223 
Nye Avenue, Fremont, is one of the 
prominent business and social factors of 
the city, and a brief review of his life, both in 
this and in his native land, cannot fail to be of 
interest to the reader of this volume, narrating 
as it does, the history of a man born beyond the 
big seas ; wlio left the land of his birth for the 
l)urpose of bettering his condition in life, and 
how well he has succeeded the sequel of this no- 
tice will reveal. 

Mr. Meyer was born in Hannover, Germany. 
April 8, 1S45. His parents were Fred and 
Maria Afagaretha (Mammen) Meyer, who were 
nativesof Germany, there lived and ilied. They 
had a family of seven children, our subject be- 
ing the youngest, and the only surviving mem- 
ber of the famil}', and the only one who immi- 
grated to this countrv. He I'emained in Ger- 
many until he was twenty-three years of age. 
When he was about fifteen j'ears of age, he went 
with his uncle, as an assistant in the banking, 
grain and lumber business, and was thus con- 
nected for four years. During that period, he 
went through the great lire in Esens, in Hano- 
ver, of 18G<*. Afther he left the employ of his 
uncle he engaged with Pauls \- Knoll, whole- 



sale dealers in groceries, tobaccos and cigars 
and traveled for them four years. In tlieautumn 
of 1867, he sailed for America, spending the 
first eighteen months in Toledo, Ohio, engaged 
as l)ook-keeper in a grocery and queensware es- 
tablishment, after which he came to Fremont, 
Nebraska, arriving April 4, 1870. Four days 
after his arrival he rented a store room in com- 
pany with E. IT. Andi'eesen, under the firm name 
of Andreesen & Meyei', and opened a small gro- 
cery and crockery store May 8, 187o. with a 
capital of two hundred and thirty-live dollars, 
which was sufficient to pay the rent for a short 
time, and put in the shelving I'equired for their 
goods, and purchased their stock on credit, 
which they paid for in as short a time as possi- 
ble. They were very conservative, doing a 
strictly cash business, boarding themselves. In 
this way they did business two years, in 
order to cut down their expenses, and place them- 
selves on a firm solid basis. As time passed on 
their stock was gradually inci'easetl ami their 
pros])ect became more flattering. In 1874, his 
partner, Andreesen, died, when his brother E. 
M. Andreesen succeeded him, the firm name 
standing the same. When the first partner 
died, E. H. Andreesen, and the new firm suc- 
ceeded, they paid to the widow of the deceased 
member of the firm, for her interest, between 
fifteen and sixteen thousand dollars, which was 
the outgrowth of the small investment of a 
jiart of the two hundred and thirty-five dollars 
cajiital. E. M. Andreesen and Mr. Meyer con- 
tinued in business until 1880, making a marked 
success of the same. When the latter Andree- 
son came into the firm, he i)ut in three thou- 
sand dollars cash. In 1880, Mr. Meyer suc- 
ceeded the lirm of Andreesen & Meyer and 
paid Mr. Andreeson twenty-two thousand dol- 
lars for his interest. When our subject made 
the change, he took .in as his partner his 
brothei-in-law, E. Schurman, aid the lirm 
name stood Meyer & Schurman. Previous to 
this time, the firm of Meyer & Andreeson had 
been doing a wholesale and retail business, i)Ut 
when the lirm chan'red to Mever cV- Schurmaii. 



84 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



they did a wholesale business exclusiveh', deal- 
ing in groceries, produce and liquors, covering 
the territory of Nebraska, Wyoming and 
Dakota, and liavingan annual sale that reached 
as high as four iiundi'cd and lifty tiiousand 
dollars. Tliis firm existed until 1S88, when 
it was dissolved and the business closed up ; 
Mr. Schurinan entering the banking business, 
while our subject luis turned his attention 
toward looking after his large volume of busi- 
ness whicii covers almost, or rather has an 
interest in noarl}'^ all of the manufacturing 
plants of the city of Fremont. His landed 
interests amount to between eighty and ninety 
thousand dollars. These lands are located in 
Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming. 
His heaviest interests, however, being in 
Nebraska and Kansas. In the first named, he 
])ossesses over fifteen hundred acres of land, 
and between six and seven thousand acres 
in the other States named, besides over a 
thousand town lots in different towns in 
Kansas, in Logan, Thomas and Wallace 
counties. He possesses two thousand acres of 
land in Weld county, Colorado, and in 
Wyoming considerable town property, at 
Cheyenne. In the city of Fremont, he is 
interested in the principal enterpi'ises and was 
one of the principal factors in securing the Fre- 
mont brewery ; also the stock-yards and 
land company. He is one of the directors of 
the Continuous Brick Kiln Company; also a 
director of tlie Fremont Street Railway, and is 
an owner in tlie Fi-emont Fountlr^'and Machine 
Shops. Besides tlie above interests, he is a 
stockiiolder in the Fremont Manufacturing 
Company and Fremont Cariiage Factory, 
Equitable l>oan anil Building Association, 
ficepresident and stockholder of the Hemp 
and Twine Factory, one of the directors in the 
Fremont National Bank, a director in the Scrib- 
ner State P.ank and Centi-al Nebraska National 
Bank, of David City. He is also president of 
the Farmers and Merchants Bank, of Cedar 
Bluffs, Nebraska, formed in 1S92, and one of 
the Board of Directors of llie Nebraska State 



Guarantee Building and Loan Association. 
During 1892 he had 1,7C0 acres of wheat in 
Kansas, from which he harvested over 30,000 
bushels. 

Ho has been one of the leading men in all of 
the enterprises that have had for their object 
the benefit of the city of Fremont and the coun- 
try surrounding it, always working for the 
public good, yet carefully guarding his own in- 
terests in a praiseworthy and commendable 
manner, in the light of correct business pi'in- 
ciples. 

Politically Mr. Meyer is a Democrat. 

He was united in marriage November 6, 1872, 
to Justine M. Looschen, who was a native of 
Hanover, Germany, born October 3. 18-18, the 
daughter of Pappe O. and Johanna (Janssen) 
Looschen, who now reside in Jremont, coming 
to the city in 1882, and are now quite well ad- 
vanced in years. Mr. and Mrs. ]\reyer are the 
parents of three children : Poppeline Johanna, 
born Decemljcr 24, 1874; Eimo Ilaaren Will- 
iam, born April 15, 1877, died August 23, 1881, 
and Justine Willelmine, born November 21, 
18S4. Our subject has an elegantly appointed 
office in the Masonic building. He is a member 
of the Northwestern Traveling Men's Associa- 
tion, and is among the most popular men doing 
business in eastern Nebraska. 

It has been ))eriiaps truthfully said that no 
two individuals in the world look exactly alike, 
and it is certain that no two persons mark out 
the same course, think the same thoughts, and 
accomplish the same ends, in their j)assport 
from the cradle to the grave. Some juen and 
women might do better than they do; while 
others cause success to come out of the wreck 
of other men's failures; while circumstances 
largely control and fashion the destiny of nearly 
all. Some men have the faculty of blending 
the circumstances and environments of life so 
that they are enabled to write success and good 
to themselves over nearly all of their under- 
takings, and this peculiar trait of character 
has been the touchstone whicli has led lo our 
subject's exceptional financial success in lile. 



NOR THE A S TEKX \ !■ IU< A SKA . 



85 



And again, his success is all the more striking 
when one considers that the first twenty-two 
3'ears of his life were spent in his native land, 
reared under an inferior form of government; 
educated in ideas foreign to this govern- 
ment, and sciiooled to different habits and tastes 
than are found in this country. It will be ob- 
served by the above, that he was but twent\'- 
five years of age when he became a resident 
of Fremont, and during his twent3'-two years 
residence here, commencing with a capital of 
less than two hundred dollars, he soon arose to 
business distinction, and was the half owner in 
a business, the annual sales of which at one 
time amounted to nearly half a million dollars. 
After having made a complete success of that 
enterprise, sought out still further conquests in 
the business world; made profitable invest- 
ments in wild lands, throughout the West, and 
became interested in home enterprises at Fre- 
mont, which have given a growth and pi'osper- 
ity to the place that nothing else could do. To 
thus invest one's accumulated wealth is indeed 
laudable, furnishing, as it does, employment and 
an interchange of business relations which could 
not be carried on by men of smaller means. So 
long as the history of Fremont shall be referred 
to, by this and the succeeding generations, the 
name of Fred Meyer will be prominent. 



CHRIST MARTIN SASS, of Section 34, 
Cuming township, is a son of John and 
Sophia (Croeger) Sass, who had eight 
children, four of whom still survive. The sub- 
ject of this notice was born March li>, I808, in 
the township where he now lives. His father 
located lanil on Section 3+ in the autumn of 
1868. His father and mother came from Ger- 
many in 1867 dii'ect to Dodge (Jounty, Ne. 
braska. They only found one lunise in the 
whole country in which they located. 

He of whom we write this sketch was mar- 
ried June 30, 1891, to Anna Meyer, who was 
born in Germany and came to America in 1880. 

Politically our subject votes the Democratic 



ticket, and in religious mattei's the family are 
German Lutherans. 

Upon our subject's farm one finds everv' evi- 
dence of thrift and order. The land is well 
cultivated, and among other improvements ma\' 
be named the story and one-half farm house, 
barn, a grove of two acres and an orchard. He 
has six head of horses, fifteen head of cattle 
and about fifty hogs. 

His parents saw many hardships in an early 
day in Dodge County, for they were there 
during the years 1876-77-78, when the grass- 
hoppers worked such sad havoc with the grow- 
ing crops, and also the years of 1882-83, when 
the chinch-bugs ruined the wheat crop. 



FRED. ZARMSDORF, of Section 20, Feb. 
ble township. Dodge County, was born 
at Mecklenburg, Germany, December 21, 
1834, and came to America in 1863. He worked 
in Chicago for five years by the month, and 
then went to Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois; 
remained two years and then came to Nebraska, 
in October, 186!), when he took a homestead, 
forming a ])art of his pi'esent place, which is 
now all well improved, including a story-and 
one-half house, a good barn, an orchard, and a 
five-acre grove. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Chi- 
cago in September, 1864, to Bertha Kleemann, 
by which marriage union three children were 
born — Lena, Fred W. and Ella F. 

Our subject's father, Fred Zarmsdorf, died in 
Germany, as did the mother, Sophia (Drance) 
Zarmsdorf. In religious matters our subject 
and his family are Lutherans. He usually votes 
the Democratic ticket, but favors the best man 
for the best place, regardless of party. 



EUGENE M. TARI5ELL, whose farm is 
situated on Section 17, of Maple town- 
ship, came to Dodge County in the 
spring of 1878, and first located on section 8, 
of the same township, where he bought forty 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



acres of land, upon which he remained two 
j'ears, and then sold out and bought the farm 
he now occupies, consisting of one liundred and 
twenty acres of jjartly ini|)i'oved hind. He had 
but $450 when lie came toDodge County, and 
was obliged to borrow %'M to make the Jirst 
payment on his land. He has built a two story 
house, 26x28 feet; a barn, 28x56 feet; a double 
crib, 26x28 feet; a hog house, 24rx6i feet; ice 
house and shop, 16x32 ; set of Fairbank's scales 
covered by a building, 28x28 feet, together 
with a granary and carriage house, wind mill 
and shedding for eighty head of cattle, and a 
beautiful grove of three acres. Fruit trees and 
small fruit graces the place. His pi-esent farm 
consists of two hundred acres, one hundred and 
sixty of which is under the plow, all free from 
incumbrance. 

Mr. Tarbell was born in New Hampshire, in 
June, 1855. He is the son of William and Mary 
A. Tarbell, natives of New nampshire and 
New York, respectively, and who were the par- 
ents of six children : Edna, Will, Eugene, Em- 
ily, Charles and Clarence, all of whom live in 
Nebraska. Our subject remained in his native 
state until he was three years of age, when his 
])arents moved to Hillsdale County, Mich., 
where he grew to manhood. He received a 
connnon school education. From childhood lie 
worked out and sup))orted himself. 

He was united in nuirriage in June, 1880, to 
Candace Mai'tin, of Hillsdale County, Mich., 
daughter of Rev. Winslow P. and Emeratte A. 
Martin, natives of Massachusetts and New York, 
respectively. 

Politically, oui' subject is a Pi'(;l)ibitionist, 
and in religious matters lie is a member of the 
Congregational Ciiurcli. 



CH AP.LES GUEXTHEP, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 4, St. Chai'les townslii|), Cuming 
County, was born in German v November 
2."), 1S(;1, and accompanied his fatlKsr to ('aiiiuhi. 
His father's name was Conrad (iut'Mlhcr, tliev 
moved to tins country, when our subject was 



one and one half years old. They landed at 
New York harbor and came direct from there 
to Cuming County, Nebraska, where his father 
located a (juarter section of land, on Section 4. 
under the homestead act. He tiled on the 
claim, in the summer of 1862, at Omaha. At 
lirst they lived in the sod-house and later a 
log-house was provided. The father died in 
1875, and the good mother survived until the 
autumn of 1886. 

Our subject was united in marriage February 
27, 1889, to Elizabeth Herbst, to whom has 
been born one child — Mary. The family belong 
to the Roman Catholic church, and in the exer- 
cise of his franchise, Mr. Guentiier, atliliates 
with the Democi'atic part}'. 

AVhen our subject's parents first came to the 
county, all was yet wild and new, their nearest 
market place, being Omaha, the trips requiring 
about one week's time. His first team was an 
ox team, which was a slow manner of trans- 
portation, as com})ared with the fast trains of 
today. The grasshoppers, caused a great loss 
in crops, for four or five years, which gave the 
country a great set back. Our subject relates 
that while crossing the Elkhorn River in a boat, 
with his mothei', the boat upset and they came 
near drowning, which incident will be remem- 
bered by him as long as he lives. He also 
states that the first meal of victuals they had 
in Cuming County, was made up chiefly of a 
big fish thev caught in the Elkhorn River. 



HANS JORGENSON, a farmer living on 
Section 15, of Cuming township, has 
been a resident of Cuming County 
since the autumn of 1868. He first located at 
West Point, and worked by the day and mouth 
for about two years, when he purchased the 
the farm he now occupies, which consisted of 
a (quarter section of wild land at that time. He 
turned over the virgin sod, built a log-house 
12x16 feet, and lived in tiic s;ime for eight 
years. He then built a frauu; house 12xl(! feet, 
to which he lias since adiled ;ui up' !ght 12x24 



AORTf/EASTERiV NEBRASKA. 



m 



feet. He has also provided his place with a good 
baru, granary, machine house, and cribbing. 
He has a line artificial grove of four aci'cs and 
an orchard of two hundred trees. From time 
to time he has added to his land, until he now 
has three hundred and twenty acres, one hun- 
dred and seventy of which is under cidtivation. 
It may be said, our worthy subject commenced 
his pioneer life in Cuming County, with no 
capital save his two bantis and a stout heart, 
which were both needed dui'ing tlie grass- 
hopper invasion and genei'al bard times. 

Mr. Jorgenson first saw the light of day, in 
Denmark, in December, 1813. He is the son 
of Jacob and Catharena Jorgenson, whose eight 
children were as follows : Peter, Frederick 
(deceased), Hans, Nicholas (deceased), Mary 
(deceased), Ellen, Helen and Margaret. 

Our subject remained in Dennmrk until 
twenty-two years of age, which was in 1866, 
when he came to America. He spent the first 
three months in St. Louis, Missouri, and went 
from there to Davenport, Iowa, where he 
worked one year and then went to Winona, 
Minnesota, sto])pe(l one year and from there 
to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he stayed a 
short time. We next find him in Omaha, 
wiiere he halted two months and then came to 
West Point. He received a fair common school 
education in his native country, and was mar- 
I'ied November, ISSi, to Dora Esenberg, the 
daughter of Cresen and Catharine Esenberg, 
natives of German\% whose four children were 
named as follows: Christian, John, Catharine 
and Dora, all living in Ameiica. 

Our subject and his wife are the })arents ol' 
one child : Emma, born March, 1885. 

In his political aiiiliations, he of whom we 
write this notice is a supporter of the Repul)ii- 
can party, and takes great pride in tiie institu- 
tions of his adopted country. 

HENRY LUHENS, a farmer of Section 2, 
township 20, range 6, Cuming County, 
was born in Cook County, lilinuis, June 
11, Ibll, and lived on his latliei'^s farm until 



he enlisted, October 1, 1861, when not quite 
eighteen years of age, as a soldier in the Union 
Army, serving three years and three months, 
participating in seven battles. He was a mem- 
ber of the Thirteenth Illinois Cavalry. After 
leaving the service, he went to St. Louis and 
engaged in the grocery business for one year, 
after which he went to Omaha, and remained 
until the spring of 1872, and then came to 
AVest Point and located a homestead, where he 
has since lived. His place contains good build- 
ings and is generally well improved. 

Our subject's father and mother both died in 
Chicago, Illinois, the father in 1881, and the 
mother in 1884. He was the youngest of six 
children, and the only one now living. When 
he first came to the county, his market place 
was West Point, at which place he filed on his 
homestead, the land office being there at the 
time. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party, and in religious matters is a 
member of the German Lutheran (Jhurch. He 
belongs to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias 
fraternities. 



MARK N. LONCi, a representative farmer 
of Cuming County, living on Sectit)n 
35, of Sherman township, was born in 
Ohio March 26, 1862, and is the son of Jo- 
siah and Mary A. Long. He was l)orn March 
3, 1812, and she October 19, 1819. He came 
to Nebraska with his jnotlier when he was live 
years of age. She located on a homestead 
which she filed on in Omaha in 1866. She came 
to Nebraska with $3,000 in money and a family 
of ten children, two being married, our 
subject beinsr the youngest. His father, Josiah 
I>ong, died in Ohio December 6, 1863, when our 
subject was eighteen months old. Upon this 
Nebraska homestead tiie mother built a two- 
story house, which burned in 1871; when a 
story and one-half structure was erected. The 
place is sujiplied with a small orchani and \^\\k^ 
acrcsof a "love. I'iftv acres are uuiler cuiti- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



vation and the remainder in pasture and hay 
land. Our subject had only a limited educa- 
tion, and was married in the winter of 1883, to 
Emma C. Hasten, born June 20, 1862, to whom 
five children have been born : Alvin D., Mary 
S., Myrtle M., Norval N. and Worthy E. 

Our subject's father and mother were mar- 
ried in Ohio. August 27, 1837, and were typical 
pioneers, and bore the respect of the entire 
communities in which they lived from time to 
time. Much credit should be placed to the life 
and character of our subject's mother, as one 
views her homestead life, and considers how 
that she had to go to Omaha, eighty miles dis- 
tant, to procure her family supplies. Then, 
again, the section of country in which she lived 
was infested by the grasshoppers for a number 
of years, and they destroyed the crops which 
her children had raised. 

Our subject votes the Ile]Hiblican ticket. 
Both he and his estimable family are members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



RICHARD PETEPt McGUIRE, a farmer 
of Section 18, Blaine township, Cuming 
Count}', was born in Peterboro, Ontario, 
January 31, 185-1. He is a son of John and 
Ellen (Lehane) McGuire, both of Irish descent 
and now residents of Petevboro. Michael 
Lehane, the maternal grandfather of our sub- 
ject, came to America in 1825. Lawrence 
McGuire. his paternal grandfather, also came 
to this country in the same year. Lawrence 
married Eii/a Power, near Peterboro, in 
1829. She still lives there at the age of eighty 
years. Her fathei', Ricliard Power, came to 
this country in 1825. These several families 
all came from the county of Cork. Richard 
Power was a warrior under Robert Emmett, 
in the Irish conspiracy of 1798. His death 
occurred at Peterboro, April 1808, at the 
advanced age of one hundred and eight years, 
nine months and seven days. Kllen ( Simcex) 
Lehane, maternal grandmother of our subject, 
was a descendant of General Patrick Sarslield, 



who held the city of. Limerick against the 
British forces. 

John McGuire had fourteen children, all of 
whom are living at this writing: Richard P., 
Frances M. (Mrs. M. Rvan); Elizabeth, Thomas, 
Michael (a priest of a Jesuit Order in Mon- 
treal); John F., Louis B., Mai-garet E. (a Nun 
of the Franciscan Order in Montreal); Andrew, 
Martin, William II. Sarsfield, Catharine and 
Mary. 

Our subject lived at Peterboro, until twent}'- 
three 3'ears of age, there receiving a common 
school education. In 1877, he went to Saginaw, 
Michigan, and worked in the pineries. Two 
years later he engaged in farming at Plymouth, 
Wayne County, Michigan, and in 1884 removed 
to Cuming Countv, Nebraska, and purchased a 
part of his present farm in Blaine township, 
where he now owns a half section of valuable 
land, devoted chief!}' to stock raising. For 
several years he has made a specialty of breeding 
Poland China Swine, and light Brahma fowls. 

Politically, he is in syrapathv with the Dem- 
ocratic party. He is supervisor of Blaine 
township, and chairman of the county board. 
He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church. 

He was united in marriage January 7, 1880, 
to Margaret E. McMahon of Peterboro, 
Ontario. Her parents, Matthew and Julia 
( ilurphy ) McMahon, were natives of Cork 
county, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have 
si.\ children: Furgus V., Mary T., Richard S. 
Julia L., Michael D., and George F. 

Mr. McGuire is now one of the most suc- 
cessful, and highl}' respected farmers of Cum- 
ing county. 

In the fall of 1892 he was candidate on the 
Democratic ticket for State's Representative, 
but owing to the race prejudice among the 
German Republicans he was defeated. 



CASPER RIEF, of Section 3, Garfield 
township, came to Cuming County in 
the spring of 1874, when he located 011 
one hundred and sixty acres of wild land em- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



89 



braced in his present farm. lie built a farm 
liouse of cotton-wood lumber, which he hauled 
from Decatur, twenty-six miles away. He 
lived in tiiis house six years, when a part of his 
present residence was built. Ilis building im- 
]>rovements are all first class, and he has an 
iui[)roved system of water-works for stock pur- 
poses. He iias an artificial grove of five acres 
an<l an orchard of one hundred and fifty trees^ 
besides grapes and small fruits in abundance. 

From time to time he has added to his land 
until he now has seven hundred and twenty 
acres, six hundred of which are under the plow 
and all enclosed by a good fence. Since he has 
been in Nebraska his crops have been damaged 
at different times by grasshoppers and hail- 
storms. One year he lost forty-five acres of 
wheat, besides oats and corn. He of whom we 
write this notice was born in Germany, October, 
1S39, the son of Joseph and Sophia Rief, whose 
six children were Adara, Catherine, Casper, Jo- 
seph, Jr., Agnes, and Elizabeth (deceased). Our 
subject remained in Germany until twelve 
years of age, and then accompanied his parents 
to this country. The father settled in Dane 
County, Wisconsin, where he bought a farm. 
Casper remained at home until twenty-three 
years of age, when he bought lovVj acres of 
land, which he continued to farm until he came 
to Cuming County. He did not have a first- 
class opportunity for obtaining an education, 
but observation and experience have taught 
iiiin much. In February, 1862, he was united 
in mari'iage to Anna M. Zander, daughter of 
Constantino and Anna Zander, both natives of 
German}', whose three children were: xVnna 
M., Sophia and Ursala (deceased). 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
the following children : Anna, born December 
8, 1863; Adam, June 18, 1867; Joseph, Sep- 
tember 22, 1869 ; Peter, September 4, 1872 ; 
Constantine, April 3, 1876 ; Elizabeth, January 
16, 1878; Sophia, August 20, 1879; and Cas- 
per, Jr., March 20, 1882. 

Politically, our subject is identified with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters both 



he and his wife arc members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 



TIMOTHY D. PJCII, afarmer of Section 28, 
Grant townsiiip, came to Cuming County 
in the spring of 1868, and first located 
on the farm he now occupies, which was then 
one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. His 
breaking was the first in the township, lie 
hauled lumber from Omaha to build a frame 
house 12x16 feet. In this house he lived for 
twelve years, when his present one was erected. 
He has a good class of buildings, a handsome 
artificial grove of five acres, and an orchard of 
fifty trees, with small fruit in abundance. He 
now owns two hundred and forty acres of land, 
one hundred and seventy of which is under the 
plow. He came to the county, one hundred and 
twenty-five dollars in debt, and met with great 
discouragements, during the grasshopper years. 

Of his earlier life it may be related, that he 
was born in Grant county, "Wisconsin, June, 
1838, the son of David and Elizabeth (Bath) 
Rich, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, 
respectiveh', whose six children were Lucius 
(deceased); an infant (deceased); Elisha, Mary, 
Timothy D., AValter P. 

Our subject lived in Wisconsin until he was 
thirty years of age, when he came to Cuming 
County, Nebraska, having worked and sup- 
ported an aged motlier previous to this time. 
His father was appointed justice of the peace, 
when Wisconsin was yet a Territory. Timothy 
D., spent one summer in Minnesota, breaking 
prairie, and one year in Colorado, prospecting 
for gold. 

He was united in marriage September, 1869, 
to Helen Hall, daughter of Daniel and Mar- 
garet Hall, natives of Vermont and New York, 
respectively, and whose six children were : 
Helen, Hettie, Emma, Hannah (deceased); 
George (deceased); Arthur. Our subject and 
his wife have been blessed b}' the advent of 
eight children : George D., Elisha, Mary E., 
Cora, Roy, Albert. Gertrude, Fannie; Mary E. 



90 



XOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



has just graduated from the Normal School at 
Fremont, and has engaged to teach at Ord, 
Nebraska. 

Our subject takes great interest in the 
subject of education, and intends that his cliil- 
dren shall have a liberal education. Pie belongs 
to the Masonic fraternity, at Wisner, having 
been made a Mason in Wisconsin. Politically, 
he is a Democrat, and was a candidate for the 
Legislature in 188G. His wife is a member of 
the Congregational Church. She is a devoted 
and consistent Christian lady. 

Mr. Rich springs from a Puritan family on 
both sides. They participated in the struggle 
for independence and some of them were in the 
war of 1S12. "When he came AVest he settled 
on the borders of the Indian reserve, and was 
exposed to all the dangers of frontier life. 



FIELDEN J. HALE, one of the prominent 
business men of Battle Creek, Madison 
Countv, ranks among the early settlers 
of that section of Nebraska, and is a native of 
Virginia, born in Gra3'Son County, on the north 
side of tiie Blue Ridge Mountains, March 3, 
1842, and comes from German ancestry, who 
were early setlers in Virginia. John Hale was 
the grandfather. lie married Miss Rosa Blair, 
and tho}' were the parents of fifteen cliiklren, 
all males, thirteen of whom lived to be adults. 
Our subjects father Avas Warner Hale, also a 
native of Virginia, born in October 1818. He 
married TMiss Mary Cox, of Grayson County, 
Virginia, born in 1821. By this marriage 
union the following children were born 
and ail still survive: Fielden J., of whom we 
write this notice; David A., of Humphrey', 
Nebraska, who at the time of the Civil war, 
war a member of the fort\'-lifth regiment (Vir- 
ginia), belonging to the army; of the Confed- 
erate States ; Rosamond, wife of Floyd Osborne, 
of Grayson County, Virginia ; John D., who 
served in the Confederate army , and now 
resides at Tilford, South Dakota; Johnson T., 
of Loup' City,'^Ncl)raska; Elizabeth, wife of 



James Roberts, Spearfisb, South Dakota ;Mary 
A., wife of M. M. Ivillinger, of Norfolk, 
Nebraska ; Alice, wife of J. A. Sutherland, of 
Madison Coual\' ; Flora, wife of Zachariah Cox 
of Battle Creek, Nebraska ; Charles R., of 
Meadow Grove, Nebraska. Tlie parents of our 
subject, are now living at Battle Creek, 
Nebraska, and have lived fift3'-t\vo years as man 
and wife. 

Fielden J. Hale, tiie subject of this notice, 
grew to manhood in his native county, attend- 
ing school on the subscription plan in a rude 
log-cabin school-house. In 1802, he enlisted in 
the forty-fifth Virginia Regiment, Confed- 
erate States of America, and participated in the 
engagements at Mercer Court-house, Harisburg, 
Narrows, Lewisburg, White Sulpher Springs, 
Raleigh Courthouse, Fayette Court-liouse, 
Kanwaha Falls, Cloyds Farms, and was captured 
at Piedmont Vii'ginia in July 18C1, anil impris- 
oned at Indianapolis, nine months and seven 
days, and was tiien paroled and sent home. 
In 1867 he came to Omaha where he was 
engaged in business. In 1870, he came to 
Battle Creek, where he laid tlie first founda- 
tion and erected the first building anil also 
sold the first goods, west of Norfolk, in that 
line, lie was one of the founders of that town. 

He established tlie first Post-Oftice west of 
Norfolk. He first located on a homestead 
twelve miles southwest of Battle Creek, and 
there made a sod-house, in which he lived 
one year and then erected the first frame-iiouse 
in all that vicinity. In the last named building, 
he placed a small stock of general merchardise, 
his wife attending that business, while he con- 
ducted a similar business near Battle Creek. 
In 1878, he moved into the village of Battle 
Creek, permanently. Since 1870, he has been 
actively engaged in live stock and grain busi- 
ness. 

He was united in marriage in 1872, in Vir- 
ginia, to Miss Nannie the daughter of Payton 
G. Hale and Jane D. (Brown). Her parents 
had seven children : William who died in 1871; 
had been a soldier in the Confederate army ; 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Nannie, wife of our subject ; Annio, wife of E. 
T. Kirby, of Grayson County. Virginia ; Lucy, 
wife of"w. E. Perkins, of Ash County, North 
Carolina; Lucinda, wife of Robert Nuckols, 
Virginia; EHa, wife of T. J. McCamant, of 
Grayson County, Virginia; Linnie (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. John and Rosamand Hale are 
both (deceased). The father died in 1S46 and 
the mother tiiirty-one years later. Tliey both 
died in Virginia. 

Politically, our subject aOiliates with the 
Denioci'atic party, and has held several local 
offices. lie was the third county clerk of 
]\fadison County, and had been a nienibei' of 
the Board of Education for ten years. Also 
lias been connected with the city council. In 
1S92, he was a delegate, to the National Con- 
vention at Chicago, and elected Senator of the 
11th, District on the Democratic ticket. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hale are the parents of four 
children : Virginia, born March 22, 1879; Jane 
Lee, born November 9, ISSO, Pay ton G., born 
March 5, 1SS6, and Lizzie, April 25, 1887. 



IT ON. CHARLES F. EISELEY, one of 
~J_ the leading hardware merchants at 
Norfolk, was born in AVurtemburg, 
Germany, July 3, 1838, and emigrated to 
America in 1852, his brother being the first 
to establish the family name in this country. 
He first located in Dodge County, Nebraska, 
on Logan Creek. He paid the Government 
price for a quarter section of land and after- 
wards took a homestead which he partially 
developed. In 1866 he, with E. II. Clark, rep- 
resented Washington County, in the Territorial 
Legislature, held at Omaha. At that meeting 
the Constitution of the State was formed, and 
ratified the following year. In 1874 he removed 
to the village of Hooper, where he opened the 
first hardware store, and continued to ojierate 
the same until 18S2. He represented Dodge 
and I>urt counties in the Legislature in 1877 
and 1879. In 1882 he removed to Norfolk, 
and five years later, 1887, was elected as rep- 



resentative of JIadison County. It was through 
hisinstruraentalitv that the enlargement of the 
Insane asylum was made at Norfolk, for which 
an appropriation of one liundred and seventy- 
five thousand dollars for the buildings, was 
obtained. It may truthfully be said that Mr. 
Eiseley is a self-made man. He received Jiis 
education in his native country in the public 
schools, and followed teaching several years, 
after coming to America. He is deserving of 
much credit for the manly position he has taken 
on all public measures. He enlisted as a mem- 
ber of the Second Cavalry during the civil war 
period at Omaha, and participated in the Indian 
war, serving one 3'ear and was mustered out at 
Omaha in 1861. 

In 1865 he was married to Josephine "Whit- 
ney, a native of Medina County, Ohio. By this 
union the living children are : Francis, Clyde 
and Horace. 

Our subject votes the Republican ticket, feel- 
ing assured as he does that by so doing he is 
best subserving the interests of the jieople. At 
the time he came to Nebraska all was one 
prairie wilderness, and its future brightness had 
not yet been dreamed of, much less realized. 
He has lived to see the prairies subdued, school 
houses scattered in every direction, with 
church spires pointing skyward. He has lived 
to see countless manufactories established in 
the Elkhorn Vallev, while railroads cross and 
recross each other, penetrating every nook and 
corner of the commonwealth. Over telephone 
and telegraph wires, man is permitted to carry 
on conversation through all parts of the State. 
Surely the age of wonders is upon us. To be 
an eye witness to these great changes is an 
honor, but to be an actual participant is not 
accorded to all, but among this number maybe 
enrolled the name of Charles F. Eiseley, one of 
the pioneers of Nebraska. 

ANDREW P. ANDERSON, a reiMesenta- 
tive farmer of Garfield township, re- 
siding on Section 22, will form the sub- 
ject of this notice. He came to Cuming County 



92 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



in the sprint^ of 1 878, when he bought eighty 
acres of wild land on Section 20. Here he 
made good improvements, remained tliree 
years, tlien sold out and bouglit the farm he 
now occupies, which at the time was but a 
quarter section of wild land. Here he again 
commenced improving bv plowing up tiie 
prairie sod, building a house 14x18 feet, with a 
wing fourteen feet square. He also provided 
his place with a good barn, granary, machine 
house, and a shop 12x14 feet. In order to ob- 
tain a good supph' of living water he was com- 
pelled to bore one hundred and sixty feet. He 
constructed a 'rood system of water-works, pro- 
pelled b\' wind power. He set a grove of two 
acres and an orchard of seventy trees. Eighty 
acres of his farm is under the plow, while the 
balance is in pasture and meadow land. JVIr. 
Anderson's life has not always been full of 
sunshine and proS])erity. He lost his entire 
hog crop for three years b3' cholera. He also 
lost three valuable horses in one year, and to 
cap the climax, in 1880 he was afflicted with 
his eyes and went nearly blind. 

He of whom we write was born in Sweden, 
February, 1835. His parents were Andrew 
and Carrie Anderson, whose six children were : 
Andrew P., Gustave (deceased), Carl (de- 
ceased), MoUie, Franz and John. 

Our subject remained in his native countr}' 
until thirty-four years of age and then came to 
America, landing in New York in June, 1869. 
He came to this country alone, leaving a wife 
and four children in Sweden. He first sent for 
his oldest daughter and two years later for his 
wife and the remainder of the family, getting 
them over here as fast as ho could earn monc}' 
with which to do so. At first he worked out 
by the year on a farm. After one year he went 
to New Jersey where he was employed by the 
railroad company as a blacksmith for three 
years and one half. He then spent two years 
and one half in working about an iron furnace, 
after which he came to Xebraska. Like many 
of the poor people of Sweden, our subject did 
not have the advantages of a good education. 



August, 1856, he was married to Johanna 
C. Hogstein, daughter of John and Johanna 
Hogstein, whose four children were: Johanna, 
ilatihia, Louisa and William. Johanna ( Hog- 
stein) Anderson died, and for his second wife 
our sui)ject married in November, 1860, Eva 
Tour, daughter of Andrew and ^fysena Tour, 
of Sweden, whose children were: Eva, Jary, 
Peter, Andrew G., Johanna, Carl. 

Our subject has three children : Matilda, 
Charles A. and Minnie. 

Politicall}' Mr. Anderson affiliates with the 
Independent party, and both he and his wife 
are acceptable members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. 

CIIAPtLES THEUSH, SR., an enterpris- 
ing farmer of Section 30, Union town- 
ship, has been identified with the 
history of Dodge County, since March, 1861; 
stopping at PUorence in May, 1856. In the 
spring of 1857, he moved to Genoa, Nebraska, 
in what is now Nance Count}', where he took 
a claim of what he supposed was one hundred 
and sixty acres. The land however was not 
surveyed at that time. After living there two 
years, doing considerable breaking and erecting 
a log house, he found he had located on the 
Indian Ileservation, so he was obliged to vacate 
and then moved to Monroe County, and took a 
claim as a " s(|uatter,"' being in advance of the 
government survey. After two years on that 
claim, and in March, ISOl, he bought sixty 
acres in what is now Union township, Dodge 
Countv. The only improvements on the place 
was a log cabin. He purchased the place from 

j Waller Roache, and lived there five years and 
purchased other lands, until he had about two 

I hundred acres. While he was living in Dodge 
County, north of North Bend, he was on the 
military road from Omaha to Denver ; ke])t a 
ranch and stopping place for travelers. After 

I selling out there, he came to his present place, 
which he took as a homestead, of eighty acres. 
He also has one hundred and sixty acres of 
railroad land across the road from this, in Col- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



fax County, besides eight}' acres of school land 
in Colfax Count}'. There are few, if any, 
farms sujierior to our suhject's. 

Ho was born in England, February 15, 
1S30, the son of David and Anna (Walters) 
Thrush, natives of England. Charles re- 
mained at home until he was seventeen years 
of age and then went to Bristol, to perfect his 
trade as a mason. "When twenty-one years of 
age, he moved into Wales, into the iron and 
steel works and remained there until , 1855, 
when he sailed for America, landing in New 
York in March of that year. He remained in 
Pennsylvania and worked at railroad bridge 
building, and worked at the same, that winter 
in Missouri, on the Hannibal & St. Joe Eail- 
road. At one time he freighted from Omaha 
to Fort Kearney. 

lie was married in Bristol, England, May 5, 
1850, to IMiss Martha Rees, daughter of George 
and ilartha (Edwards) Rees, natives of Wales. 
ivlrs. Thrush was born in Brighton, England, 
May 3, 1827, and remained at home with her 
parents until married. Her father was a sea 
captain. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
seven children — five sons and two daughters, 
born in the following order: George, April 6, 
1851; Ann, November 20, 1855; Charles, 
August 22, 1857; Thomas, August 28, 1859; 
William, June 9, 18G1 ; John, June 18, 1SG3 ; 
Elizabeth, December 31, 1805., 

Mr. and Jlrs. Thrush left England to go to 
rtah, they being members of the Mormon 
(;hurch;but upon coming to America they 
l)ocame disgusted, and would go no farther than 
Florence, and quit the church as well. Years 
afterwards, they joined the re-organized church 
of Latter Day Saints. 

]\[r. Thrush is a member of the Order of Odd 
l''ello\vs, belonging to Schuyler Lodge No. 28, 
and in political matters votes the Republican 
ticket. 

During the hard winter'of 1S5G-57, our sub- 
ject ground buck-wheat in a coffee mill ; drove 
holes tiirougii a pan with a nail and grated 



corn thereon for meal. When he started in for 
the winter, he had plenty of provisions, but 
they had numerous neighbors that did not have 
a sufficiency, so they divided with them. 



SILAS M. STRANEY, a farmer living on 
Section 29, of Cotterell township, came 
to Dodge County in the autumn of 1880, 
rented a farm for two years in Cotterell town- 
ship, and then bought eighty acres of his pres- 
ent place. There had been fifteen acres of 
breaking done on the place when he bought it. 
He built a story and one-half frame house 14x 
24 feet, with an L fourteen feet square. In 
1S8() he built a barn fourteen feet high. 18x38 
feet. He now has all of his land under culti- 
vation and enclosed with a good fence. 

Mr. Straney was born in Rush County, Indi- 
ana, September 26, 185G, the son of John B. 
and Mary J. (Wright) Straney. The father was 
a native of Kentucky and tiie mother of Rush 
County, Indiana. In 1858 his parents moved 
to Warren County, Illinois, and in 1880 they 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. Our sub- 
ject made his home with them until he bought 
his farm. 

He was married in Dodge County, Nebraska, 
February 21, 1883, to Miss Anna Clark, daugh- 
ter of John and Margaret (Adair) Clark, wh-o 
came to Dodge County in the spring of 1880, 
and she remained at home until the date of her 
marriage. Her parents now live in Seattle, 
Washington. Our subject and his wife are the 
]5arents of four children, born as follows : Orley 
B., December 17, 1885; Leroy, July 5, 1887 ; 
William 11., January IG, 1889 ; and Howard 
D., March 26, 1891. 

Mr. and Mrs. Straney are both accei)table 
members of the United Presbyterian church. 
Formerly Mr. Straney was a Republican, but 
is now associated with the Independent move- 
ment. 

Our subject's father and mother moved to 
AVichita, Kansas, in the spring of 1883, and the 
mother died there July G, 18S3, aged fifty. one 



94 



A^OR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



years. The father was born November 9, 1825, 
and is now living in Ford County, Kansas. 
They were tiie parents of four childrden — 
three sons and one daughter, our subject 
being tlie second child. The parents were both 
members of the United Presbyterian cliurch. 

Mrs. Straney is a second child in a faniil}' of 
three daughters and three sons. She was born 
in Delaware County, New York, February 5, 
1858. Iler father was a native of the Empire 
State, and her mother was a native of Ireland. 
They removed from New York to Dodge Coun- 
ty, Nebraska in 1887 and subsequently moved 
to Kearney and remained until September, 1891, 
when they moved to Seattle, Wasliington. Mrs. 
Straney has two brothers in Washington ; one 
brother and a sister in Kearney and a sister in 
North Bend, the wife of Archie Miller. 



^ T 7ILLIAM SPRINGER, an enterprising 
W farmer of Maple township, residing 
on Section 10, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 1808. He first located at Fon- 
tanelle, where he remained a short time, and 
then moved to the place he now occupies, which 
at the time was eighty acres of wild land. Tie 
broke this land, built a house, 10x12 feet, out 
of Cottonwood boards, in which he lived five 
years. Subsequently, he bought eight}' acres 
more land and built a two-stoiw fi-ame 
house, 16.x32 feet, erected a good barn, provided 
his place with a bored well and wind-mill, and 
had the forethought to provide his place with a 
grove of twenty acres. He also set out an 
orchard of fifty fruit trees. He now has 110 
acres under the plow. 

To ac(iuaint the reader with our subject's 
earlier life, it may be said he was born in 
Ohio, in 1847, the son of Peter and Margaret 
Springer, natives of Pennsylvania, whose three 
ciiildren were Sarah. John and William. Our 
subject remained in the Buckeye State until he 
was eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in 
Company F, Seventy-sixtli Ohio Infantrv, un- 
der Captain Morrison, and was jnustered in at 



Columbus, Ohio, from which point he went to 
Fort Donaldson, commanded by General Wal- 
lace. He was in the engagement; at Fort Don- 
aldson, Pittsburg Landing. Arkansas Post and 
the siege of Yicksburg; also took part in those 
fierce conflicts. Lookout Mountain and Atlanta. 
He served his country four years, being dis- 
charged in the autumn of 1SC5, at Columbus, 
Ohio. He then rented a farm for one year, 
after which he came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. 

In the spring 'of 1868 he was united in mar- 
riage to Anna M. Endlev, daughter of Jacob 
and Mary Endley, the former a native of Penn- 
sylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were 
the parents of ten children: Elizabeth, Melker, 
Harriett, Catharine, David, Cornelia, Louis, 
George, Charles and Anna. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
nine children : Mary L., Louis, Albert, Clarence, 
Geoi'ge, Harry, Ella — two deceased. 

Politically he is a Republican. 



E DARWIN PERCY, City Clerk of Fre- 
^ mont, is a native of New York State 
born December 14, 1850. He is the son 
of Alonson and Minerva (Center) Perc}', and of 
English-Scotch extraction. The father resides 
in the Empire State, the mother being deceased. 
Our subject was reared in York State, and 
from the time he was eleven years of age, he 
worked for his board and schooling. When 
seventeen years of age he came to Illinois, 
where he worked at farm labor during the 
summer season, attending school during the 
winter, for the first two years, after which he 
engaged at teaching for a ])eriod of six years 
in Peoria and Woodford counties. He then 
farmed one \'ear in Illinois, after which he 
came to Iowa and engaged in the grain busi- 
ness with his brother. M. Percy, at Dexter. 
After one year at that point, and in April, 1877, 
he located at Fremont, Nebraska. After sev- 
eral years spent in farming and clerking, lie 
engaged in business in the mercantile line for 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



95 



liimself, continuin<^ for one year, after which lie 
engaged as clerk, following the same until he 
was elected City Clerk of Fremont in April 
1S91, which position he still holds. 

Every man worthy of being called anAmeri-- 
can citizen is identified with someone of the po- 
litical parties, and in the case of our subject he is 
a staunch supporter of the Eepublican party. 
He is captain of Compan}' E., First Regiment 
Nebraska National Guards, having hehl the 
office since May 5, 1890. He is also a member 
of the Knights of Pythias Order, Triumph 
Lodge, No. 32, and has held the chair of C. C. 
He belongs to the Uniform Rank K. of P., Fre- 
mont Div. No 21, and belongs to the Jfodcrn 
Woodmen. 

January 1, 1877, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Addie E. Araidon, a native of Ver- 
mont. Both he and his estimable ladj' are 
classed among the most intelligent and valu- 
able members of society in Fremont. 



MONTGOMERY POLLOCK, located on 
Section 14, of Elkhorn township, came 
to Dodge Count}^ in the summer of 
ISGC, one year after the Civil War closed, locat- 
ing on the farm he now occupies, which con- 
sisted of two hundred and forty acres, one 
hundred and sixty of which he bought and 
eighty acres he homesteaded. He made the 
necessary improvements for a good place. It 
was very wild and new in this section of 
Nebraska at that day, and he had to go fifteen 
miles to mill, and to Fremont to get his mail. 
From time to time he added to his land until 
he now has four hundred and eight}' acres, one- 
half of which is under cultivation. He remained 
on this place seven years, then moved back to 
Whiteside Connty, Illinois, lived there seven 
years and returned. 

Mr. Pollock was born in Scotland, in June, 
1S;>0, the soJi of Joseph and Elizabeth Pollock, 
whose children were Ann and Mary (twins), 
Ellen. Montgomery, John and Joseph. He 
remained in Scotland until he was twenty-one 



years of age, when he came to the United States. 
He came to the country very poor, and the first 
winter worked for his board and clothes. After 
working two years and saving money enough, 
he went to Whiteside County, Illinois, and pur- 
chased eighty acres of Government land and 
lived there until he came to Dodge County in 
1866. He still owns two hundred acres of land 
in AVhiteside County, Illinois. He was married 
December, 1857 to Lena Allen, daughter of 
Jonas and Elizabeth Allen of Sweden. By 
this marriage union the following children 
were born: Joseph, Lodica, Ellen, Anna, John, 
Mary, Lena, Montgomery Jr., Allen, James, 
William and Robert. 

Mr. Pollock is identilied with the Independent 
part}', and has held the offices of justice of the 
peace and township treasurer. 



DR. EDWIN W. MARTIN, prominent 
among the physicians and surgeons of 
Fremont, is a native of Cynthina, Har- 
rison County, Kentucky, born March 11, 1845. 
He is the son of M. D. and Zerilda A. (Sellers) 
Martin, who were also natives of the same 
county ; their son being born and brought up 
in the same house in which the father was 
reared. Our subject's parents are still living 
in their native State. They are of Scotch and 
German descent. The Martins were formerly 
of Maryland, while the Sellers family were of 
Pennsylvania stock, but both sides of the fam- 
ily were among the early settlers of the Corn 
Cracker State, some of them having been resi- 
dents of the State in the time of Daniel Boone, 
"the hunter of Kentucky." Our subject's 
grandparents, on the paternal side, were Wil- 
liam and Katarine (Perriii) Martin, tiie latter 
being a daughter of General Perrin, of Ken- 
tucky. Tlic family are inclined to the medical, 
legal and agricultural pursuits. The father 
and grandfather devoting themselves to agri- 
culture. Our subject had nine brothers and 
sisters, he being the eldest: Edwin W., our 
subject; Ella, wife of Tandy Wiglesworth, of 



96 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Point Dexter, Kentuck}' ; Josephus, Albert and 
Kate, all being deceased ; Sue, wife of Dr. J. 
T. Stewart, of California; Lewis M. (deceased) 
was an attorney, and died at the age of thirty 
six years; George P., a resident of Boyd, Ken- 
tucky ; Emma, wife of Picv. E. W. Eliott, of 
Kentufk}' ; Bell, wife of James G. Vandervin, 
of Cyntiiiana, Kenluck}-. Our subject was 
reared, educated and spent the greater portion 
of his life in his natire town. His education 
was obtained by private instruction, and when 
he was sixteen years of age he entered the 
graded schools of his home town, from which 
lie graduated at the age of twenty, and one 
year later embarked in the mercantile trade, 
which he followed about twelve years, and then 
business reverses caused him to abandon that 
business, wiiereupon he commenced to read 
medicine, which had been his early intention, 
being educated with that in view, but respond- 
ing to the decree of fate, his plans in life were 
somewhat changed by his marriage, which 
occurred as soon as he had reached liis majority- 
However he entered the office of Doctor 
AVilliam Martin (his uncle) and Dr. J. T. 
Stewart, his brothei'-in-law. He attended tiie 
Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgeiy, 
graduating in Marcii, 1801, after wiiich he lo- 
cated for practice in his native town, following 
his profession there for live 3'ears. In the 
autumn of 1886, when Se]itember was putting 
on her most beautiful robes, he came to Fre- 
mont, Nebraska, where he has since been lo- 
cated. Owing to his skill and abihty, he has 
secured a lucrative and extensive practice. He 
is a line oculist, as well as an expert of the 
ear, as he gives a great deal of attention to it, 
owing to his admiration of tiiese special 
branches. 

Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat. 

September 3, 18G0. he was united in marriage 
to Julia Doyle, who was born in Concord, Lewis 
(Jounty, Kentucky, August .'3, 18-t7. She is the 
daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth Doyle, who 
were of Irish and Scotch extraction. Dr. and 
Mrs. Martin have a familv of two daughters: 



Katherine, born in 1867; M. Dell, born 1870. 
They also have an adopted daughter, Daisy 
Spickard. The Doctor has given ail three a 
thorough education. Their earl3' education was 
by private school. His two daughters are grad- 
uates of the Ivose Hill Seminary, of Ken- 
tucky, while the adopted daughter is a grad- 
uate of the Cynthiana Seminar^'. All three 
of these young ladies reside at home with 
the Doctor, and are all engaged in school work : 
being employed as teachers in the graded 
schools of Fremont. The Doctor and family 
are associated with the Christian Church, and 
are among the social lights of Fremont. 

On September 3, 1S91, the friends of the 
Doctor and his family gathered at his residence 
and celebrated his silver wedding, with good 
wishes for his luture welfai'e. 



JOHN LONGACRE, one of the well-to-do 
farmers of Pleasant Valley townshij) 
whose farm house is on Section 15, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1879 
in company with his father who located in 
tiie same township. John remained at home 
twoycarsafter they came to the county, and then 
his father gave him eighty acres of land, wliere 
he now lives. The good father also gave each of 
his children eighty acres. Our subject built a 
house 16x24 feet, one and one-half stories iiigh ; 
also a barn 16x24 feet, with twelve-foot ]iosts. 
He made good im])rovements in general, and 
kept adding to his land until he now has 440 
acres, 320 of which is under cultivation and the 
balance in pasture and hay land. Our subject 
was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, 
November 14, 1858. He is the son of Jacob 
and Joanna (Hoops) Longacre, both natives of 
Pennsylvania and the ]iarents of eleven chil- 
dren — seven sons and four daughters. Li 1864 
the family moved to Bureau County, Illinois, 
and moved from that county to Nebraska. 

Wv. Longacre was united in marriage in 
Dodge County, Nebraska. March 0, 1882, to 
Miss Kittie Powers, daughter of John and 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



97 



Elizabeth (Brown) Powers. Tlie fatlier was a 
native of Ireland and the niotiier of England, 
and they were the parents of six daughters and 
two sons. 

Our subject and liis wife have been blessed 
bv the birth of three children: Abab\' bo\', 
wiio died in infancy, Anna and Grace. 

Politically, our subject is identified with the 
Republican party. 



CIIAPLEY JOHNSON, located on Sec- 
tion 11, townsiiip 17, range 9, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1874, 
when he commenced working by the month, 
continuing to do so for about one year, lie 
came to the county without means and worked 
six months as a section hand on the railroad. 
After this he bought a team and leased a piece 
of land, but the grasshoppers came and so 
damaged his crop that he sold it in the field. 
He rented another farm the next year and then 
moved to Fremont, where he was engaged as a 
clerk in a dry goods and grocery store, which 
])osition he held one year. He then went to 
Wahoo, Nebraska, and started a saloon, but 
not liking this business he sold out and became 
a renter of land for two years, and again 
moved to Fremont, where he was employed in 
an agricultural implement house for two years, 
lie then bought a quarter section of wild land, 
u|)on which he placed valuable improvements, 
including a residence 10x24 feet, with an addi- 
tion, 12x16 feet, also built a barn and granary, 
provided his place Avith a good well of water, 
over which was erected a wind-mill. He also 
])ut in a set of scales, and planted out an or- 
chard and shade trees. He now has a half 
section of land, one-half of which is under cul- 
tivation. During the year 1889, he lost one 
tiiousand dollars in feeding steers; also lost 
one hundred head of hogs with the cholera, 
during the years 1887-88-89. 

Our subject was born in Sweden, January 
28, 1854, the son of John and Lana Johnson, 
who liad ^WQ cliildi'cn: Peter G., Lottie, 



Charles, Johanna and Enima. Tliree of tliese 
children live in the United States. Charlev 
lived in Sweden until sixteen years of age, and 
then went to Germany and worked four vears 
at dock work. From there he I'eturned to ids 
native country and followed i-ailroad work for 
two years, then came to America. He landed 
at Boston and came from there direct to 
Nebraska. 

May 23, 1879, he was married to Anna P(j1- 
lock, daugliter of Montgomery and Lena Pol- 
lock, natives of Scotland and Sweden, who 
were the parents of twelve children : Joseph, 
Lodica, Ellen, Anna, John, ISIaiy, Lena, Mont- 
gomery, Jr., Allen, James William and 
llobert. 

Our subject and liis wife are the parents of 
five children, bdi'ii in the following order: 
L. Ciiarlotte, July 7, ISSl; Eoy M., March 20, 
1883; Dolly P., January 8, 1885; Myrtle J.. 
February 11, 1888; Pay W., October 25. 
1890. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Johnson are consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Churcli, and in his poli- 
tical choice he favors the Independent move- 
ment and is a member of the Farmers' Alli- 
ance. 

In November, 1891, Mr. Johnson visited his 
old home in Sweden, spending a happy New 
Year with his parents whom he had not seen 
for seventeen years. He returned home March 
20,1892. 



ADA]\[ HINDALVPSH, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 19, Elkhorn township, has been 
identified with the interests of Dodge 
Countv since the spring of 1809. He came to 
the country in company with his father, mother 
and the family. His father rented eighty acres 
of land from I. R. Lee in Section 30 until 1874, 
when his mother died. He then took charge of 
the family, bought the land, and after having 
nuule substantial improvements on the j)lace, in 
1885, he sold out to his brothers and moved to 
his present place of 200 acres, which was wild 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



land. He built a house 14x22, with a wing the 
same size. He also provided a barn and other 
out-buildings. His present place contains 240 
acres, 100 being under cultivation. Among the 
misfortunes of our subject was tlie loss of sixty 
acres of wheat b}' the grasshoppers, and the 
following year about the same amount by high 
water, and has suffered to considerable extent 
by hog cholera. 

Our subject was born in England, Ma}' 4, 
1848, the son of William and Agnes Hind- 
mai-sh, natives of England and Scotland, whose 
children were: Agnes, Margaret, Mary H. 
and Elizabeth J. (twins), "William I., George G., 
Isabel, Thomas and Joiin (twins). This large 
family are all living in Nebraska at tiiis time. 
Our subject remained in England until he was 
seven 3'ears of age, wiien his parents removed 
to this country and settled at Sterling, Illinois, 
whore the father was engaged as a stone mason. 
He followed this for about three years, wiien he 
rented land and continued to farm until he 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

!Mr. Ilindmarsii was married ilarcli it, 1885, to 
Sarah E. Ilarkins, daugliter of AVilliam and 
llosana Hark ins, natives of Pennsylvania and 
Ireland, respectively. Their six children were: 
William E., Sarah E., Almon R., IdalVl., Nettie 
A. and Melvin J., all of whom live in Nebraska. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two cliildren : Lewis W., born January 21, 
1886, and Clyde G., born June 14, 1888. 

Politically lie is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. He has been road supervisor, 
assessor live years and is serving his fourth 
term as township treasurer. He is a mem- 
ber of Wasiiington Lodge No. 41, I. O. O. F. 
Both he and his wife are members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. 

JEIlPtV DION, of tiie firm of Dion & Nel- 
son, blacksmith, Avagon and general re- 
pair shop at Nortli Bond, came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, May, 1868, and located 
at North Bend, wiiere he rented a shop for four 
montlis, after whicli he bought into his present 



business. About 1876, he built a brick shop, 
costing eighteen hundred dollars, and a resi- 
dence costing fifteen hundred dollars. In 1879, 
his house and shop burned, causing a loss of 
nearly all he had, as he carried no insurance. 
He then rented a shop for two years, when he 
built on the site of his present shop, at the 
cost of seven hundred and fifty dollars. That 
was a frame structure which burned in 1885, 
but fortunately he had some insurance on this. 
He then built his present shop, which is 22x80 
feet, provided with iron sides and tin roof, and 
bricked inside. Besides this shop our subject 
has one of the best residences in North Bend, 
lie is the oldest blacksmitli of the place. His 
partner, C. G. Nelson, learned his trade under 
Mr. Dion, and in Januar}', 1888, he took him 
in as a partner. 

Our subject was born in Canada East, August 
7, 1841, the son of John B. and Rose (Miller) 
Dion, both natives of Canada, tintl of French 
origin. Our subject remained at home until 
he was eighteen years of age, and then com- 
menced to learn the blacksmith trade, working 
as an apprentice three years, receiving one dol- 
lar per month and his board for tlic first 3'ear. 
After he had learned his trade, and worked at 
it for others, for some time, he started a siio|i 
of his own near home, and operated it one 
3'ear, and then took another siioj) about five 
miles from home, at the town of St. Mar3', and 
run that one year. He then sold out at St. 
Mar3', and returned to his home shop, wiiere 
lie formed a partnersliip with a man by tlie 
name of Ilanner, with whom he was associated 
six months, and dui'ing which time his partner 
beat him out of all he liad. This was in ItCS, 
and he went to Hoosac Tunnel, Massachusetts, 
and worked two years bv the month at his 
trade. In 18(i7, came to Omaha, enroute to 
California, but running out of funds at Omaha 
he went to work sawing wood for the raili'oad 
company and after three weeks came to Noith 
Bend. 

August 6, 1873, lie was united in marriage 
in Xorth Bend to Miss Ann Cusack, who was 



NOR THEA STERN NEBRA SKA. 



a native of Canada, born in 1851, and came 
West with lier sister in ISfiO. Our subject and 
liis wife are the ])arents of two children : 
Rosalie, born December 20, 1S74, and May D., 
l)orn June 20, ISSS. 

Mrs. Dion is a member of the United Pres- 
byterian Church, wliile her husband is con- 
nected with the Roman Catliolic Churcii. 

Politically, our suliject afllliates with the 
Democratic ])arty. 

lie is a member of the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, North Bend Lodge No. 
1016. 

GEORGE 0. DODGE, a farmer and owner 
of Valley Grove stock farm, thi-ee miles 
east of North Bend, situated on Section 
11, Cotterall township, was among the band of 
pioneers who found their way to Dodge County, 
in the spring of 1858. He came in company 
with his father, who only remained a short 
time and returned to Vermont. Our subject 
remained until the fall of 1859, and in Novem- 
ber, 1861, enlisted in Company G, Seventh Ver- 
mont Infantr}'^, and served his countr}' in that 
fierce struggle — the Civil War — until April 6, 
1866. In June of that year he again came to 
Dodge Countv, Nebraska, his father's family 
having moved to this part of the country in 
1865. Our subject went to Grand Island, 
where he was chief cook for a saw-mill crew, 
who were getting out ties for the Union Pacific 
Railroad. lie pre-empted one hundred and 
si.xt}' acres of land where he now lives, and 
when land came into the market paid one dol- 
lar and one (puirter per acre. His improve- 
ments are among the finest in the county. He 
has added to his land until he now has six hun- 
dred and eighty acres, and keeps al)out two 
hundred and twenty-five head of cuttle and 
eighteen hoi'ses. 

lie was married in Dodge County, February, 
1871, to Miss Lorrissa A. Eison, who was born in 
Peoria, Illinois, November, 1850. They were 
the ))arents of one child, a scm, Harry M., born 
February 2.'5, 1874, and died Viws 12, 1877. 



Mr. Dodge was born in Andover, Vermont, 
February 12, 1839, and remained with his ))ar- 
ents until the spring of 1858, when he came to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Politically, our subject is a supporter of the 
Republican party and has been ever since its 
organization in 1856. lie is a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America, and also of the 
(irand Armv of the Republic. 



AUGUST J. ALBERS, of the firm of 
Albers & Company, which firm suc- 
ceeded Meyer ife Schurman, in May, 1888, 
at Fremont, will form the subject of this notice. 
Mr. Albers is a native of Hanover, Germany, 
born November 24, 1860. He grew to man- 
hood in the land of his birth, receiving his 
education in the schools of that country. When 
seventeen years of age, he engaged in the dry 
goods business, which he followed until he 
came to this country, in 1882. He came direct 
to Fremont, Nebraska, then went to Wahoo, 
remained one year, and from there to Scribner, 
where he engaged in general merchandising, 
and was thus engaged for four years. He then 
came to Fremont, and soon after engaged in 
his present business, that of the wholesale 
liquor, wine and cigar trade. They carry about 
a twenty thousand dollar stock, and keep two 
traveling men on the road. Their annual 
sales amount to one hundred and fift^' thousand 
dollars. They are agents for the Anheuser & 
Busch Brewing Company, of St. Louis. 

Politically, Mr. Albers is identified with the 
Democratic party. He was united in marriage 
in 1884, to Julia Looschen, who was born in 
Germany, November 6, 1800. Their only 
child is Jessie, born February 16, 1886. Our 
subject resides at No. 943 East 5th street. 
He is interested in a quarter section of land, 
in Colfax County, a business block in Gorilon, 
Nebraska ; some lots in Norfolk, and owns 
other lots himself in Fremont. 

Our subject is one of a great number of 
examples wherein a man born on a foreign 



NORTUEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



shore has come to this country in the pride of 
his 3'ouno; manhood, and under our form of 
Government, where all men are equal before 
the law, has within a few 3'ears surrounded 
Iiimself with all the comforts of home and 
plenty. 



Mr. Christensen is a good representative of 
his nationality in this country, nearly all of 
whom are industrious, temperate and law- 
abidin"- citizens. 



CHRISTIAN CHRISTENSEN, of Fre- 
mont, was born in Copenhagen, Den- 
mark, April 15, 1823, the son of Chris- 
tian Christensen, a native of Denmark. They 
were the parents of five children : Christian, 
our subject ; Lena (deceased), Frederick A., of 
Denmark; Ludwig, a pilot on board an ocean 
steamer (deceased) ; Carl, a shoemaker of 
Copenhagen. 

]\Ir. and Mrs. Christensen, the parents of our 
subject, died in Copenhagen. They were mem- 
bers of the Ba])tist Church. The subject of our 
sketch was reared in Copenhagen, where he 
received a common school education, lie left 
home for America in 1854^ and located in St. 
Louis, in 1855. He enlisted in that city in ISGl, 
at the breaking out of the Rebellion and servetl 
three months in the St. Louis State Guards. 
During his term there, he enlisted in the Fourth 
Missouri Reserve Corps, serving four months, 
and was discharged by special order of General 
Ilalleck. In 1870 he came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska, and settled at Fremont, where he has 
since resided. 

He was united in marriage in Copenhagen in 
18-17 to Miss Abalona Heck, by whom there 
were four children born. 

In politics our subject, has alway.s been identi- 
fied with the Re])ublican party, lly trade he 
is a blacksniilh, having learned the same in 
CJopenhagen. He was ap])renticed for five 
years, not receiving a farthing for his services. 
Hard woric and an occasional Hogging was all 
he received. 

Mrs. Christensen ])assed from the scenes of 
this life at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and our 
subject was again married August IS, 1S55, to 
Miss Hannah Delriciisen. 



THOMAS R. ACOM, one of the represent- 
ative farmers of Cotterell township, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1873> 
and located the farm he now lives upon. He 
bought eighty acres of wild land, upon which he 
built a frame house, 18.x24 feet, one and one- 
half stories high, to which he has since made 
an addition. The first year he broke thirty 
acres of his land, and subsequently erected 
valuable out-buildings, and added to his land 
until he now has three hundred acres in his 
home farm, and a half interest in eighty acres 
adjoining the town of North Bend. 

Mr. Acom is a native of Illinois, and was 
born in Morgan Countj', November 13, 1844, 
the son of Robert and Mary (Sparks) Acom. 
The father was a native of England, while the 
mother was born in Scotland. He remained at 
home with his parents in Illinois, until he was 
about twent}'-three years of age, when he went 
to Macon County, of that State, bought a farm 
and lived there four years, and then moved back 
to his father's home and lived there two years, 
at the end of which time he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. He had been in this coun- 
try five years prior to his moving out, and 
spent one winter with ]\[r. George Turtou, his 
cousin. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Macon 
County, Illinois, December 12, 180!), to Miss 
Sarah Fertig, daughter of Samuel Fertig, a na 
tive of Pennsylvania. Our subject's wife was 
l)()rn in Dolphin County, Pennsylvania, Novom- 
l)cr 1-1, 18-17, and came with her ])arents to Illi- 
nois when si.xteen j'ears of age, and remained 
at home until the date of her marriage. They 
are the parents of nine children : Frederick, 
Perl ha. "William, Mattie, Mable, George, Ed- 
ward (deceased), and Robiit (deceased), Thomas 
(deceased). 






*55fc 




NORTI/EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



103 



Mr. Acorn was a soldier in the Civil "War. en- 
listing in Morgan County, Illinois, April, 1SG2, 
as a member of Company A, Sixt3'-eigl)th Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He was sent south, and was 
about three months at Camp Butler, Illinois, 
guarding prisoners. The date of his discharge 
was October, 1862. 

Politically, he atJiliates with the Rejiublican 
party. He is a member of the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen, belonging to North Bend 
Lodffe No. 25. 



JUDGE WILLIAJI MARSHALL, of Fre- 
mont, district judge and member of the 
Nebraska Legislature, is a native of Har- 
rison County, Ohio, born at New Rumlay, July 
29, 1832. He is the son of George and Eleanor 
(Cunningham) Marshall, who were of Irish an- 
cestry. He is the grandson (on his father's 
side) of William and Jane Marshall. Judge 
Marshall, of whom we write this sketch, was 
reared in Coshocton Country, Ohio, and edu- 
cated in the public schools of the Buckeye 
State, with a course in college at Antrim, 
Guernsey County. In 1855 he entered Frank- 
lin College, Harrison County, and in the 
autumn of 1S5G entered Michigan University 
at Ann Arbor, graduating from the same in 
1859, having taken a thorough course. He re- 
turned to Coshocton County, Ohio, and read 
law for two years and had just been admitted 
to the bar when the Civil War broke out. In 
August, 18C1, he was appointed as recruiting 
oilicer and organized a company in the Eight- 
ieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went out 
as captain of the same and served in such 
capacit}^ until the spring of 1863, when he 
was commissioned as lieutenant colonel. In 
July, 1863, he was sent home on the sick list, 
when there was a call for all sick officers to re- 
port at Columbus, Ohio, at which point he was 
mustered out in July, 1863, on account of 
physical disabilit\\ He participated in the 
battle of Jackson, Mississippi, on the Pearl 
Itiver, and was a valiant soldier. He was at 



the battle of Corinth ; he, be ingon the sick list, 
had charge of the "quinine brigade," and was 
therefore deprived of active service in the bat- 
tle. He passed through the siege of Corinth. 
In the spring of 1802 he was on the expedition 
through Arkansas, down to Louisiana, around 
Millican's Bend, crossed into Mississippi, 
around back of Vicksburg, at Champion Hills, 
where they were placed in charge of a lot of 
prisoners, whom they conveyed back to the 
Mississippi River and up to Memphis. They 
had much skirmishing on this expedition, and 
in July our subject returned home, as has been 
related, and was laid up by sickness until the 
spring of 1864, and then returned to his law 
studies and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 
1865, b\' the Supreme Court of Columbus, Ohio. 

The same fall he entered the law school at 
Ann Arbor. In 1866 he removed to Jlonmouth, 
Illinois, and entered the practice of law, re- 
maining there until 1876, when he came to 
Fremont, where he has followed the profession 
ever since. 

Politically, he is a Republican. In the fall 
of 1878 he was elected to the State's 
Senate, and made president pro tern, of that 
body in the session of 1879, and in the autumn 
of 1883 he was elected District Attorney for 
what was then the Fourth Judicial District, of 
Nebraska, and re-elected in the fall of 1884. In 
April, 1887, he was appointed as one of the 
judges of the P'ourth Judicial District, and 
elected to that office the following election for 
a term of four years. In the fall of 1891 he 
was re-elected judge in the Sixth Judicial Dis- 
trict, which comprises five counties of what was 
the Fourth. While a member of the State 
Legislature, he was one of the promoters, and 
had under his jurisdiction as one of the repre- 
sentatives, the erection of the west wing to the 
State house at Lincoln. He has always been a 
Republican and must necessarily be highly 
ai)preciated, as his district is strongly Demo- 
cratic. However, he, being a stanch Republi- 
can, has been elected several times to a high 
office. 



104- 



NOR THE A S TERX NEBKA SKA . 



He is a member of the Grand Army of the 
T^epublic, Post No. i, known as McPherson, at 
Fremont. In 1870 be purchased a tract of 
land, consisting of three hundred and twent}' 
acres, which he has had placed under cultiva- 
tion. He was reared on a farm, and very nat- 
urally his attention has turned in that direc- 
tion. Thus far in life he has lived single, and 
as an attorney-at-law he has been a success, 
both financially and as to the success of his 
clients. He is a man of broad views and great 
depth of mind, and has always proven himself 
worth}' of the confidence bestowed upon him. 
Especially has he been successful in criminal 
cases. While a resident of Monmouth, Illinois, 
he was for four years prosecutor, and was cit}' 
attorney, most of the time during his residence 
there. 



WILLIAM C. BATES, a dealer in real 
estate, loans and insurance, residing 
at Battle Creek, Madison County, is 
counted among the earliest settlers in this sec- 
tion of Xeljraska. He was born in Hereford- 
shire, England, March -i, 1S48, the son of 
Edward and ]\[ar\' (Evans) Bates. The mother 
of Welsh descent, the father Englisli. The 
father the parent of sixteen children, mother 
parent of twelve, nine of whom are living at 
this writing. Our subject is the 3'oungest of 
twelve children by his own mother. His early 
education was obtained by study morning 
and evening, and any leisure time. In 1SG6 he 
emigrated to the United States, and located in 
Champaign County, Illinois, where he worked 
as a farm hand. In August, 18C9, he located 
in Madison Count3% Nebraska, took a home- 
stead, erected a sod house, in which he lived 
for several years. He proved up on his land^ 
sold out, and settled in Battle Creek, where he 
clerked in a store, for the time, and then cm- 
barked in business himself. 

He formerl}' voted the Ilepublican ticket, but 
at present afliliates with the Democratic part\\ 
He is justice of the j)eace and member of the 
town board. 



He was united in marriage October, 1885, to 
Miss Mary Barlxira liosl, a native of Galena, 
Illinois. By this union three sons were born: 
William Edward. January 19, 1888; Richard 
llenr}' Ilerbet, January 15, 1890, and John 
Francis, February 20, 1892. When eleven 
3'ears of age our subject started out for himself, 
and by push and industry he has gained a 
position which he may well be proud of. A''ast 
lias been the change in all the surroundings 
since our subject first became a resident of 
Nebraska. He has lived to overcome all the 
pioneer obstacles, including the disastrous 
grasshopper years, the sod house period, has 
seen markets established on every hand, the 
country finally settled up with a happ}' and 
prosperous people. He belongs to the Masonic 
Fraternity, being a member of Battle Creek 
Lodge No. ir>6. In his business relations he is 
associated with J. L. Knesel, under the firm 
name of Bates & Knesel, their office being over 
Battle Creek XaMey Bank, Battle Creek, Neb. 



MICIIKL BIKCIIE:\r, a farmer of Section 
28, Monterey township, and the 
possessor of four hundred and twenty 
acres of land, came to Cuming County in 1809, 
and hence is entitled to a biographical m^ticc in 
this connection. 

He was born December 2,1837, in Lu.xemburg, 
Germany, and came to America in 1865. He 
first went to Dodge County, Wisconsin, and 
there worked by the month for four years, and 
then came to Cuming County, and located a 
homestead, filing hisjiajiers in the land ollice at 
West Point. He possessed two hundred dollars! 
he bought a yoke of oxen for one hundred and 
thirty dollars, and bought his improvements 
from another man, agreeing to )iay him 
five hundred dollars. He had a frame house 
10x12 feet, in which ho lived nine years, and 
then built his present residence. He now has 
good buildings upon his farm, also fences, a 
well and wind-mill. Two hundred acres of his 
farm is under cultivation, while the remainder 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



is in mciidow and pasture land. The wire 
fencing on his place cost him four hundred 
dollars. During the grasshopper plague our 
subject had his crop destroyed for five years. 

Mr. Birchem was united in mari'iage in 1873 
to Mary Xarhot, to whom seven children were 
born: Phillip, Ilenrv, Joseph, John, Anton^ 
Mar\' and Louis. 

llis father and mother were natives of 
Germany, and are both deceased. Our subject's 
wife's parents came to America in about 1880. 
They had a famil\' of four children, Mary being 
the third. 

In our subject's parents' famih' the children 
were: Jacob, Sr.; Theodore, Jacob, Jr.; Felix- 
Mary and Susana. 

Politically, he of whom we write affiliates 
with the Democratic party. He belongs to the 
lloman Catholic Church. 



ISAIAH CRIST, a farmer living on Section 
36, of Elkhorn township, had been a resi- 
dent of Dodge County since the autumn 
of 1872, when he located on the farm he now 
occupies, when it consisted of eighty acres of 
wild land, upon which he placed good improve- 
ments, including a story and one-half house 
22x24 feet, together with a barn, cribs, shed- 
ding and out-buildings. Pie also set out an 
orchard of fift}' trees and has since added 
eighty acres to his farm. He now has seventy 
acres under cultivation, while the balance is 
in meadow and pasture land. 

To acquaint the reader with his earlier life it 
should be stated that he was born in llerker- 
mer County, New York, September 12, 1815, 
the son of Stephen and and Mary Crist, natives 
of New York and Rhode Island, respectively, 
and whose si.K children were : John, Ama, 
Isaiah, llczekiah, Susan and Lucy. Our subject 
I'emained in the Empire State at home until he 
was of age. He bought a piece, of land and 
remained there two years and then sold the 
land and rented for ten years, after which he 
worked at the carpenter trade for fifteen years; 



just prior to his coming to Nebraska. His 
early advantages for obtaining an education 
were limited, and he came to Nebraska com- 
paratively a poor man. 

January 14, 183?, he was mari'ied to Eliza 
A. Fisher, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth 
Fisher, whose four children were : Adam, Gar- 
ret, Eliza A., William. Our subject's wife 
being the only surviving one of her father's 
family. Mr. and ilrs. Crist have five chil- 
dren : Henry A., James B. (deceased), Mary A. 
(deceased), John and Charles E. 

In his political affiliations our subject is a 
supporter of the Republican party. 

CLAUS EHLERS, one of the proprietors 
of the City Meat Market at Scribner, 
Dodge Count}', established his business 
there in 1888 in the building now occupied as a 
saloon and known as the " Turf Exchange.'' 
Afteraboutone year our subject took his brother 
John into partnership with him and removed 
to his present location in February, 1889. It 
is the only market of the place and does a good 
business. The man of whom we write this 
sketch was born at Holstein, December 27, 
1861, and when old enough attended school 
and served ten weeks in the army. Upon his 
arrival in this countr}' he went to Moline, Illi- 
nois, where he worked at his trade two and one- 
half years, after which he started a shop of his 
own at Gretna ; remained there a short time 
prior to his coming to Scribner. He returned 
to his native land Dec. 2, 1889, and visited the 
home of his childhood, returning to Scribner 
April 15, 1890. 

Mr. Ehlers came to this country with but 
small means, and through frugal hal^its has 
gathered about him a good property. 



JOIIANN EIILERS, one of the proprietors 
of the City Meat Market at Scribner, be- 
came a partner of his brother Claus, who 
had established the business some time 
before, in 1889. To acquaint the reader with 



lOS 



NORTIIEASTERM NEBRASKA. 



our subject's earlier life it needs to be said that 
he was born October 20, 1860, in Holstein, Ger- 
many, in which country he learned the butch- 
ers' trade, beginning when he was fifteen years 
old, and continued it until he came to this 
country, except three 3'ears which he served in 
the army. Upon his arrival in the United 
States he came to Davenport, Iowa, where he 
worked until 1SS7, then went to Omaha where 
he worked at his trade four months. We next 
find him at Fremont, Nebraska, where he re- 
mained until autumn, returned to Davenport 
and worked until spring, and in March, 1888 
came to Scribner. 

Mr. Ehlers was united in marriage at Dav- 
enport, Iowa, September 20, 1889, to Sophia 
Brandt, a native of Davenport, born in 1877. 
One child has been born to them : William, 
born July IS, 1890. 



JOHN FARRELL,a farmer living on Section 
4, of Union township, came to Dodge 
County in the spring of 1877, and 
located where he now lives, having bought 
eighty acres of land some time prior. There 
was a dug-out on the place and about thirty 
acres of breaking. They occupied this dug-out 
until 1880, when a story and one-half frame 
house was erected. He built a barn 40x42 feet, 
and made many valuable improvements about 
the premises including an addition to his house. 
All told, he has about six hundred and forty 
acres of land in Union township. His home 
farm comprises two hundred and twenty acres, 
ilr. Farrell has passed through two grasshop- 
per sieges since coming to the county, and 
while those little winged pests did not 
destroy everything, they did not leave enough 
to keep the family on. At this time our sub- 
ject had from twenty -five to thirty head of 
horses on his place, including a full-blood 
Percheron stallion ; (Abdaliah,) A'olume 4, page 
25, No. 4544. He also handles hambletonian 
horses, and short horn cattle, and generally 
feeds two car loads of cattle each winter. The 



first crop that Mr. Farrell raised in this count}', 
lie hauled his corn to Fremont and his famil}' 
would shell with a hand sheller, while he was 
gone with a load. One time he left Fremont 
to go home about seven o'clock in the evening 
a distance of twenty-five miles. He drove 
home and was going to make another trip the 
next day; they did not have any clock, so they 
went to bed and the first time the}' woke up 
they jumped out of bed, and he started for 
Fremont, which place he made before da}'- 
light — this was a short but sound '&\&&^. 

Our subject was born in Ireland, February 
2, 1839, the son of Br^-an and Julia Lyons 
Farrell. The father died in Ireland when our 
subject was a small boy and the family emi- 
grated to America, locating in Schuylkill 
County, Pennsylvania, in the coal mine dis- 
trict. Our subject remained there with his 
mother until he was of age and worked in the 
coal mines. He then went to New York City 
and worked in a railroad stable tiiree years, 
and then returned to Pennsylvania until he 
came to Nebraska. He never had worked at 
farm labor before coming West and he liad to 
get a neighbor to sow his grain for him the 
first year. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Penn- 
sylvania, August 15, 18C4, to Miss Mary Blew- 
itt, who was born in Ireland but came to this 
country when a mere babe. B3' this marriage 
union, three children have been born : Julia 
A., Bernard F., Mary K. Mrs. Farrell died in 
Pennsylvania, March 19, 1872. She was a 
devout member of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Our subject was again married August 3, 
1874, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, to 
Miss Kate McCarty, daughter of Joiin and 
Henrietta (Miller) McCarty. The father was a 
native of Ireland and tiie mother of Pennsyl- 
vania. Kate was born in Reading, Pennsyl- 
vania, April 24, 1852, and moved with her 
parents to Ck)lumbia County when .she was 
about liftcen years old, and tliore remained 
until slu! was married. Her father died in 
Readiuof. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



107 



]\[r. aiul >[r.s. Farrell lU'e the parents of 
eight children : John J., Thomas, James M., 
Henrietta, Kate, William II., Peter K. and 
Elizabeth F. 

Mr. Farrell and iiis family are members of 
the Catholic Church, and politicall}' he affili- 
ates with the Democratic part\'. November 8, 
181*2, he was elected to the Nebraslia State 
Legislature by a good majorit}'. 

It is the aim of our subject to give his chil- 
(li'en a good education. His son Bernai'd F. 
graduated at the Business College at Fremont 
August 13, 1890, and from a scientific course 
August 1, 1891. 



SAMUEL GWYXX, a farmer of Elkhorn 
township, residing on Section 28, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1877 
and fii'st located on rented land situated in 
Xickerson township. He continued to rent for 
seven years. He came to Dodge County a 
poor man, having, as he says, "but ten- cents'''' 
when he landed at Fremont. His first pur- 
chase was one hundred and sixty acres of wild 
land in Elkiiorn township, upon which he put 
a good class of improvements, remained four 
years, sold out and bought his present place, 
which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres 
of partly improved land. He added the neces- 
sary buildings, set out an orchard of one hun- 
dred trees, also a fine grove. 

Our subject was born in England April, 
1841. the son of Benjamin and Maria Gwynn, 
who had eight children, named as follows: 
John, Elizabeth, Thomas, Wdliam. James, 
Samuel, Louis and Emma. He remained in 
England until he was fourteen years of age, at 
which time his parents came to America, land- 
ing in New York. They went from there to 
Loraino Count}% Ohio. The father died in 
I'higland, when the mother married again and 
kept her family together. Our subject's step- 
father was Isaac Cobb, with whom he remained 
until he was of age, when he went to work for 
himself. He was employed on a farm by the 



month, also in a factory where forks and rakes 
were made. He was a turner, and worked at 
this two years, after which he followed farm- 
ing until he came to Nebraska. He had the 
misfortune to lose the use of one eye by a piece 
of steel which chipped off a hammei- he was 
using. 

Our subject was married January, 18G1, to 
Lucy Teller, daughter of Benjamin and Eunice 
Teller, natives of New York State, whose three 
children were as follows: Ruth, Lucy and 
Hiram, all of whom are decease<l. By tliis 
marriage our subject had three children : Wil- 
liam, Arthur and Nettie. In 1868 our subject 
mari'ied for his second wife Ettie R. Nickels, 
daughter of Josiali and Lucy Nickels, natives 
of England, who had eight children : Etta R., 
Phoeby I., Susannah, Jose])!: (deceased), John 
L., "William J. (deceaseil), Malvina A. and Wil- 
lian J. 

By his last marriage our subject is the father 
of six children, as follows : Jennie, Kittle, Laura 
(deceased), Manley, Edgar, and Edith (de- 
ceased). 

Politically ilr. (iwynn attiliates with the In- 
dependent party, having originally been a Re- 
publican. 

RICHARD HOOPER (deceased) was 
numl)ered among Dodge County's 
pioneers, coming as he ditl in the 
sprmg of 1858, when he bought a piece of 
wild land, or rather he entered a farm 
of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles 
northwest of Fremont, improved the same, and 
lived there ten years, when he rented it and 
then freighted across the plains, his family 
living in Fremont. After he got through 
freighting, he bought a store and lot in Fre- 
mont, on the northwest corner from the Occi- 
dental hotel, where he run a grocery store and 
saloon, and kept boarders for ten \'ears. He 
next rented his business in town and moved 
back to the farm and followed that for three 
years, at the end of which time he took a home- 
stead four miles from Scribner, and bousrht 



108 



NOK THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



eighty acres joining his homestead. lie im- 
proved this place; broke one hundred acres; 
erected a good house and barn and remained 
there about three years, and then came back to 
the old home farm and proved up on the home- 
stead, by paying for it. After moving back to 
the old home farm, he bought another farm of 
one hundred and sixty acres of improved land, 
one mile from the other, and they moved to that 
place and lived for five years. The next year 
was the '• grasshopper year," and they iiad 
about five hundred acres in crop. Three hun- 
dred acres of this was in corn, and the grass- 
hoppers devoured it all ; but a fair wheat crop 
was harvested. Mr. Hooper was somewhat in 
debt on his land and the two years of grass- 
hopper raid crippled him in such a manner 
that his land was taken from him under fore- 
closure of a mortgage, which left him with 
scanty means. He then bought forty acres on 
Section 36, of Cotterell township, the same 
being school land and the place upon which his 
widow now lives. Here he made good improve- 
ments, including a house 20x^8 feet and one and 
one-half stories high ; also an L 14xlG feet. 
Two years later he built a barn 36x44 feet and 
added to his land until the farm now contains 
three hundred and sixty acres. 

Mr. Hooper was born in England, Ma}"^ 13, 
1830, and when nineteen years of age he crossed 
the briny deep, and located at Racine, Wiscon- 
sin, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth 
Goodman, daughter of William Goodman. He 
rented a farm near Racine and lived there 
until the spring of 1858, when he came with his 
family overland to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Hooper died in Dodge County, July 13, 
1887. He and his wife were the parents of 
fourteen children : Charles H.; Anna, died in 
infancy; Elizabeth; Mary, born November 24, 
1863, now the wife of Mr. Zorn ; William W., 
Thomas, Henr}'^, Emma J. (deceased), Joseph, 
Belle, Joiin, Linnie, Lula M. and Richard. 

Elizabeth Goodman (Hooper) was born in 
Devansliirc, England, April 26, 1837, and came 
with her parents to America and lived at 



Racine, Wisconsin, from the time she was 
eleven years old until the date of her marriage. 
She was on the farm alone in Dodge County 
when the Pawnee Indians were on the war 
path and going across the countr}' chanced to 
pass her house. All along their trail they did 
considerable robbing, but killed no one. From 
Mrs. Hooper they stole some clothes that were 
hanging on the line, but did not molest her. 
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Hooper 
has supermtended their large place very suc- 
cessfully. She usually keeps one hundred and 
fifty head of cattle, and feeds ver}' many 
durinjr the winter. 



NELS HANSEN, who is a farmer living 
on Section 28, of Nickerson township, 
came to Dodge Countv in the spring of 
1881, when he settled on his present farm, 
which was then a partly improved one hundred 
and sixt\' acres tract, which he improved in a 
substantial manner. After three years, he 
rented his farm and moved to Beemer, Cuming 
County, whera he erected a building and put 
in a stock of hardware, which he handled for 
two years. He then sold out and moved to 
Arlington, where he was engaged in the saloon 
business three years, but only resided there one 
year. He moved from there to North Bend, 
where he engaged in tlie same business for two 
years, and tiien moved back to his farm. 

In July, 1888, his barn was blown down to- 
gether with his wind-mill, by reason of which 
he sustained a loss of eight hundred dollars. 

Our subject was born July, 1846, in that 
beautiful countr}' in Northern Europe, known 
as Denmark. He is a son of Hans and Carren 
Hansen, who reared the following children; 
Hans C. ; George, Hen rv, (deceased), Carrie, 
Maggie (deceased), Nels, and Rasmus. 

Our subject lived in Denmark until he was 
twenty-five years of age — then came to New 
York, and from there he went to Chicago, 
where he engaged in the livery and saloon 
business, coming from there to Dodge County, 



XOJ! THEA STERN NEBKA SKA . 



109 



Nebraska. While he yet lived in his native 
country, he received a common sciiool educa- 
tion and served three \'ears in the Military ser- 
vice of his country. 

May 3, 18S7, he was married to ^[aggie Kas- 
inussen, daughter of Rasmus and Mary John- 
son, who had a family of four children : (ins- 
ten a (deceased) , May (deceased), Margarethe 
and Anna. 

Our subject and his wife are the i^arents of 
three children : May, born May 10, 1SS9, now 
deceased; Xelsena, May 23, 1891, and Rasmus, 
born September 15, 1S92. 

Politically, our subject is identilied with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters 
l)oth he and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church. 



JOHN T. IIAJE, a farmer living on Section 
20, of Hopper township, came to Dodge 
County, in the spring of 1890, and located 
on the farm henow occupies, which at the 
time consisted of two hundred acres of partly 
iin|)roved land. He erected sheds for his cattle 
;i:ix4rO feet, provided a system of water-works, 
with wind-power, and made other improve- 
ments, that show him to be a man of thrift and 
order. He was born in Germany, in June, 
1801, and is the son of Gerhart and Helen 
Ilaje, natives of the German Empire, whose 
four chihlren were: John, Fredreca, Christena 
and Triedrech. Our subject is the only one 
living in the United States. He came to this 
country when he was twenty-five years of age. 
He served in the German army three 3' ears 
prior to his coming to this country. He was 
united in marriage March, 1888, to Mary, 
(laughter of .lohn and Mary Alls, natives of 
(icrniany, whose six children were: Johannah, 
Mary, Emma, Augusta, Dedric, and Frederick. 
Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children: Gracie, born 1890, and Anna, 
born 1891. 

His early advantages for an education wqxq 
good. Upon coming to this country he 



brought six thousand dollars with him, and 
still owns a good farm in Germans. 

Politically he aililiates with the Democratic 
party, and in religious mattei-s both he and his 
wife are mendjers of the Lutheran Church. 



ANDREW J. HOWARD, a farmer resid- 
ing on Section 13, of Platte township, 
Dodge County, dates his settlement from 
the spring of 1808, when he located at Fremont, 
where he purchased some town lots and engaged 
at brick la^'ing, he being a mason by trade. He 
bought the ))lace he now occupies in 1885, when 
it was wild land, the native bosom of which he 
laid bare by the plowshare. He erected a dwel- 
ling sixteen b\' thirty feet with a wing fourteen 
b\' twenty feet, and built a barn twenty-two b}' 
thirt}' feet ; with due forethought, our subject 
set out shade trees and planted an orchard. 
His place consists of thirty-four acres. He 
also has two hundred and sixty acres in Elk- 
horn township. 

Mr. Howard is a native of Massachusettsi 
born in Ashb\', October, 1807. He is the son 
of Benjamin and Pliocbe Howard, natives of 
Massachusetts, who were the parents of fifteen 
children : Benjamin, Jlarlin, Saiali (deceased), 
Caleb (deceased), Mary, Joseph (deceased), 
Martha, Benjannn, Charles, Dorothy (deceased), 
Lucy, Jane, Andrew J.. Anna (deceased), and 
Cornelia. Our subject is the only one of the 
famil}^ living in Nebraska. He remained at 
home until he was sixteen years of age, at 
which time he went to learn the brick layer's 
trade, servingan apprenticeship of three years 
and then went to Fulton (bounty, Hlinois, 
where he worked at his trade two years. 
The next three years he worked at his trade 
in the old Bay State. In Pennsylvania he 
speculated in oil and lost all he possessed, 
after which he resumed his trade, that of brick 
mason. He went to Decatur, Hlinois, remained 
one season and worked the next two years at 
Omaha, Nebraska, and then came to Fro 
mont. 



no 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Howard was united in marriage in Janu- 
ary, 1870, to Ellen A lbertson,tiie daughter of 
Isaac and Anjanette Albertson, natives of 
Pennsylvania and New York respectively, 
whose children were as follows: Julia M. 
(deceased), Ellen, Ann E., Clara, Horace, 
IVarl. Tlie father is deceased and the iiKjther 
is living at Schuyler. 

Mr. and Mrs. Howard are the parents of 
seven children, born in the following order : 
Anna, October 23, 1870 ; Judah M., December 
2, 1S71 ; Clarence E., March 30, 1873 ; Garth 
G., August 17, 1875 ; Anjanette, October 17, 
1880; Berne, February 10, 1885; Hugh, Marcli 
23, 1891. 

Our subject belongs to tiie Masonic frater- 
nity, and is a member of Fremont Lodge No. 
15, A. F. & A. M. In his political belief he 
afliiiates witli tlie Democratic party. Both he 
and his estimable wife are believers in the 
Unitarian faitii. Mrs. Howard is a Woman's 
Suffragist. 

Of our subject's mother it may be said : 
Pha'be Howard was the third wife of Ben- 
jamin Howanl and the mother of four chil- 
dren : Jane, Andrew, Anna and Cornelia. The 
mother of our subject was a -woman of rare 
ability and great strength of character. Other 
members of the family speak of her in terms 
of love and highest praise. In sickness and sor- 
row she was the ministering spirit of the town 
and vicinity of her home. She was a member 
of the Unitarian Church, yet at her funeral, 
whicii took place over twenty-five years ago, 
all the clergymen of the place took part at the 
services. A Baptist minister said of her : " She 
was a woman the like of whom we shall not 
soon look upon." 

WILLIAM H. HAMILTON, a promi- 
nent citizen of Fremont, was born in 
Livingston County, New York, Aug- 
ust 4, 1818, and came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska, in 1878. His parents were James and 
Anna (Hughes) Hamilton, the former born in 
Ireland, coming to America when a child. His 



mother died on the vo3-age. Mr. Hamilton's 
mother was a native of Connecticut, and was 
tlie mother of one son, he of whom we write. 
His father -was a farmer and died in Livingston 
County, New York, in 1818, after which his 
wife married George W. Sturdivant, who emi- 
grated West in about 1834. He spent a short 
time in Illinois and afterwards located in Ra- 
cine County, Wisconsin. By the latter union 
six children were born. Mrs. Sturdivant died 
in Calumet Count|\', Wisconsin, in 1855. For 
many years she was a member of the Christian 
Churcl). The subject of our sketch was three 
months old when his father died, and he was 
reared in the home of his grandfather, receiv- 
ing about the average education of the boy of 
his time. When eighteen years of age he com- 
menced teaching school, following it for a 
number of years. 

He was united in marriage April 19, 1840, to 
to Miss Adeline Palmer, born April 9, 1818 a 
native of New York. By this union six chil- 
dren were born: Gracia C, born January 24, 
1841 ; Alva P.. born August 21, 1843; Stephen 
H., December 18, 1845 ; Harriet A., November 
25, 1849; Martha C, August 13, 1852; James 
IL, November 1, 1S5G ; Martha C. (deceased) ; 
and Alva P., enlisted in the Twelfth Wisconsin 
Light Artillery Battery, and was killed at Al- 
toona Pass, Georgia, October 5, 18G4. 

In the spring of 1842 he moved to Racine 
County, Wisconsin, where he commenced farm- 
ing, and from there went to Manitowoc County, 
Wisconsin, where he was admitted to the Bar, 
in 1845, before Timothy O. Howe, when he 
followed the practice of law, and subsequently 
returned to Racine, where he formed a partner- 
ship with George B. Judd. His wife died there 
September G, 1873, anil December 16, 1875, he 
married Cyntha L. West, widow of William 
West (deceased), b}' whom there were born 
two children, both deceased. In 1878 Mr. 
Hamilton came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 
Of his politics it may be said he is a stanch 
Republican. 

The family worship at the Baptist Church. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Ill 



THOMAS KILLEEN, Clerk of Dodge 
County, was born in Asliland, Penn- 
sylvania, August 29, 1862. He is the 
son of Patrick and Bridget (Haley) Kiileen. 
The father was a native of the Emerald Isle, 
ihe date of his birth being 1826. In ISiO he 
came to America, locating at Ashland, Penn- 
sylvania, and was there married, and spent his 
early life in raining. In 1877 he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, with his family, locating in 
Union township, where he purchased a farm, 
which now consists of 520 acres, tiie same be- 
ing v."iid lantl which the family have improved, 
and is now devoted to general farming, includ- 
ing the growth of livestock. The father died 
March 20, 1879. The family consisted of 
twelve children, eight of whom survive : James, 
a farmer of Dodge County , Bi'idget, wife of 
.I.A.Mathews, a farmer of Dodge County; 
Thomas, whose name heads this sketch ; Pat- 
rick, who farms the oUl homestead; Sai'ah, 
wife of J. G. INIaloy, of Saunders County ; 
Michael, at home; Dennis and Mary E..at home. 
Thomas was brought up to farm labor, at 
which he was engaged until 1S89, when he was 
elected to the im]iortant office of county clerk 
of Dodge Count}', which position he is still 
holding, with much credit to himself as well as 
the citizens of the counts'. 

Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. In 
1SS9 he was clerk of his home township. He 
received his education in the public schools and 
Creighton College at Omaha, graduating in 

issa. 

He was united in marriage, August 5, 1890, 
to Mary Gaughen. Poth Mr. and Mrs. Kiileen 
are members of the Roman Catholic Church. 
Although a young man, our subject is rapidly 
ascending the scale of popularity, as may be 
evinced by the fact that he was elected to the 
office of county clerk by a majority of 214 in 
1SS9, and re-elected in the autumn of 1891. He 
possesses a farm of 160 acres on Section 9, 
township 18, range 5 ; also eighty acres on Sec- 
tion 27. township 18, range 5. This he has un- 
der a good state of cultivation, making the im- 



provements himself, the same being wild 
prairie land at the time he purchased it. 

Thus it will be seen by the foregoing that 
one of the chief officials of Dotige County, 
though yet a young man, has made a financial 
success thus far in life, and is possessed of good 
executive ability, which of itself is a good 
guarantee to the ])eople of the county that his 
official acts will be performed in a ihui'ougii, 
business-like manner. 

MATiTIX LUTTHANS, a farmer living 
on Section IS, of Everett township, 
came to Dodge County, in the spring 
of 1S7(!. He first worked out by the da}' at 
mason's work, following "this for three years, 
when he bought a part of his present farm. 
His original tract contained one hundred and 
sixty acres, with eighty acres of bi'eaking upon 
it. He built a house 18x28 feet, with several 
additions, together with the necessary barns 
and out-buildings to carry on a successful farm. 
He also established a system of water-works 
for his place, i)ropelled by wind-power. His 
farm now consists of one hundred and eighty 
acres, all protected by "a good fence and ninety- 
five acres under the plow. All this our subject 
has made since he came to our shores, he being 
a German by birth, and relates that he had but 
fifty cents upon landing on our soil. 

He was born June, 18-16, the son of Frederic 
and Minnie LuLthans, whose four children were : 
Catharine, Fritz,, Martin, and Sojjhia ; two 
living in America and two in Germany. Our 
subject was twenty -seven years of age when he 
came to this country. He came direct to Chi- 
cago, remained two months, went from there to 
Indiana, where he lived over two years; spent 
some time in the Southern States on cotton plan- 
tations, and then came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. Prior to his coming to America he 
was a soldier in the general army and served in 
the F'ranco-Prussian war, receiving liis dis- 
charge in 1872. He attended the common 
schools of Germany until he was fifteen years 
of age. 



NOR THE A S TERS NEBRA SKA . 



Our subject was married in June, 18S7, to 
Helena Ilunken, a native of Germany. They are 
tlje parents of two cliildren: Carl, born February 
10, 188i> and William, February 5, ISOI. 

Our suijject and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Ciuirch, and politically he alfiliates 
with tiie Democratic party. 



ALBEET McGAIIEY, a farmer living on 
Section Id, of Cotterell township, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 18S1, 
anil located at North I>end, and for the first 
two years farmed Mr. Cotterell's land and then 
moved to his own place where he now lives, 
iiaving purchased the same in fall of 1881. At 
first, he bought one hundred and twenty acres, 
but subsequently bought forty moie. "When 
he bought, there was scarcely any improve- 
ments on his place, as the man whom he bought 
of had built simply a small frame house, which 
our subject had to com])Iete. In 1889, he built 
a good barn and buggy shed, togethei' with 
numerous other out-buildings. 

Mr. McGahey was boin in Warren County, 
Illinois, September 10, 1852, the son of Samuel 
and Abbie (Brocken) McGahe}', both natives 
of Kentucky. Our subject remained at home 
with his parents until he was twenty-four years 
of age and then rented a farm near his father, 
and remained tliere until he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. 

lie was united in marriage March 15, 1877, 
in Knox County, Illinois, to'Miss Sophia High, 
(laughter of Lemuel and Sibbie (Heed) High. 
Mrs. McGahey was born in Knox County, Illi- 
nois, March 15, 1858, and remained with her 
parents until she was married. Mr. and Mrs. 
McGaiicN' have two children : Minnie, born 
January 8, 1878, and Jesse (deceased), born 
March 11, 1881. Mrs. McGahey is a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Ciiui'ch. 

Our subject affiliates with the Democratic 
part}', and is a member of the Modern Wood- 
men of America, belonging to Noi-th iJend 
Lodge No. lOlG. 



May, 1885, our subject had the misfortune to 
have his barn, five head of horses, a twine 
binder and all his harness and farm machinery 
burned. Tlie barn was twenty-six feet sijuare, 
ten feet high, and covered with a board roof. 
On this loss he only received $(500 insurance, 
being the total amount thereon. 



WILLIAM F. KEAVIS,one of the enter- 
p)-ising business men of Battle Creek, 
Madison County, was born in Yadkin 
County, North Carolina May 30, 1851. He is 
a son of Alexander and Mary (Padgett) 
Iteavis, natives of the same State. In 1855, 
they emigrated to Grayson County, Virginia. 
The father was a millwright and a merchant, 
and operated a saw and grist mill until after 
the Civil War, when he built a large woollen 
factoiT. He was an energetic man, possessing 
more than ordinary business ability. Tiiey 
reared a family of children: William F.; 
James C, now on the old homestead in Vir- 
ginia; Martha, wife of Jackson Ward of Carroll 
County, Virginia ; Alexandei", of Union County, 
Oregon ; Nancy, widow of B. Todd ; Charles at 
home. The father died April 9, 1890. The 
motiier is still living in Virginia. She is a 
member of the Baptist Ciiurch and a tlevout 
("hristian lady. 

He for whom this sketch is written was 
educated in the district school, and wiien he 
was too small to reach the blacksmith's bellows 
handle, used to get a box and take tlelight in 
fanning the liei'V forge, and took naturally to the 
trade of an iron worker. When nineteen years 
old, hearing of the gi'owing prospects o[ 
Omaha, he went to that city, and worked two 
years, being employed by the Union I'acilic 
Jiaiiroad Com))any. In December, 1875, he 
laniled at Battle Creek, where he and ins 
brother started about the first blacksmith shop, 
at a time when there were not more than a 
half dozen houses in the place. This partner- 
ship continued about five >'ears, when he sold 
and took a homestead upon which he lived six 



jVORT/IEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



years, and built a frame bouse. As a farmer, 
he was not a success, so lie sold out, took a trip 
tlirougb AVasbington Teri-itory, but not finding- 
a desii-able location he returned to Battle C!rcek, 
aud in ISSS he formed bis present partnership. 

^fr. Keavis was married at Battle Creek, to 
Fidelia Tiliottson. in 1S80, the daughter of 
Emeline Tiliottson, who was a widow that 
came fi'om Iowa with a family of three chil- 
dren, and located on a homestead. They built 
a sod bouse; she also took a pre-emption claim, 
and when breaking up the prairie sod she held 
the plow with her own bands, and year by 
year accumulated until she possessed a bantlsorae 
property, w'hich should be recorded as a memo- 
rial to her pluck and energy. 

Mr. and Mrs Iteavis are the parents of three 
children: Harry E., born October 12, ISSl ; 
Delia, born December 9, 1882, and Edith born 
August !•_', 1SS5. Our subject and liis wife 
are membei's of the Baptist Church of JSattle 
Creek. 

I'olitically, Mr. licavis is a supporter of the 
Democratic party, and a great admirer of 
Grover Cleveland. He has held numerous 
local offices and belongs to the Good Templars 
Order. 

ANTON SCHMUCKER, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 29, St. Charles township, Cuming 
County, was born in Iowa March, 1858, 
and came to Nebraska three years later in com- 
pany with his mother. He is the only son of 
Gertrude Schmucker, who was born in C{er- 
many and came to this country in 1858. 

Mr. Scbmucker lived with his uncle until he 
was grown and then worked hind on shares 
with his uncle until he bought his present 
place. II is mother was taken sick and her ill- 
ness resulted in total blindness toher. 

Our subject was married November, ISSO, to 
Ella Gobe, to whom si.x children have been 
born: Katie, August, (^aroline, Christcna, 
Albert and Anton, Jr. 

Our subject bought his farm of George 
1 lover in 1SS3, he being one of the early set- 



tlers in Cuming County. The farm consists of 
one hundred and si.xty acres, eighty-five of 
which are under cultivation. It is provided 
with a good story and one-half bouse, a barn 
and other out-buildings, and also has an or- 
chard and an artificial grove. He keeps twen- 
ty-four bead of cattle on his place at the pres- 
ent time, also seven bead of horses and mules, 
and thirty-five bogs. He has living water run- 
ning through bis farm, which is of great advan- 
tage to the farmers of Nebraska, who are now 
paying special attention to the growth of 
stock. 

Politically our subject belongs to the Demo- 
cratic party, and in religious matters is a be- 
liever in the Roman Catholic faith. 



ALFRED A. KEABNEY.one of the prom- 
inent attorneys of Stanton County, was 
l)orn m Woodford County, Illinois, De- 
cember 1, 1857. He is a son of William A. 
Kearney, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, 
born in 1827. He married Miss Emily Redmond 
in 1855, and moved to Woodford Countv. Illi- 
nois, remained one year, then moved to McLean 
County, near Bloomington, and subsequentlv to 
Ford County, where they spent twenty -seven 
years, and then moved to Stanton County, 
Nebraska. They raised a family of seven chil- 
dren. 

The subject of this sketch received his edu- 
cation in the common schools of Illinois, at 
Grand Prairie Seminary, Onarga, Ilbnois, and 
Oberlin, Ohio. Lie educated himself, teachino- 
and attending school alternately. From bov- 
hood be determined to become a lawyer, and 
was finally admitted to the Bar at Adel, Iowa, 
in 1880. The following fall he went to Albion, 
Nebraska, where he first engaged in the prac- 
tice of law. After obtaining a small law li- 
brary the same was destroyed by fire, los- 
ing everything he bad. He was then com- 
pelled to go to work to earn mone}' with 
which to start again. In 1883 he came to 
Stanton, where his father engaged in the hard- 



NOK T/IEA S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



ware business, and went to work for him for a 
time. T>ut lie still longed for the law, and soon 
left the hardware store and took up his chosen 
profession. When he started this time, he bor- 
rowed a statute and a few other books to begin 
with. Subsequently he was elected cit}' at- 
torney, a position he held for five years, resign- 
ing to accept the api)ointment of prosecuting 
attorney of Stanton County. In this connec- 
tion it is but just to say that as prosecuting 
attorney he has never prosecuted a case but 
that it resulted in a conviction. He has worked 
up a lucrative law practice, second to none 
in the Elkhorn valley, and has gained each 
step up the ladder by hard and meritorious 
work. He has served two terms on the Repub- 
lican Central Committee, in which party he is 
prominent, being among the earnest hardwork- 
ino- members of that party of the day. Finan- 
cially, he has succeeded admirably well, and is 
now a director in two of the banks of his home 
town. He also takes a deep interest in all edu- 
cational matters and has long been a member 
of the school board, and at the last election 
was re-elected to that office by all the votes 
cast in the city but two. lie is a Mason in 
good standing, belonging to Northern Light 
Lodge No. r)6, A. F. et A.M., also to Damascus 
Chapter ami Damascus Commandery of Nor- 
folk, Nebraska. lie enjoys the universal and 
merited confidence and respect of the jieojile in 
botli iiusiness and social circles. 

Mr. Kearney was united in marriage at Jelf- 
erson, Iowa, in 1883, to Miss Jennie iManning, 
whose father is a prominent minister in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject and 
his wife are the i)arents of two bright boys: 
Charles M., born August 10, lS8-t, and Orla IL, 
born X<)veml)er 1"), 1888. 



LEWIS A. MEWIS, of Section 2, town- 
ship 23, Stanton precinct, Stanton 
County, was born at Zaeckerick, Bran- 
denburg, Germany, March 19, 1837. He is a 
son of Lewis and Wilhclmena (Kilil) Mewis. 



The}' came to Horicon, Wisconsin, in 1861, 
remained until ISfiP, and then came to Ne- 
braska, locating at Pierce, where they still 
reside. 

Our subject received a common school educa- 
tion, and in IS.^G located in Wisconsin, working 
on a farm near Horicon. August 21, 1802, he 
enlisted as membei-of Company C,Twenty-ninth 
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He took ])art in 
the Vicksburg campaign , was on the Red 
River expedition ; also at Spanish Fort and 
Blakely. After the capture of Mobile he was 
sent to Shreveport, Louisiana, and was honor- 
ably discharged July 17, ISG.j. Although sick 
for six weeks, he refused to go to the 
hospital. 

In 1868, Mr. Mewis came to Stanton County, 
Nebraska, and homesteaded his present farm. 
The family removed from Wisconsin, with an 
ox team, and were six weeks on the road, arriv- 
ing July -1, 18G8. Our subject built a log- 
cabin and began breaking up the prairie sod. 
Only a few acres however were turned over 
tiiat season. During the first few years he was 
in the country his crops were greatly damaged 
by the grasshoppers. He now owns a quarter 
section of well improved land. His present 
line farm-house was erected in 18S8. 

He of whom we write was mari'ied October 
2, 1862, to Caroline IlaulV, and by this union 
ten children have been born (three having died 
during childhood): Lewis, Clara (Mrs. F. Zan- 
ders), Anna (Mrs. A. Schilling), Emil, Minnie, 
Joiin, Herbert, Charles, Nora and Nina. 

Politically, Mr. Mewis supports tiie Demo- 
cratic ticket and has assessed his precinct for a 
number of years. He is an honored member 
of the Grand Army of the Republic. His has 
been a varied experience from the time he was 
a youth, on down through the Civil war period 
to the present time ; he has had much toilo with 
men and the general events of his country ; 
and by reason of this experience, he has become 
generally well versed on the current tojiics of 
the day, and bears the respect of a large circle 
of fiiends and admirers. 




t •-, 



'(Xf-C 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASICA. 



117 



EMIL SCIIULTZE. a farmer of Kings- 
burgh precinct, Stanton County, and 
now a resident of Section 5, townsliip 22, 
accompanied his parents to the county in April, 
ls70, when he was but ten years of age. His 
father took a homestead and he lived at home 
until he was twenty -three years of age, when 
he bought the farm he now occupies, consisting 
of three hundred and sixty acres. He built a 
house 10x2-i feet, one story and a half high, 
also a granary and other out-building's. lie 
jn'ovided his place with a gootl well and wind- 
power. He planted out two hundred fruit trees 
and one acre to an artificial grove. His ])lace 
also contains a tenant house. He has two hun- 
dred and fifty acres under the plow and sixty 
acres surrounded by a fence. 

Mr. Schultze was born in Germany, Septem- 
ber, 1859, the son of Earl and Wilhelmena 
Schultze, whose five children were : Augusta, 
Emil, Paul, Fred, Hedwig. Our subject's advan- 
ta"-es for an education were anything but first- 
class. He was united in marriage Januar}', 1883, 
to Frederica, daughter of Christian and Regina 
Lenser, natives of Germany, whose six children 
were : Hugo, Frederica Hattie, Martha, Mox 
and Frank. All living in Nebraska. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four chiKlren. The first child was born June 
11, 1885, and died May 11,1892; Paul, born 
.lanuary 25, 1887 ; Emil, born February 12, 
1889 , Carl, born August 27, 1891. 

Mr. and JMrs, Schultze are members of the 
Lutheran Church Politically he affiliates with 
the liepublicans and has been a.ssessor of his 
precinct three \'ears. 

Our subject's mother died September 1 1 , 1 891, 
iiut his wife's iiarents are both living. 



JOll.X A. CLOSE, residing on Section 20, 
Elkhorn township, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 1866. 
He was born in Miffland County, Pennsyl- 
vania, March 30, 1826. He is a son of Henry 
and Margaret Close, natives of the Keystone 



State, whose seven children were as follows : 
AVilliam, Mary A., Sarah, John A., Caroline 
(deceased), James (deceased) and George. Our 
subject accompanied his parents, when sixteen 
years of age, to Adams County, Ohio, where 
they bought a farm and remained there, our 
subject living at home until he iiad reached his 
majority, when he learned the wagon maker's 
trade and worked at it one year. He then 
bought a farm in Ohio, of one hundred acres, 
which he cultivated for five years ; then went 
to Lifayette County, Wisconsin, and rented 
land two years. From there he moved to 
Crawford County, "Wisconsin, in 1851. He 
worke<l this farm until 1861, then, being seized 
with the spirit of patriotism, he enlisted in 
Corapanv B, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infantry, 
under Captain George Frank, and was mustered 
in at Kacine. He went from Racine to Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, and was with Sliernian's army 
in the winter of 1862-63. He was taken down 
with the measles and. typhoid fever at Moscow, 
and was sent to the hospital, within the disnuil 
wards of which be remained five months. Gan- 
grene set in and he lost a portion of his right 
foot. He left the hospital in July, 1863, and 
was sent to St. Louis and remained two months 
in Benton hospital, and was then transferred to 
the Veteran Reserve Corps. He was in service 
about three years, receiving his discharge at 
I^hiladelphia, and was in. that city at the time 
of the assassination of President Lincoln, he 
being detailed to escort the remains through the 
city. From Philadeliihia he returned to Wis- 
consin and joined his family, and tliei-e remained 
until 1866, when he sold his property and 
removed his family to Dodge C'ounty, Nebraslca. 
II is early advantages for obtaining an education 
were somewhat limited, having less than one 
year's actual schooling, during which time he 
was a schoolmate of Gener il Erving Gregg. 

April 1, 1847, he married Nancy Lane, 
daughter of John Lane, of Ohio, whose three 
children were as follows : Nancy, Elizabeth and 
Emily. By this marriage union, eight children 
were boi'n in the following order: Margaret, 



118 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



March 20, 1848; Elizabeth, July 19, 18— 
Ilenrv, Movomber 25,1851 ; Caroline (deceased), 
born May 28, 1853; George, February 7,1S5C; 
Frank (deceased), born June 2(5, 1858 ; Martlia, 
October 2, 18G1 and Nellie, April 27, 1866. 

Politically, Mr. Close is in sympathy witii 
the Independent movement. lie has been 
assessor and township treasurer of Elkhorn 
township. He belongs to the Odd Fellows 
Order, being a member of Arlington Lodge No. 
41. Upon coming to Nebraska in 1867, he 
located upon eighty acres of wild land, where 
he made substantial improvements, ihcluding a 
good iiouse in which lie lived eight years and 
then built his present residence. lie made his 
place more valuable by setting out an orchard 
and eight acres of a grove. He has added to 
his land from time to time, until he now has 
four hundred and eighty acres, Uso hundred 
and fifty of which is under cultivation, and 
three hundred and sixty acres well fenced. Mr. 
(-lose had but little means when he came to 
Nebraska, and met with quite a serious loss by 
the high water of 1882, and during the same 
year his barn was struck by lightning and 
destroyed, killing four horses and two head of 
cattle. 

It will be observed by reference to this 
sketch, that our subject's life has not been one 
of constant sunshine, for in tracing his career 
through his army life, and the financial losses 
he has sustained since coming to Nebraska, one 
sees that he has been unfortunate, but through 
perseverance has (Inaliy overcame adversity 
and is now surroundeil with the comforts of 
life, and bears the respect of the entire com- 
munitv in which he lives. 



CARL SCllULTZE, of Kingsburgii pre- 
cinct, Stanton (bounty, located on the 
farm he now occupies in IVfay, 1 870. He 
homcsteaded a (piarterof Section 19, and lived 
in a dug-out for eight years. His place is now 
well improved, including a grove of si.x acres 
and a bearing orchard. Of his present 220- 



acre farm, 120 are under cultivation. He has 
given each of his sons a farm, and is still in 
good financial circumstances. During the 
grasshopper i)lague he sowed 120 bushels of 
wheat and did not harvest a single bushel from 
the same. "When he came to the country there 
was not a bridge over any of the streams and 
there wei'e but five farms in the precinct. 

Mr. Schultze was born in (4ermany in Sep- 
tember, 1829, the son of Fred and Dorothy 
Schultze, vvho were the parents of nine chil- 
dren. Our subject was married in October, 
1852, to Wilhelmena Lecka. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schultze have five children: 
Augusta, Emil, Paul, Fritz and Hedwig. He 
of whom we write this notice is independent in 
politics, and in religious matters is a member 
of the Lutheran Church. 



EMIEL C. IINDEPBURG, physician and 
surgeon, practicing at Stanton, Neb., 
was born in Chicago, Illinois, Ai>ril 26, 
1862. His father was John I). ITnderburg, 
boi-n in Al.<ace, in 1815, of French and German 
parents. His mother, Charlotta (Herr) Under- 
burg, was born at Bremen, in 1821. They 
were married in Germany. They emigrated 
to America in 1838, and settled in Ellenville, 
New York, where the father remained three 
years and then removed to Chicago. That 
was in 1841, which made him one of the early 
settlers of now one of the largest places on 
the continent. In 1869 he left the busy scenes 
of the Garden City, and came to Stanton 
County, Nebraska, where he took a homestead, 
the same being located in Union Creek pre- 
cinct. At first he lived in a sod-house. His 
next house was a log-house, as the nearest 
lumber was at Fremont and Columbus, and 
was at that time a very expensive commodity. 
He finally bought more land, until lie had three 
hundred and twenty acres. 

Our subject is the youngest of six children: 
Anna, wife of G. Sonnenschein, a prominent 
farmer of Stanton County, Nebraska ; Chailes, 



MORTMEASTERN NEBkASk'A. 



119 



contractor and builder of Stanton ; Mary, wife 
of Joseph Duncann. of Jladison, Nebraska; 
xViigiist, a resident of Chicago ; Otto, of Madi- 
son, a vetinary surgeon ; and Emil C, tlie sub- 
ject of tills sl<etch. 

Our subject's father died in Stanton County 
in ISSl. lie was a stanch sujjporter of tlie 
Republican party, but not a politician. The 
w idow is still a resident of Stanton, and bears 
tlie respect of all who know her. 

The subject of this notice was educated in 
the public schools of Stanton, from tiie time he 
was old enough to understand anything about 
language. When he was eight 3'ears of age he 
commenced reading medical books. He first 
read under Dr. N. S. Lane, and then with Dr. 
ilowman, three years, and in 1888 he attended 
the Medical department of the Iowa State Uni- 
versity at Iowa City, Iowa. In the winter of 
lSSO-00 he attended the college of Physicians 
and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, graduating 
I'ebruary 20, 1800, and immediately commenced 
practice at Stanton, where he still resides. He 
is a member of the International Medical Asso- 
ciation, also of the Nebraska State Medical 
Association. 

The Doctor was united in marriage Septem- 
ber 23, I8i»l, to Miss Edith M. Mayer, of 
Logan, Iowa. She was born in Leroy, Illinois, 
February 3, 1873. She is the daughter of C. 
C. and Mannie Mayer. Her father is a drug- 
gist, having been a resident of Stanton, Ne- 
braska, and Logan, Iowa, for several years. 

He of whom we write this sketch is a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; 
also a member of the Fraternal International 
Alliance of Daltimore. 

He is the present coroner for Stanton County, 
having been elected on the Ileiniblican ticket. 
Dr. Lnderburg is already in ])ossession of a 
lucrative i)raclice, and seems to have been 
peculiarly fitted by nature for his chosen pro- 
fession, and no man standshigher in the county 
in which he lives than he, who has been reared 
and educated under the liberal public-school 
system found in Nebraska. 



MOSES T. ZELLEKS, M.D., located and 
practicing meilicine at Hooper, came 
to Doilge County in the spring of 
lSSi>, when he lirst commenced to practice at 
that ]ioint. 

The Doctor was born in .luiiiata C/Ounty, 
Pennsylvania, May, 1861, the son of George 
and Rebecca Zellers, natives of Pennsylvania, 
who have four sons : Jonas W., John L., 
Moses T., (leorge A. 

He of whom we write remained in the Key- 
stone State until twenty years of age, when he 
went to Huron (bounty, Ohio, where he was 
engaged as station agent on the railroad. He 
received one promotion after another and 
finally was made train dispatcher, which position 
he left in order to study medicine in 1886. He 
took a collegiate course and graduated in 1889, 
from the Western Reserve University, of Cleve- 
land, Ohio. After leaving college, like so many 
other young practitioners, he sought Nebraska 
as his future home 

He was united in marriage in March, 1870, 
to Alice C. Troutman, daughter of Henry K. 
and Margaret Troutman, natives of Pennsylva- 
nia, whose three children were : John IL. 
George and Alice C. 

Our subject and his wife have their home 
blessed by the birth of three children : AViUiam 
M., born October 23, ISSO ; Jfaggie Ti., born 
May 10, 1883 and John S.,born Sejitcmber 20, 
18S6. 

Doctor Zellei's belongs to the ilasonic fra- 
ternity, and is also a member of the Ancient 
Orderof United Workmen and Iloj'al Arcanum. 

Politicall}', he is a supporter of the Republi- 
can part\^ He is a successful business man and 
a registered pharmacist. 



JAMES SLOSS (retired), at North Bend, 
came to Dodge County, in October, 1858, 
and entered one hundred and sixty acres 
of land near what is now North Bend. 
He was among the first settlers in that locality 
and Council Blull's and Omaiia were tiieir near- 



120 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



est trading points. His first residence was a 
log-cabin, thirteen feet square. He remained 
on this place until 1880, when he moved to 
North Bend. His farm now comprises seven 
hundred acres. When the First National Bank 
was organized at North Bend, he was made its 
President. 

Mr. Sloss was born in Ireland, March, 1821, 
and when twenty years of age came to America 
and lived for eleven years in and around New 
York City, and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, 
and remained five yeai's; j)art of the time 
emplo\'ed at gardening and part of the time 
coachman for a rich gentleman. He came from 
Cleveland to Nebraska, by the way of St. 
Louis and Council Bluffs. 

He was united in marriage in New York 
October, 1852, to Miss Nancy Kichev, a native 
of Ireland, who came to America and stopped 
in New York in about 1846. By this marriage 
union, two children were born : J. W., Mav '', 
1854, m Cleveland, and R. B., September 18, 
1856, at the same place. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sloss are members of the 
United Presbyterian Church, having united in 
the old country. Our subject's son J. W., grati- 
uated from the Monmouth College in Illinois in 
1883. He departed this life August 8, 1892. 
R. B. is married and lives on the home farm 
near North Ijend. 



DR. LEANDER B. SMITH, prominent 
among the piiysicians of Fremont, is a 
native of Wyoming County, Pennsyl- 
vania, and was born Januai'v 27, 1846. He is the 
son of Isaac O. and Sarah B. ( Bunnell ) Sraitii, 
who were natives of tiie same county, and 
where the father still resides; the mother being 
deceased. Our subject remained in his native 
country until twenty-one years of age. He 
was reared to farm life and eiiucated in tlie 
puijlic .schools, and came West to Fremont. 
Nebraska, in 1867. Upon coming to Fi'emont, 
he entered the mercantile establishment of 
Smith Brothers, as clerk. After eiirhteen 



months he entered a drug store as a clerk, of 
C. A. Smith, where he learned the drug busi- 
ness and at the same time was delving into the 
mysteries of medicine. He took his first med- 
ical course, in 1876-77, at Iowa City, the 
Iowa State University, and in 1877-78 he 
attended the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons at Keokuk, Iowa, from wliich he gradu- 
ated in the spring of 1878, and at once com- 
menced the practice of his jirofession at Fre- 
mont. 

Tlie Doctor belongs to tiie Masonic frater- 
nity, and is as far advanced as the Scottish 
Rites. Politically he has always been a 
Republican. 

He was united in marriage March, 1878, to 
Cora M. Albertson, a native of Nebraska, born 
in Platte County, the daughter of Alexs.nder 
and Sarah Albertson. The Doctor and Mrs. 
Smith have one child: a son, born August 5, 
ISitl, named Victor B. 



JAMES W. SHEARER, cashier of tiie West 
Point National Bank, has been a resident 
o! the place since the autumn of 1877. He 
was born in Berks Count\', Pennsylvania, 
December 25, 1840. He is the son of Jacob 
and Margaret (Weida) Shearer. The father was 
a blacksmith, who learned the trade when a 
young man and followed it for si.xty years. 
Our subject's father and mother were the 
parents of ten children : Eliza, who marrieil 
George llartman — she died in Pennsylvania; 
Catharine, wife of Adam Glase ; Mary, wife of 
Joiin K. Bertolet ; Jacob, deceased; Reuben: 
Luzetta, who married Jacob Bertolet, deceased ; 
George, on the old homestead ; Henry, who 
enlisted in the Ninety-third Pennsylvania Vol- 
unteer Infantry, was wounded at the battle of 
Fail" Oaks, where he died ; James W,: Amos, 
who died from the effects of army life. 

Our subject's father died at the advanced age 
of eighty-five years and the mother at the age 
of fifty-six. They were members of tiie Evan- 
trelical Church. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



121 



The subject of this notice was educated at 
DulY'sIron College, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
lie went to Philadelphia, where he was em- 
ployed as a boolc-kee|)er in a wholesale notion 
st(jre for three years, after which he embarked 
in the butter and egg business in Lincoln Mar- 
ket, remaining there one and one-half years. 
He enlisted in 1S61 as a member of Company 
Ct, One Hundred and Sixty-seventh Pennsyl- 
vania Vofunteer Infantry, as a nine-months 
man, being mustered in at Reailing, Pennsyl- 
vania, from which place he went to Washing- 
tun, and soon to Norfolk and Suffolk, partici- 
pating in the engagement at Whitehouse Land- 
inji-. Subsequently he returned to Keading, 
Penns\'lvania, where he was honorably dis- 
charged. He is now the commander of the D. 
S. Crawford Grand Army post at West Point. 

He was united in marriage, in 1871, to Cath- 
arine Toder, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 
Perks County in 1850. Five children have 
been born to them : Ella, Planche and Bulah 
(twins). James and Floyd. 

In 1877 Mr. Shearer came West, and located 
at West Point, when he engaged as a clerk in 
a store, continuing four years, after which he 
worked in a lumber yard. In 1885 he was 
nominated by the Republicans and elected as 
County Clerk, and after serving one term en- 
gaged in the lumber and grain business at 
Beemer, and continued that for one and one- 
half years. He then returned to West Point, 
and became book-keeper for L. P. Shepherd & 
Co., in the grain and livestock business. June 
15, 1891, he was made cashier of the West 
Point National Bank. He is a member of the 
Blue Lodge and Chapter of the Masonic Order 
at West Point, and also of the Reading (Pa.) 
Commander3^ 

Politically, he is a stanch Republican. 



JOSEPH ROUBIXEK, a miller living in 
the village of Dodge, came to the val- 
ley in 1809. He was born in Bohemia 
March..l9, 18-11, the son of A'encel and 
Dora Roubinek. both natives of the same 



country. They were the parents of six child- 
ren : Yencel (deceased); John (deceased); Katie, 
married Frank Spindler; Anna, married Van- 
eel Novalnv ; Joseph : Frances, raarrieil B. 
llayatka. The parents of these children died 
in the old country. 

Our subject received his education in the 
common schools in his native land. His father 
died when he was but two years of age, and he 
remained with his mother until he was thirteen 
years olil, when he was apprenticed to learn 
the millers trade, which business he followed 
until he came to this countrv. In ISGG, he 
located at Iowa City, Iowa, where lie remained 
one year and then went to Oxford, Jones 
County, Iowa, coming to Nebraska in 1809. 
He took a homestead of eight}' acres in Cuming 
County. 

He was uniteii in marriage in 1806 to Miss 
Mary Sediak, a native of Bohemia. His means 
were ver\' limited, but, instead of giving up, he 
went to work with a right good will to make a 
home and property. Fremont was his trading 
point ; even his lumber had to be hauled from 
that place. He remained on his homestead for 
six years, when he purchased the Water Lilly 
Mill, and operated it for nine years and then 
sold out and came to Dodge Count}', and was 
one of the company who built the mill at the 
village of Dodge, he being made president of 
the company. The mill has the roller process 
and is of a most excellent grade. 

Mr. and Mrs. Roubinek are the parents of 
three children : Lewis, book-keeper for the 
roller mills and chairman of village council; 
Josephine, at home ; Minnie, at home. 

In politics our subject is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic party, and is a friend to all 
educational interests. When he first came to 
Nebraska, Indians and wild game were very 
plentiful. He was living on the farm when the 
country was visited by grasshoppers, and for 
three 3'ears his crops were destroyed. When 
he landed in Iowa City, Iowa, he had but seven 
dollars in his pocket, which he soon payed out 
for something to live upon, but by industry 



122 



jVOR rilEA STERN XEBKA SKA, 



during all these years he is now in the posses- 
' sion of a handsome properly. The first school 
was kept in Monterey township, when our sub- 
ject lived there, and the school was kept in a 
granary owned by him. The first teacher was 
Miss Becker, and our subject's oldest son 
attended the school. The school building was 
a rude affair in comparison wilh the school- 
houses of to-day. 

CllIilSTIAN liUPP, mayor of West 
I'oint, became a resident of the place 
December 28, 1870. He was born in 
Waterloo CounU', Canada, February 27, 1847. 
lie is the son of Christian Rupp, who emigrated 
from Germany about ISrln, first locating in 
Canada. In about 1860, the family located 
in Taswell County, Illinois, where the father of 
our subject purchased a farm and remained 
until the day of his death, December 5, 1890. 
Their children were : John, of West Point, 
Nebraska ; Barbara, married John Good, now 
deceased; Katherina, wife of Daniel G. Gro- 
ver, of Knox Count\^, Nebraska; Christian, 
a twin of Katherine ; Magdalena, wife of 
(Jhrist (4ood, a farmer of Cuming County ; 
Lizzie, wife of Jacob Oswald, a farmer of 
Cuming County. The mother of these chil- 
dren just named came to Cuming County 
in 1891. She is a member of the Mennonite 
Church. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
Canada and Taswell County, Illinois. He was 
married in 1808, to ]\Iiss Mary Ttupert. He 
rented a farm and in 1870 moved to Cuming 
County, Nebraska, which at the time was but 
little settled. He brought onU' thirty-five dol- 
lars in his pocket and it was all he possessed. 
He rented land for six years, ami then pur- 
chased a farm on Section 10-2 1-G, where he 
remained until 1S77, when he was appointed 
deput}' sheriff and jailer. In 1883, he was 
elected sheriff of the county and served four 
years, when he engaged in dealing in the Nor- 
man and Clydeshire horses. In February, 
1890, he embarked in the real estate and insur- 



ance business and was elected Mayor of West 
Point, April 5, 1892. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican, cast- 
ing his first vote for President U. S. Grant. He 
is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of 
the Masonic Order. He is a nuin of fine address 
and well posted in the affairs of (.'uming County 
and Nebraska in general. 

OMEIl VIRGIL OWEN, a liveryman at 
the village of Wisner, was born in 
Marion County, Iowa,'October 9, 13.")8, 
the son of O. O. Owen, a native of Indiana, 
who served as a soldier in the Union Army, 
during the Civil war. enlisted in an Iowa regi- 
ment, serving three 3'ears. He was married in 
Iowa, to Miss Sarah Jones, native of Indiana, 
and they were the parents of ten children, five 
of whom are still living: Omer V., Edward C, 
a farmer of Cuming County, Nebraska ; Nellie 
D., Charles C, of Washington County, Iowa ; 
and Alva ]\I., of Kansas. 

The subject of this sketch was reai'ed in 
Mills and Clark Counties, Iowa, receiving a 
common school education. When he was 
sixteen years of age the family was broken up, 
and he had to battle for himself. He settled 
in jMills County, where he engaged in farming, 
and was there married in 1879. to Miss Henri- 
etta Cook, a daughter of I). I). Cook, of Linn 
County, Kansas. In 18SC>, he moved to Cuming 
County, Nebraska, engaged in farming, which 
he followed until January 4, 1892, and then 
engaged in the livery business. He owns and 
controls twenty-four horses, and keeps a very 
commendable livery stock, for the size of the 
town in which he lives. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Owen are the parents of four 
children : Amy, born July IS, 1881; Cora, born 
October 16, 1882; Victor, born October 10, 
1885, and Iva born May 9, 1889. 



JEREMIAH NELIGIl, present proprietor of 
the Elkhorn Hotel, at West Point,accom. 
jianied his parents to Cuming County in 
1863. He has had a varied experience, his 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



growth from boyhood to manhood having been 
co-existent with the growth and. development 
of Cuming County. 

lie is a son of David and Mary Jane Neiigli, 
a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this 
volume. lie was born in Lehigh County, Penn- 
sylvania, January 28, 1848, ami was educated 
ill his native country principall\'. His jiarents 
kept the West Point House a short time after 
they came to the countr_y. In the spring of 
186-1 our subject's uncle, John D. Xeligh, had a 
contract to make bi'ick for the Indians at 
Genoa, on the Loup Fork. His father was one 
of the moulders, and he assisted him as one of 
the off-bearers, working until Julv of that year, 
when his father took the contract of carr3'ing 
the United States mail between West Point 
and Fontanelle, the first mail service in the 
county. The first two years he carried the 
mail on horseback, but as the country began 
to settle up they put a stage on the route and 
he drove that. There was nothing but a foot 
bridge over the Elkhorn River, consequently 
he had to ford that changeable stream, and 
many times he had to swim his horses, and 
upon one occasion his wagon became detached, 
Hoated away and lodged upon a sand bar. 
After two or three years at this kind of work 
Mr. Neligli did farm labor adjoining West 
Point. He resided at home until 1880, when 
he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabetli 
Jane Dodendorf, the daughter of Edward and 
Katie Ann Dotiendorf, natives of Pennsylvania. 
For several years after his marriage Mr. Neligh 
followed i)ainting, when he moved to AVisner 
and engaged in the farm implement business 
under the firm name of Xeligh & Co. After 
ime \'ear he retired from that and went to the 
painter's trade. Soon after this he was ap- 
pointed jailer at West Point, having charge of 
liie Cuming County Jail for four years. After 
his time had expired at that, and in the spring 
of 1892, he rented the Elkhorn House, of which 
he is still proprietor. Both he and his estimable 
wife are well calculated to please the traveling 
public, being courteous and obliging to all. 



Since coming to the county our subject has 
seen great changes. The wild jirairie land of 
those early days has long since been trans- 
formed into one of the most productive grain 
and corn fields of the famous Elkhorn Valley. 
The wild game has long since disappeared, with 
the departure of the red man, who pitched his 
tejiee along the eastern Nebi'aska streams in 
our subject's boyhood days. The unbridged 
streams of the "sixties" and " seventies " are 
now all spanned with wood and iron structures, 
even down to the smallest rivulet. Again, Mr. 
Neligh was in Fremont when there was but 
one log trading house, which supplied the 
California and Pike's Peak emigrants and the 
Pawnee Indian tribe. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neligh are the parents of four 
children. One died in infancy; P>essie, born 
August 5, 1881; Harvey M., born January 1(3, 
1S8T, and died March 9, 1892, of diphtheria, 
and Gordon L., born January 3, 1889. 

Mr. Neligh in his political alRliations is iden- 
tified with the Democratic party. 



W'lLLIAM H. MEAD, who resides at 40-1 
East Tenth street, Fremont, has been 
a resident of the city since 1884, and 
of the State since February 13, 1871. He is a 
native of Ealeigh, Wake County, North Caro- 
lina, born June 14, 1843, the son of William H. 
and Eliza (Young) Mead, natives of New York 
City and of French extraction. Our subject 
was one of a family of six children : Elizabeth, 
wife of David Dail}', of Saunders County, Ne- 
braska ; Fabius J., who has been one of the 
leading newspaper men of the country and 
now in the custom house at Chicago ; Charlotte 
C, wife of C. A. Hawkins, of Saunders county, 
Nebraska; William II.. our subject; Mary A., 
a resident of Fremont; Anna E., wife of F. E. 
Pird, of Fremont. He of whom we write this 
sketch was reared in his native state until he 
was ten years of age, when the family moved 
to Brooklyn, New York, where they spent 
some two 3'ears, removing from there to Loda, 



NOliTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Illinois, remained two yeare and from thence 
went to Kankakee, Illinois, where he remained 
until after he was married. He was educated 
in the pu.blic schools and attended select 
schools. 

He was united in marriage at Kankakee 
January S, 1S6S, to Frances E. Eggleston, who 
was born in Connecticut October 2, 1849, near 
"Watertown. She was the daughter of F. C. 
and Louisa Eggleston and of old Yankee stock. 
For some time prior to our subject's marriage 
he was employed in a printing office, keeping 
books and typesetting, but after his marriage 
he engaged at fanning in Illinois, tluvt being in 
1868, and contiued to follow agricultural pur- 
suits until 1871, when he came West, located 
in Saunders County, Xebraska, where he made 
his home until 1884, then removed to Fremont. 
Upon coming to Saunders Count}' he purchased 
one hundred and si.xty acres of land in the 
northeast part of that county, a little more 
than four miles south of Fremont. This was 
wild land which he has brought under a high 
state of cultivation and has added therto. until 
he possesses three hundred and twenty aci'es in 
one body. ITis is one of the finest improved 
farms in this pai't of Nebraska. It was in 1872 
that he began to make a specialty of raising 
Poland China hogs, bringing with him some of 
this stock when he came to the State. lie 
now has a fine stand of registered as well as 
others eligible to be registered. Some of his 
special families of these swine are of the most 
valuable, highly sought after, breeds. He has 
also just inti'oduced into his brood some of the 
celebrateil AVilks blood. He keeps on his farm 
from fifty to two hundred and fifty head, ship- 
ping from his brood to all states in the Union. 
He resides in the city of Fremont, but looks 
after his stock and agricultural interests in 
general himself. Mr. Mead is one of the lead- 
ing citizens of his county, ever taking an ac- 
tive part in the political issues of the (Ia\', and 
has been a member of the Board of County 
Commissioners since 1887 ; also served on the 
Board in Saunders County for a number of 



years. In his political choice he stands upon 
the Republican platform. He is a member of 
the Independent Onier of Odd Fellows, be- 
longing to Centennial Lodge No. 59, and is at 
present Noble Grand. He also belongs to 
Apollo Encampment No. 22, and Canton Fre- 
mont No. 4, as well as being a member of the 
Knights of Honor li. A. and Pawnee Tribe 
No. 11, Independent Order of Red Men. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mead are the parents of live 
children: Katie E., wife of F. L. Nesbit, 
hardware merchant of Fremont; Ida, Carrie, 
AVilliam II., and Edward A. — all at ho7iie ex- 
cept the first-born. Mi". Mead takes great in- 
terest in educational matters, and all in all, he 
is of that type of good citizens who are a bles- 
sing and a potent factor for the ujibuilding of 
any communit}'. 

PLINY M. MOODIE, county attorney, 
resiiiing at West Point, came to this 
j)laee in 1885. He was born in Orleans 
County, Vermont, May 29, 1859, the son of 
Robert Moodie, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, 
the mother's name being Augusta Blanchard, a 
native of Vermont. Our subject graduated at 
St. Johnsbury Academy in 1881, and spent 
three years at Williams College, and in 1885 
graduated at the University of Michigan, Ann 
Arbor, as Bachelor of Arts. Upon coining to 
West Point he remained for a time in the law 
office of M. McLaughlin, and in Jilay, 1886, 
was admitted to the Bar, since which time he 
has practiced his profession. In 1888 he was 
elected county attorney and re-elected in 1890 

He was united in marriage at West Point, 
January 1, 1888, to Emma D. Peterson, daugh- 
ter of Andrew M. Peterson. Mr. and Mrs- 
Moodie have had their home circle broken by 
the death of three children : Plin}' died in 
November, 1888 ; Mable V. died February 4, 
1892 ; and Mihlred died March 23, 1892. 

Mr. Moodie is a member of Jordan Lodge 
No. 26, of the Masonic Order. 

Politically, he is a Democrat, and is a young 
man of more than ordinary ability. 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



125 



AIU'NDEl. C. HULL, photograpliic artist 
at 331 and 333 Main street, lifts been a res- 
ident of Fremont for over twenty-two 
years. He is a native of Fort Wayne, Lidiana; 
born in 1846. \\q is the son of Jacob and Clar- 
issa (Arundel) Hull. Our subject was reared in 
three States, Indiana, New York and Minne- 
sota, and when four j'ears of age he with his 
mother moved to New York State, and after 
spending several years in that State they re- 
turned to Indiana, and when he was about thir- 
teen years of age they removed to IMinnesota, 
where he grew to manhood, receiving iijs edu- 
cation in the public schools. At the age of 
sixteen he commenced to learn the business at 
which he is now engaged and which has been 
iiis lite work. After having reached man's 
estate, he, in 1867, came to Omaha, stojiped a 
short time, and then went on to the mountains, 
visiting the territories of Colorado, Wyoming 
and Utah, in which countr\' he spent a vacation 
in gathering views and scenery work. He 
returned to Nebraska and again went back to 
tlie Kockies, remained two years, and then 
located at Fremont, claiming the honor of being 
the oldest photographer in Nebraska, and is 
now located on the same spot where he com- 
menced business. 

Miss Florence C. Miller, of Fi'cmont, Ne- 
l)raska. became his wife in 1873. Mrs. Hull is 
a native of Wisconsin, but has been a resident 
of Nebraska since 1861. Their home has been 
blessed by the birth of four children : Arundel 
M., Clyde C, Bessi-^ and ]\[ay. 



inclosed by a fence. He has living water upon 
his farm, which can hardly be over-rated for 
stock purposes. 

He of whom we write was born in N'ermont, 
in October, 18-10. He is the son of William 
and Anna Anderson, natives of Scotland, who 
had eight children, named as follows : James, 
John, Thomas (deceased), William, Jr., George, 
Jane (deceased), Julia and Isabell. 

He remained in the Green Mountain State 
until thirty-nine years of ago and then came to 
Nebraska, locating in Pebble township. Dodge 
County, where he bought eighty acres of partly 
improved land, upon which he remained until 
coming to Cuming County. 

His youtliful days were spent as most ISew 
England lads in his time were ; his education 
i)eing somewhat limited. He was married Oc- 
tober, 1865, to Mary L., daughter of Dana S. 
Graves and wife, natives of Vermont, whose 
four children were: Mary, Martha, Henry, 
Bets}' (deceased). 

Our subject and his estimable lady have a 
family of eleven children : James, George, Ed- 
son, Jane, AYilliam, Cora, Oney, John, Martha, 
Mary and Asa. 

Both our subject and his wife are acceptable 
members of the Methodist Episcopal (^hurch, 
and in jiolilics he favors the Ilepublican party. 

Upon coming to Nebraska he had but twenty 
dollars, which he paid out for a cow. His fam- 
ily consisted of a wife and seven children, and it 
goes without saying that they faced many 
winds of adversity. 



v\ 



7 1 LEI AM ANDEESON, Jli., who lives 
on Section 19, Cuming township, 
Cuming County, has been a resident 
of the place since the spring of 1585, when he 
jiurchased a half section of wild land, upon 
which he erected good buildings, provided a 
well with wind-power pumji, planted agroveof 
two acres, and an orchard of two hundred trees 
and now has one hundred and ninety acres 
under the plow, one hundred of which is 



JOHN BIIOMER, one of the pioneers of 
Nebraska, came to (^uming County in July, 
1857, and is now one of the prominent citi- 
zens of AVest Point. He was born in Meck- 
lenburg, Germany, April 22, 1824, where he 
grew to manhood and received his education. 
In December, 1840, he came to America on a 
sailing vessel, which landed in New York har- 
bor. From there he went to Chicago, and 
assisted in building the first railroad in Uli- 



126 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



nois — the Galena division of the North-Wes- 
tern system. After three years at such kind 
of worli, he rented a farm in Lake County, Illi- 
nois, and later came to Iowa, in search of land, 
but finding the chinch-bugs very numerous in 
that state lie was induced to cross the Missouri 
liiver at Omaha, and going b\' the way of 
Oakland, found his way into Cuming County, 
Nebraska. He made the journe}"^ in fourteen 
days, camping by the way side and sleeping in 
his wagon. lie finally squatted on a piece of 
land and when the homestead law was passed 
he made a claim on Section 22, townsliip 22, 
range 6, where he built a log-cabin 10x12 feet, 
and al once commenced to develop his farm. 
His nearest trading point at that time was 
Omaha, and he relates how that he hauled 
wheat to that city, by ox team, and sold it for 
thirty cents per bushel, but had to pay six dol- 
lars per one hundred for flour, owing to the 
scarcity of flouring mills. He was not unfre- 
quently away on such trips ten days at a time, 
which seemed a long time to his family, owing to 
the fact that the}' had but a few neighbors, and 
were surrounded b\' tribes of Indians, in all 
directions. Game was ver}' plenty and his gun 
did good service in the procuring of fresh meat. 

Of his domestic relations, it may be said 
that he was married in 1849, to Miss Mary 
Hooker. By this union five children were born: 
Mary, who married for her first husband 
Thomas II. Roeh, who died, after which she 
married E. P. Marquardt, of Cass County, 
Nebraska; Minnie, who died at the age of 
twenty -seven ; Emma, still single; Lena, and 
Thomas of West Point. 

In 1800, one Sabbath, while Mrs. Bromer was 
with her husband they discovered that fire was 
getting into their timber, and i\-hilo attempt- 
ing to keep it under control her husband heard 
her crv, whereupon he rushed back, to find her 
clothes on fire ; he tore them from her, but it 
was too late, as she was fatally burned. 

For his second wife our subject married 
Sophia Agert, bj' whom three children were 
born. 



Politicall}', our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party. When he came to the 
county it was unsettled and he has lived to see 
countless changes enacted; towns and cities 
have sprung into existence, while railroads 
cross and re-cross each other in almost every 
direction, with good markets established within 
a few miles of each other. 

Surely the eye of wonder is upon us, and to 
be an eye-witness is an honor. But to be more 
than an eye-witness is not to be accorded to all, 
but among the number may be enrolled the 
name of John Bromer, one of the pioneers of 
Cumine: County. 



EMOEY BRIGGS, ex-county judge of 
Cuming County, and at present justice 
of the peace at West Point, will form 
the subject of this biographical sketch. 

He was born in Lackawanna Count}', Fenns}!- 
vania, at Scranton, August 2G, 18-11. Pelog 
Briggs, the grandfather, with his brothers set- 
tled in Lackawanna Yalle\', in ISIS, and 
there raised their famil}'. The father, Jeremiah, 
was born in Dutchess County, New York, in 
1812. He married Miss Rosalinda Stanton, 
who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1S19. They 
reared a family of nine children : Charles, born 
November 26, 1837; and died in Cuming 
Count}', Nebraska, in 1880 ; Chancy, now resi- 
dent of Inde])endence, Iowa, born November 
27, 1839 ; Emory, born August 26, 1841 ; Han- 
nah, of Oakfield, Wisconsin, still single, born 
August 26, 1842; Jay, of Randolph, Nebraska, 
born in 1844 ; Alva, engaged on a steamer on 
Lake Michigan ; Jeremiah, a farmer of Oakfield, 
Wisconsin; Mary Ella, wife of James Titus, of 
California ; James, a lumber dealer, of Inde- 
pendence, Iowa. 

Mrs. Briggs, the mother of our subject, died 
in Scranton, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1854, 
after which I\[r. Briggs married Miss Harriett 
M. Stanton, November, 18.55, by which mar- 
riage two children were born ; Rasalinda, wife 
of James Stewart, of Randolph, Nebraska ; 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Alice, wife of Charles Large, of Oakliehl, Wis- 
consin. In 1857 the fatiier of our subject set- 
tled in Oaktiekl, Wisconsin, where he still re- 
sides, liis wife died in 1873. In politics he 
was a Whig, and at the time of the organiza- 
of the Republican party joined that, he being- 
(Apposed to the extension of slavery in the Ter- 
ritories. 

He of whom we write this notice, Kmory 
lii'iggs, was educated at Scranton, Pennsylva- 
nia, in the district schools, and attended the 
AVyoming Seminary. In April, 1861, at Presi- 
dent Lincoln's first call for volunteers to sup- 
press the Southern rebellion, Mr. Briggs enlisted 
in Company F, Eighth Volunteer Infantry, lie 
was mustered in at Ilarrisburg, and was sent to 
the Shenandoah Valley. While there his enlist- 
ment exjiired and he re-enlisted in Company 
•• Iv ", Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was 
uuislered into service in Philadelphia, August 
I'l. ISiJI. lie participated in the Peninsule 
lampaign, under General McCIellan, and whila 
on their way from Malvern Hill were cut off 
and had to retreat by the Peninsula. He 
remained in that department of the army until 
the close of the war, assisting in the capture of 
Xorfolk and Suffolk, and was with General 
lUitler when he made his famous raid on Ber- 
muda Hundred, and was with the Army of the 
James in its various movements. He was in 
the engagement between the Monitor and Mer- 
rimac. Ilis regiment did their last fighting 
at Lee's surrender. Mr. Briggs was mustei'ed 
out as Sergeant at Richmond, Virginia, Aug- 
ust, 1865, and returned to Scranton, Pennsylva- 
nia, remained one 3'ear and then came to West 
Point, Nebraska, where he has since resided. 
AVhen he was a young man he learned the car 
pentering trade and after coming . to West 
Point followed it for seven years. In 1808 he 
was elected as county commissioner of Cum- 
ing Count}', and in 1870 was appointed post- 
master of West Point. In 1871 he was elected 
justice of the peace, and has held the position 
almost continually ever since, with perhaps a 
single exception of one year, when he served as 



county judge. He has been police judge four 
years and city clerk two years. 

Politically he is a radical Republican, and is 
one of the charter members of Jorilan Lodge 
Xo. 27, A. F. & A. M.,and has held all of the 
offices from Master down. He is one of the 
officers of D. S. Crawford Post ly7,Grand Army, 
at West Point, and has tilled numerous other 
positions of honor and trust. 

In 1870 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Mary Beemer, of Lee County, Illinois, who was 
boin in that county in 18-f9. By this union there 
are ten children. The following are the names 
of the family in the order in which they were 
born : Elma (deceased), born January 20, 1871; 
Zeddie E., February 19, 1872, now clerk in the 
First National Bank at West Point; Zelmie E., 
March 23, 1873, a teacher ; Zettie E., Decem- 
ber 25, 1874, a teacher ; Zeno E.,' November 3, 
1S7C, a student; Zueva Bell, May 5, 1879; 
Zeland E., December 19, 1883; Ray Arland, 
December 20, 1885 ; Arline R., August 5, 1888; 
Mary Hellen, September 3, 1890. 



FRANK BRAZDA, of Section 25, Lincoln 
township, came to Cuming County in 
1SS4. He was born October U, 1839, in 
Bohemia, and came to America in October, 1865. 
He spent tlie first year working in the big woods 
of Wisconsin. He then went to Racine, en- 
tei-ed a factory where he was employed for 
eighteen years, when he came to Nebraska, and 
purchased a quarter section of land upon which 
he now lives. 

He was united in marriage in 18G7, to Cath- 
arine Pavel, by whom four children have been 
boi'n : Frank, Charles, Josephine and Stephen. 
Our subject's wife died in Wisconsin, August G, 
1881, and in April, 1882, he married Frances 
Hermes, by whom two children were born : 
Josejjh and Otto. 

Our subject's father and mother were natives 
of Boliemia. The mother died in her native 
land and tlie father came to Amei'ica two years 
after our subject, and died in Cuming County, 



^VOR THE A STERN XEBRA SKA . 



and was buried at the St. Charles Church 
cemeter}'. lie had been married three times, 
and had three children b}' his first wife ; Frank, 
our subject, by his second wife, and Josejih, by 
his last wife. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church. 

The improvements upon his farm are of an 
excellent character, including a <Tood story and 
one-half frame house, out-buildings, an orchard 
and a two-acre grove. 

Among the local offices held by our subject 
may be mentioned justice of the peace, super- 
visor and sciiool director. 



PETER BODEWIG, a farmer located on 
on Section 26, of Everett township, came 
to Dodge Count}', in the spring of 186S, 
in company with his parents. His father pur- 
chased the right of a homestead, consisting of 
eighty acres, for which he paid four hundred 
dollars. He improved the place and lived upon 
it for twelve years in the same house which he 
originally built, but at tiiat time erected a new 
farm house 22x30 feet and an L 14x20; he 
kept adding to his lands until he has five hun- 
dred and twenty acres, four hundred and eighty 
of which is under cultivation. He planted 
out groves and orchards and made other valu- 
able improvements. Our subject lived with his 
parents until he was twenty-eight years of age. 
He owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
upon which he built a residence, with all of the 
necessary out-buildings. He also provided a 
five-acre grove and an orchard of one hundred 
and fifty trees. He, too, like his father was a 
good financier, and added to his land until he 
had four hundred acres, three hundred and 
twenty of which is under cultivation. 

The subject of this notice was born in Prus- 
sia, Germany, February 18, 1859, the son of 
John and Mary Bodewig, whose six children 
were: Eva (deceased); Jacob, Peter, and an 
infant (deceased); Barbara and Cliristian. 



He remained in Germany until he was nine 
years of age, when his parents moved to this 
country and settled in Sterling, Hlinois, wjiere 
they remained two and one-half years and tliL-n 
moved to Dodge Count}', Nebraska. 

April 19, 1887, he was united in marriage to 
Katie, daughter of John and Antonetti ifueler, 
natives of Germany, whose eleven children 
were as follows : Antone (deceased) ; Peter, 
Maggie (deceased); Maggie, Nicholas, Katie, 
Christopher, Mary, Joseph, Anna and one who 
died in infancy. Our subject and his wife are 
the parents of three children: Thressa(deceased), 
born May 23, 1888 ; Anna, born May 22, 18S9 ; 
and Eva, born September 28, 1891. 

Politicall}', he of whom we write this notice 
affiliates with the Democratic party, and in 
religious matters his family are Ptoman Cath- 
olic. 



DANIEL B. CAREY, of the law firm of 
Gray ct Carey, of Fremont, will form 
the subject of this biographical notice. 
He is a native of Leeds County, Ontario, 
Canada, and was born January 14, 1864, the 
son of John and Ellen (Traynor) Carey, natives 
of New York and Canada, respectiveh', and of 
Irish descent. They are both living in Saun- 
ders County, Nebraska, at this time, he being a 
farmer by occupation. Our subject is the second 
child of a famil}' of nine childi-cn, and he was 
but seven years of age when his |>arents moved 
to Saunders County, Nebraska, where he grew 
to manhood. He received his education in tiie 
public schools, with a course at the Fremont 
Normal, and commenced to teach at the age of 
seventeen ; following that winters, and working 
on the farm during the summer montlis. Au- 
gust, 1887, he entered the office of Judge Gray 
as a law student, and was admitted to the bar 
May, 1S89, and as soon as he was admitted 
formed a partnersiiip with John W. C. Abbott, 
with whom he was associated about one year, 
and January, 1891, he formed a partnership 
with Judge Gray, with whom he is still asso- 



NOK THE A S TERN NEB HA SA'A . 



ciated. He is independent in politics, and was 
placed on the Independent ticket for county 
ultorney, in the autumn of 1S90. May 1, 
ISSl', he was commissioned as Second Lieuten- 
ant of Company E, First Regiment. Nebraska 
National Guards, resignini;' lii.s eommission 
April 22, ISHO. 

Mr. Carey is a single man and bills fair to 
occupy a position in the front ranks in the legal 
fraternity, in his count}' and state. His prac- 
tice is chiefly confined to the courts of Dodge, 
Douglas and Saunders counties. He is a hard 
student, possessed of a determination to go 
high up. In January, 1890, he was admitted 
to the Supreme Court. Since 1SS9 he has taught 
commei'cial law in the Fremont Business Col- 
ic oe. 



of David and Isabel (Johnson) Scott, both na- 
tives of Ireland. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
three children : John S., born November 2, 
1879 ; Roy J., born May 24, 1882, and Harry 
C. born October 15, 1888. 

Eliza J. (Scott) Cusack was born in Rhila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1858, and when five 
years of age accompanied her parents to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, where she remained 
until the date of her marriage. She is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. Cusack adheres to the principles of the 
Republican party. He is a member of the 
Masonic Order, belonging to the North Bend 
Lodge No. 119, A. F. & A. M. 



CHRISTOPHER CUSACK, cashier of the 
First National Bank, of North Bend, 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska, in 
company with his brother John. The\' en- 
gaged in railroading for four j'ears, one year 
of which was the honorable, but laborious call- 
ing, of a section hand. Our subject then went 
to Wyoming as a boss over Chinamen, on rail- 
road grades, at which he was engaged for 
three years and then came to North Bend, and 
in company with C. C. Kendall went into the 
grain and stock business for two years, when 
our subject sold and embarked in the lumber 
and implement business, which he continued in 
until 1886, when he sold out to his brother 
John, and accepted the position of cash''>r of 
the above named bank. 

Mr. Cusack was born in the county of llal- 
ton, Ontario, Canada, May 10, 1848. His par- 
ents were William and Ann (Simple) Cusack, 
both natives of Ireland. Our subject remained 
at home with his parents until 1869, and then 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. His educa- 
tion was received in the common schools of 
Canada. 

He was married in Dodge Count}', Novem- 
ber 29, 1877, to Miss Eliza J. Scott, daughter 



JOSIAH DICKERSON, a representative 
farmer of Union township, residing on 
Section 34. came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska, in February, 1865, and home- 
steaded eighty acres where he now lives. 
When he came to these parts his neighbors 
were few and far between, but the settlement 
was made ver}' rapidly. 

Mr. Dickerson was born in Essex County, New 
Jersey, January 5, 1834, the son of Charles and 
Theresa (Corby) Dickerson, who were both 
natives of New Jersey. Our subject remained 
at home until he reached the year of his 
majority. His parents were not wealth}', and 
so it became necessar\' for him to commence 
working at a very early age. Part of the time 
he worked at home and part of the time abroad. 

He was united in marriage in Dodge County, 
Nebraska, November 19, 1874, to Miss Ellen J. 
Stubbart, daughter of Matthew and Margaret 
Stubbart. The father was a native of Nova 
Scotia and her mother a native of Scotland ; 
but she was born in Pennsylvania in December, 
1852, and came to Dodge County, Nebraska, 
with her parents at an early day, remaining at 
home until the date of her marriage. 

]\[r. and Mrs. Dickerson are the parents of six 
children : Lillie E., Earnest (deceased), Eugene 



130 



A^ORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



deceased), Raymond, Margaret and Catliarine 
A. Our subject and liis wife are acceptable 
members of tlio Presbyterian Churcli, and in 
politics lie votes the Democratic ticket. 



WILLIAM EMLEY, the present efficient 
county cleric and recorder of Cuming 
County, will form tiie subject of this 
notice. The Emley family were pioneers in the 
county, arriving in June, 1805. Our subject 
was born in Ilichland County, Wisconsin. His 
parents were Joseph S. and Mary (Beard) Em- 
ley. The fatiier was a native of Oiiio, while 
tiie latter was born in \'irginia. The fatiier 
came to Cuming County in 1805, and took 
a homestead in Beemer townshij), wliere he 
made it his home until the time of his death, in 
February, 1888, his good wife having departed 
this life in 18SG. They were the parents of 
twelve children, eleven of whom are still living. 
They are as follows: Oliver, a farmer of Wis- 
ner township; Albert, of Cuming County, 
Nebraska ; John, of Cuming County, Nebraska; 
Samuel, of Holt County, Nebraslca ; Sylvester, 
a banker of Wisner ; Joseph H., banker at Wis- 
ner ; Matilda II., wife of C. E. Trow, of Wisner ; 
lllioda, wife of D. A. Huston, of Boyd County, 
Nebraska; Daniel C, deputy county clerk; 
Mary M., of Wisner, and William. 

Politically Mr. Emley affiliates with the 
Democratic ]iarty. 

He was educated in the common schools of 
Cuming County, and is principally a self-made 
man. In 1882 he engaged in the drug business, 
continuing until 1891. The same year he was 
nominated by the Democratic party and elected 
as count}' clerk and recorder, which office he 
still holds. He of whom we write is a j'oung 
man of more than ordinary abilit}', and by 
reason of his good character, industry and gen- 
eral manliness he ranks high in the county in 
which he has spent more than a cpuirter of a 
century of his life. He well remembers when 
eastern Nebraska had no railroads, and when 
AV^est Point had but ono-lialf do/.cii houses. 



GUSTAVUS G. GOING, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 33, Elkiiorn township, came to 
Dodge County in February, 1880, first 
locating at Fremont, where he first engaged at 
handling cattle, but subsequently purchased a 
restaurant, which he operated one year and 
then moved to the farm he now occupies. lie 
formed a partnershij) with L. M. Keene in tlie 
stock growing and feeding business, the style 
of the fii'm being" Keene iV: Going." The farm 
was partly imjn'oved to which he moved. lie 
i)uilt shedding for the cattle the size of which 
was 18.\02O feet. He also provided the place 
with a drive well and wind-power, and has a 
tank holding one hundred and twenty barrels 
of water. Their farm now contains thirteen 
liunilred and twent}' acres, one hundred (jf 
which is under the plow and the balance in 
pasture and meadow land. The place is made 
valuable b}' an orchard and beautiful gi'ove. 
They have been carr3'ingfrom one thousand to 
eigiit thousand sheep, and on an average 
two hundred head of cattle. They also make a 
specialty of Poland China hogs. 

Mr. Going is a native of Maine, where he 
was born J uly 1, 185(1, the son of William II. 
and Louisa Going, who were also natives of 
Maine and the parents of four children : Gusta- 
vus G., Ann E.. Myra (deceased) and Harrison 
15. Gustavus lived in the Lumber State until 
he was seventeen years of age, when he went 
aboard ship as a coaster, but after four weeks 
abandoned that, worketl on a farm one season 
and then again took the sea, going on a fishing 
voyage and followeil tiiis for two years. We 
ne.\t find him in his native State, engaged in 
working in the Proadwell Granite Company, 
where he remained one year and then went to 
Massachusetts where he was employed by the 
Magee Furnace Company, with whom lie 
worked eighteen months. Ilis next work was 
in the butcher business, in Maine, which he fol- 
lowed until he came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. 

In August, ISS-l, he was united in marriage 
to l\frs. Clara Hell, the dauijliler of John ami 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Ann E. "Waklron, natives of New York and tiie 
parents of eiglit cliildren, named as follows : 
Marion, Susan (deceased), Josephine S., Cla- 
rissa, Edward and Etiwin, twins ; Alice J. and 
John W. By her first husband two cliildren 
were born, Annie L. and Frank G. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He is a member of Fremont 
Lodge Xo. 59, of the Intlependent Order of 
Odd Fellows. 



HAKLOW GOFF, an enterprising farmer 
of Section 11, Platte township, came to 
Dodge County in the fall of 1809, when 
he located on the farm he now occupies, which 
at that time consisted of ninety-eight acres of 
wild land, upon which he built a house 17x24 
feet, w'ith two wings; a barn, .30x40 feet; 
planted out an artificial grove and two hundred 
a|)ple trees. At the time he came to the coun- 
try there was but one house between his house 
and Fremont. 

Our subject was born in Oneida County, New 
York, January 2, 1814. His parents were Jon- 
athan and Lydia Goif, natives of Connecticut, 
who reared a family of ten children, born and 
named in the following order: Henry, Harriett, 
llulda Hiram, Alonzo, Prudence, Harlow, Har- 
low (second), Lydia and Permelia. Of this 
large family of children, only two survive : our 
sui)ject and Lydia. 

Harlow lived with his parents in the Enii)ire 
State until he had reachad manhood, and even 
then lingered around the paternal home, oper- 
ating the farm and providing for his parents 
until their death. He held the farm until 
1807, when he sold and came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. He was united m marriage Janu- 
ary, 1834, to Mary Ann Knox, daughter of 
liussell and Olive Knox, natives of JLxssachu- 
setts, whose family of eleven children were as 
follows : Almira C, Mary A., Norman li., Har- 
lictt, William J., Charles, Amanda, an infant, 
I'bilena J., Marvin, and Hiram. Of this num- 
ber only four are living: Mary A., AVilliam J., 



Norman R. and Phiiena J. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of six children, four of 
whom still survive and all live in Nebraska. 
The children's names are: Henry K., one who 
died in infancy, Cluirles H. (deceased), Almira 
M., Herbert W., and Hiram J. ;Mr. and Mrs. 
Goff are members of the Congregational Church , 

Politically, he afliliates with the Prohibition 
|)arty. 

In reviewing this uuin's life two points are 
prominent in his career. First, he exhibited a 
manly spirit, which was prompted by the purest 
of motives, in the taking care of his parents, by 
remaining at home with them on the old home- 
stead in New York, until they had passed from 
the scenes of this life. Next, his coming West 
to tr}' the realities of a pioneer in the prairie 
country so unlike the well developed country in 
which he was reai'ed. 



FREDERICK HELMERICK, one of the 
early pioneers of Stanton County, will 
form the subject of this biographical 
notice. He was one of the very first white 
men to invade the territory' now known as 
Stanton Count\\ He came before the organi- 
zation of the count}', and before Nebi-aska had 
been admitted into the Union as a State. He 
was born in P>avaria, May 18, 1828, the son of 
Joseph and Josephine (Geisler) Helmerick. 

Our subject was educated in the common 
schools of his native country and came to 
America in 1845. lie crossed the ocean on a 
sail-boat, and was six weeks on the trip. He 
landed at New Yoi'k harbor, renuiined one 
month, and went from there to Tro\', Now 
York, where he worked at butchering. After 
two 3'ears he Avent to L^pper Canada, spent 
two years, and then shipped on board a 
Whaler, at New Bedford, Massachusetts, mak- 
ing four voyages, up to 1863. He then enlisted 
as a substitute, in the One Hundred and 
Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and after 
serving one year was transferred to the Navy 
and renuiined in service until the close of the 



132 



NORTHEASTEKN NEBRASKA. 



war. In 1866. be came to Nebraska, and took 
a homestead in the EiUhoni Valley, near Stan- 
ton, wiiere he llrst built a log-cabin, which was 
coveretl with dirt, and the Hoor was made of 
the same material. 

October 7, 1S68, he was united in marriage to 
Mary J. Grandy, the widow of Jessie D. How- 
ell, who enlisted in the Fourth Volunteer 
Infantry, of Vermont, being a member of Com- 
pany D. Thelast heard of him, he was wounded, 
had partially recovered and while on a march 
was lost track of and never since heard from. 
They were the parents of two children, Fredy J., 
who died at the age of thirty years, and 
Angenetta B., wife of Piiilip Ilelmerick. 

After our subject's marriage, they settled 
down on the farm and remained until 1880, 
when they moved into the thriving village of 
Stanton. 

In politics he is identified with the Repub- 
lican part}'. He was the first probate judge 
of Stanton count}', and held such office, 
up to 1876. lie was also justice of the peace 
two terms. He has always taken an active 
part in educational matters, and has held jiosi- 
tions on the school board. 

Financially, he has made a success of life, 
and now owns one hundred and ninety acres 
near Stanton, sixty of which is under cultiva- 
tion, lie also owns one block of the village 
plat of Stanton. 

•Great has been the transformation in the 
Elkliorn Valley since our subject first saw 
its virgin face. At that time there were many 
Indians in the valley, and all was new and wihl. 
Wild game was found in great abundance, 
inckuling elk and deer. Not like many another 
of the early settlers, the man of whom we write 
tiiis notice set his stakes to stay and buikl for 
himself a home, and has kept steadily on in 
that purpose until more than a quarter of a 
century has rolled away, and we now find him 
surrounded with the comforts of life, and 
respected by a large circle of friends, including 
the pioneer band who came to the Flkhorn 
\'allev when he tlid. 



GEORGE JAMES HASLAM, M. D., ]\I. 
R. C. S., of Fremont, occupies a promi- 
nent position among the medical fra- 
ternity. He was born near Manchester. Eng- 
land, in 1858, and entered the Manchester 
Grammar School in 1867, after gaining a free 
scholarship. In 1875, he entered the Man- 
chester School of Medicine — Owen's College, 
Victoria University. In 1880, he took the 
degree of Doctor of Medicine, with honors, 
at the Royal University at Dublin, Ireland ; a 
diploma was also gained from the Royal Col- 
lege of Surgeons, London. 

In 1881, our subject was appointed district 
surgeon to the Salford Hospital, a post he 
held for three years, during which time he 
conducted various physiological and chemical 
researches, under Professor Gamgee, in the 
Physiological Laboratories of the Owen's Col- 
lege. In 1882 he was appointed secretary to 
Section D, (Biology) of the British Associa- 
tion. He was successful in competing for the 
Piatt Physiological Scholarship, of the Victoria 
Universit}'. 

In 1883, he was reappointed secretary to 
Section D, of .the British Association, and was 
appointetl lecturer on piiysiology in the 
Owen's College, under Professor Gamgee; was 
also elected honorary physician to the Hulme 
Dispensary and Hospital, and it the same 
year elected to the associateship of the 
Owen's College, Victoria University. 

In 1887, he obtained the position of scientific 
investigator, in the Medical Clinic of the Uni- 
versity of Zuerich, Switzerland. Many of 
these investigations appearing in Eichhorsl's 
Te.xt-books of Medicine, a translation of which 
was published by AVooil ifc Company of New 
York. 

In 1888, the Doctor during the montli of 
October left Switzerland for France, where 
various liDspitals were visited for one year. 
During vacation time from 1885 to 1888, he 
visited the hospitals in Berne, Strassburg, 
Paris and Vienna, while he had pi'cviously 
been accpiainted with the chief hospitals of 





otXC'f^7A-^(^^^^^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



135 



Loiulon, Eilinburg, Oxford, Cumbridge and 
Liverpool. 

In September, 1SS9, be landed in New York 
City, and November 4, of the same year, 
commenced his practice in Fremont, Nebraska. 

In 1890, he published the " Anatomy of the 
Frog,' a work of four hundred and fifty pages, 
two hundred and sixty wood cuts and two 
colored plates. The work was founded on 
Ecker's original " Anatomic des Frosches" but 
enlarged to three times the former dimensions, 
by the addition of matter, the result of oi-iginal 
investigations. 

In 1891, the Doctor published "Notes on 
Acid Dyspepsia," in the " New York Medical 
Record," for March 21, 1891. It was during 
this year, 1891, that the Doctor joined with 
Dr. L. J. Abbott, of Fremont, in establishing 
the Fremont Hospital and Dispensary. Since 
March, 1S92, tin's institution has continued to 
develop uniler the sole management of Dr. 
Ilaslam. 

It will be seen by the foregoing that the 
gentleman whose name heads this sketch has 
been thoroughly schooled in many of the 
great institutions of learning in Europe, by 
reason of which he is a thorough master of his 
chosen profession. 



JERRY DENSLOW, JR., ranks among 
the very earliest pioneers of Dodge 
County. He first settled at Fontanelle, 
November 19, 1856. He accompanied his 
mother, she being a widow, and but eleven 
years of age at that time. His mother took a 
l)re-emption of one hundred and sixty acres. 
She provideil a claim shanty, and broke out ten 
acres, remained six months, and was taken sick 
and died, after which a guardian was appointed, 
and our subject went to work by the month on 
a farm, whicii ho followed for three years. He 
then bought three yoke of oxen and a wagon, 
and began freigiiling fromOmaha andNebraska 
City to Denver. Laramie and Fort Casper. He 
followed this for four years, having occasional 



trouble with the Indians. We next find him on 
three hundred and twenty acres of land near 
Fountanelle, but after one year sold his farm, 
bought mules and went to breaking prairie on 
another(juartersection which he had j)re-cmpted. 
Here he remained and ke])t adding to his land^ 
until he now owns one thousand and forty acres 
close to Hooper. Upon coming to Nebraska, 
this gentlemen started at the bottom i-ound of 
life's ladder, and was compelled to grind meal 
in a coffee mill to subsist upon. He is now in 
good circumstances, his farms being well culti- 
vated and imjiroved. 

Mr. Denslow was boiMi in Oneido County- 
New York, May 7, 18-li, the son of Jerry and 
Amanda (Knight) Denslow, of the Empire 
State, whose three children were named: Ra- 
chel, Mahala and Jerry. Jerry remained in 
New York until he was eleven years of age. 

He was united in marriage, April, 1SG9, to 
Aurelia Harwood, of Maine. For his second 
wife, August 20, 1878, he married Anna 
M. Sutton, whose five children were : Albert G., 
Anna, Sai-ah, William and Francis. 

By Mr. Denslow's first marriage, one child 
was born: J. A. Denslow, born May 1,1870. 
By his second marriage three children were 
born : May, Novembers, 1881; Nina, A|>ril 12, 
1883, Lloyd, November 7, 188i. 

Our subject has prospered linancially, 
to a good degree, and now owns six hundred and 
forty acres of land in Stanton County, and three 
hundred and fifty-six acres in Merr-ick County, 
besides his property in Dodge County, and is 
President of the Dodge County Bank at 
Hooper. In the fall of 1892 was nominated on. 
the prohibition ticket for State treasurer. 

He is a member of Hooper Lodge, No. 72, 
F. & A. M., Signet Chapter No. 8, and com- 
niandrv No. 9. of I'remont. 



WALTER A. KING, proprietor of the 
" Old lieliable " livery barn at Scrib- 
ner, who engaged in business at that 
point in 1880 will form the .subject of thi.j 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



notice. His first stable was a small board 
affair, built for six horses. The same was 
located on Main street. He remained there 
about one year and then bought the Star Liv- 
ery Barn and run that until June 20, 1887, 
when he sold his business to Seidel Bros., after 
which he started West to look up a location for 
the livery business, and went as far as the 
Black Hills; but, not finding anything to suit 
him, returned and started a livery barn at 
Hooper, remaining in business for about eight 
months, when he took a partner in witii him, 
which partnership continued until February 19, 
1890, when lie sold out his share of the business 
to his partner and returned to Scribner, where 
he bought his present business, taking possess- 
ion June 20, 1S90. The building which he 
occupies is a frame structure one liundred feet 
square and was erecteil by "William H. Kerkow 
in 1885. 

Our subject came to Dodge Countv February, 
19, 1879. He rented a farm one year before 
going into the livery business. 

He is a native of Illinois, born in 1847. 

Politically, he alliliates with the Democratic 
party, and has held numerous local offices. He 
is a member of the Jlasonic fraternit}^ belong- 
ing to Lodge No. 132, A.F. ct A. M., of whicii 
he is a charter membcu". 

He was united in marriage October 16, 1808, 
to Ann Cohee, born in Menard County, Illi- 
nois, May 5, 1851. She is a member of the 
Alethodist Episcopal Church. ]\lr. and Mrs. 
King are tlie parents of four children : Dora 
E., born in 1873; Walter II., born in 1877; 
Lulu A., born in 1881, and Ilobert II., born in 
188-1. 

THOMAS W. LYMAN, of Hooper, Dodge 
County, came to Nebraska in the fall of 
1870. At first he taught school and 
clerked in a store at Fremont, and also worked 
in the count}' treasurer's office. He claimed a 
residence at Fremont about eight years, but 
was engaged on Government surveys about 
two years of this lime in the western part of 



the State. He then went to Central City, Mer- 
rick County, where he engaged in the mercan- 
tile business for four years, and then removed 
to Hooper, where he engaged in the banking 
business, which he has followed for the past ten 
3'ears. It may be said in this connection that 
Mr. Lyman came to Dodge County a poor man, 
but by perseverance and toil has succeeded in 
gaining a competency. 

Mr. Lyman was born in Susquehanna 
County, Pennsylvania, the son of John and 
Sara!) Lyman, natives of Vermont and New 
York respectively. They were the jiarents of 
eight children, named as follows: G. Clark 
(deceased), Marvin, Abigal, James, Charles 
(killed in 1803), Anna (deceased), T. W. (our 
snbject) and John. 

Our subject remained in the Keystone State 
until he was twentv-five years of age and then 
came to Nebraska. His early advantages for 
an education were only fair. In the month of 
August, 186i, he enlisted in Company E of the 
Ninth Pennsylvania Cavahw, and was in Gen- 
eral Kilpatrick's command with Sherman when 
he made his campaign to Savannah, Cieorgia. 
During this march they were in engagements 
near Griswoldvillc, Georgia, where lie was 
wounded and sent to the hospital at Beaufort. 
South Carolina; after seven months spent in 
different hospitals he was discharged. 

Mr. Lyman was united in marriage, Januar}', 
1878, to Mary Hills, daughter of James Hills, 
a native of Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. James 
Hills had five children: Ella, Ada, Caroline, 
Mary, and J. A. W. (deceased). 

Our subject and his wife are the j)arentsof 
two children: Charles IL, born July 2, 1880; 
Mary Edgarda, born November 2, 1884. 



JAMES J. LOWRY has been a resident of 
Fremont since an autumn day in 1878. 
He is a native of Orange County, New 
York, born August 31, 1854. He is the son of 
William and Ellen (Hayes) Lowry, who were 
natives of West Chester, England, where the_v 



Northeastern Nebraska. 



ist 



were united in marriage. They came to 
America and settled in New York ('ity, re- 
mained for a time and tlien located at New- 
i)erg, on tiie Hudson River, closing llieir eyes 
from the scenes of this earth ten miles from 
that place, their remains being deposited at 
New Iliiiley. Tiie father died in 1880, the 
mother surviving until September, 1889. The 
father was a mechanic in the blacksmith Hue. 
lie and his good wife wei-e the parents of nine 
childi'cn. four of whom are deceased. The 
names of tiie deceased are: Ellen, Thomas, 
Annie and William. Those living are: Robert, 
a resident of Kew York City ; Sarah Walkili. 
of Ulster County, Xew York; J. J., our sub- 
ject; William, a resident of Leads City, South 
Dakota; Anna, wife of Anilrew Johnson, of 
Chicago. 

Our subject was educated in the jKiblic 
schools and learned the blacksniithing trade 
with his father. At the age of eight years he 
commenced to do for himself. The first five 
years he worked for a man in the furniture 
business at New'berg, after which he engaged 
with his father and was with him for three 
years, and then went to Janesville, Wisconsin, 
where he remained a little over a year and re- 
turned to the Empire State. He remained a 
short time and then went to Canada. After 
live months, he once more returned to Newberg 
and started a shoj), and in 1878 came to West 
I'oint. He went immediately from there to 
Fremont, Nebraska. He brought with him a 
capital of ten dollars, u])on which he soon after 
opened a shop and continued to operate the 
same until September 28, 1891. He com- 
menced business with J. D. Markey, with 
wiiom he was associated all tlirougii his busi- 
ness cai'eer. In 1887 they erecteil a line two- 
story brick shop on the corner of Fourth and 
"F" streets. In connection with his other 
business he was connected with his partner in 
the ranch and cattle business, commencing the 
same in 1885, in Knox County, Nebraska, 
where tliey own a ranch of three hundred and 
tweiitv acres in one tract, and one hundred and 



si.\ty in another. The}' own property in Pierce 
County, Saunders Count}', at Cedar Rlutfs and 
a piece of property in Dodge County, some- 
thing over twentv-eight thousand dollars" 
worth in Fremont, while personall}' i\rr. Lowry 
has a fine frame residence on the corner of 
Eighth and '• 1 " streets, wiiicli he erected in 
18S1, aside from other property in the city. 
He has done much toward the u[)building of 
Nebraska and is full of public enterprise. 

Politically he is a stanch Republican, and 
has been a member of the City Council six 
years and president of the Poard four years, 
chief of the Fire Department two 3'eai's, and a 
member of the Fire Depai'tment twelve years. 
Pie was instrumental in raising the money for 
fitting up the Fire Department rooms, whicii 
are a credit to the place. He has been fiillv 
appreciated b\' his fellow townsmen. 

lie was united in mari-iage April 12, 187i<, to 
Mary E. Johnson, daughter of M. S. and Cath- 
arine (Harris) Wollen, natives of Indiana and 
Kentucky. The father died March, 1891, anil 
the mother is still living, residing as Ashland, 
Nebraska. They reared a family of ten chil- 
dren: William, a resident of Wee))ing Water, 
Nebraska ; James, a resident of Wahoo, Ne- 
braska; Elias, a resident of Ashland, Nebraska ; 
John, a resident of Peatrice, Nebraska ; Alary, 
wife of our subject; Alice, wife of A. II. 
Tockey, a resident of Peatrice; Pelle, v.-ife of 
A. C. Smith, of Oakland, California ; (ieorge, 
a resident of Ashland, Nebraska; Charles, a 
resident of Ashland, Nebraska; Ida, wife of 
I'>yron Moore, of Stanbury, Missouri. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lowry have a family of six 
children: Charles, born in 187-1; William, born 
in 1875; Maud L., born in 1880; Nellie, born 
in 1883 ; Jessie P., born in 188G, and Grace E., 
born in 1888. Our subject and his wife were 
brought up in the Presbyterian and Methodist 
churches and are among Dodge (bounty's most 
respected people. 

In conclusion let it be said that the man 
whose name heads this sketch has made life a 
striking success since coming to Nebraska; 



138 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1 



having, as he did, but the raeagei' sum of 

ten dollars capital to begin with, he has 
forged a fortune by pounding Qerce blows upon 
his anvil and then judiciously investing the 
result of such labor, and too much praise can 
not be attached to such an honest toiler. 



CHARLES D. MAEK, treasurer and man- 
ager of the Fremont Foundry and 
ilacliine Company (a iiistor\' of whicii 
will be found elsewhere in this work), will form 
tiie subject of this biographical notice. Having 
been a resident of Fremont since 1870. he has 
been closely identified witli tlie growth and 
prosperity of the place. 

Wv. Marr is a native of Jackson County, 
Iowa, where he was born February 21, 1850. 
He is the son of Solomon and Bridget (Haney) 
Marr. and of Scotch-Irish extraction. His 
])arents are both deceased. He grew to man- 
hood in the Ilawkeye State, receiving his edu- 
cation under its most excellent public school 
system. He has sustained himself by his own 
efforts since he Avas fourteen years of age. He 
partially learned the blacksmith's trade, but at 
tiie age of seventeen commenced teaching 
school, which seemed more to his liking. Tiiis 
iionorable profession he followed until coming 
into Nebraska, in 1876, when he located at 
Fremont, engaging as a salesman in the dry 
goods business, then as a book-keeper, which he 
followed for six years. The next year he 
spent as the express agent at Fremont, and for 
two years following that was book-keeper for 
the Crowd Lumber Yard, after which he en- 
gaged in his present business. He owns stock 
in the Fremont Brewery, also in the Fremont 
Warehouse and Factory Com pan}'. He pos- 
sesses a tract of land, in Cuming Count\', of one 
iiundred and twenty acres, forty acres in Butler 
County, besides considerable property in Fre- 
mont aside that already named. His residence 
is located on tlu; coi'ner of Fourth and Irving 
Avenue. 



Politically, he affiliates with the Republican 
part}'. Socially he is a member of Triumph 
Lodge No. 32, of Knights of P^'thias Order, also 
of the Business Men's Club of Fremont, as well 
as of the Board of Trade, he being a member 
of the executive committee. 

He was united in marriage, September 8 
1880, to Miss Lizzie Monroe, a native of She- 
bo\'gan, Wisconsin, the daughter of James and 
Mary Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. Marr have been 
cheered on life's journey b\' ihe advent of five 
children: Zacie M., Charles J., Jennie, Helen, 
and Madaline. 

Our subject's wife is a consistent member of 
the Roman Catholic Church. 



JESSE A. NASON, an old settler and busi. 
ness man of Scribner, found his way to 
Nebraska during the month of October, 
1808, and settled near West Point on a 
homesteaii.and there remained until 1881, when 
he sold his farm and went to the village, and 
there engaged as a jeweler. August 1, 1882, 
he came to Scribner and engaged in his present 
business, that of watchmaker. 

Our subject was born in Gorhani. iMaine, 
October 2, 1819, the son of Reuben Nasson, of 
New Hampshire, who was born April 7, 1778, 
of English-Scotch descent. The family came 
to America and settled in Kittery, Maine, in 
1630. The name Nason is found in the old 
" Doomsday Book." The father of our subject 
graduated from Harvartl University in 18H2. 
and was a Congregational minister and \w\w- 
cipal of Gorham Academy, near Portland, 
Maine, of which he had charge from ISOG until 
1834- continuously, e.xcept a short time during 
the War of 1812. He went to Clarkson, New 
York State, in 1834, where he died a year later. 
His wife, Martha Coflin, was born in Saco, 
Maine, in 1786. She was a mother of seven 
children — three daughters and four sons, our 
subject being the fourth. She died in Mount 
Pleasant, Iowa, in 1870. The j)arents were 



NORTHEASTERM NEBRASKA. 



139 



and highly I'esjjectcd people. 

Our subject was united in marria<rc August 
H>, 1854-. to Anna M. Coldren, born in Xcnia, 
Ohio. March 2<1, 1S2(). By this marriage union 
there lias been three chiklren boi-n : Elmor A., 
AValter R. and Appiiia S. Mrs. Nason had 
l)een |)revioush' mai'ried, by which mariMage 
slie had one child, Irw.in B. Doolittle, whose 
father died in Illinois. This son now lives in 
Colfax, Washington. 

Mr. Xason received his education at (rorham 
Academy and Bowdoin College, studying civil 
engineering. In 1838 he immigrated to Taze- 
well County, Illinois, and engaged in civil en- 
gineering and teaching. During the Folic and 
Dallas campaign our subject ran a newspaper 
in Tremont, Illinois, and enlisted in the Fourth 
Illinois Eegiment, under Colonel Baker, in 
ISiG, and was under '' Zacli" Taylor, and trans- 
ferred to General Scott's Command, participat- 
ing in the battles of Yera Cruz and Cerro 
(lordo. After receiving liis discharge as a sol- 
dier in the Mexican War, in 1847, he returned 
to his home in Illinois. For the services thus 
rendered he receives a pension. 

Politically, Mr. Nason is a Democrat, and 
has held the office of justice of the ]ieace since 
1SS9, and was apjjointed postmaster under 
Cleveland, which office he held under his ad- 
ministration. He is a member of Scribner 
Lodge No. l;i2, A. F. & A. M., of which he was 
a charter member. He was made a Mason in 
1850, uniting with that order in Pekin, Illinois. 
He was one of the count\^ commissioners of 
Cuming County, and county surve^'or, as well 
as a member of the village council of Scribner. 



LIEUTENANT JAMES S. ROBINSON, 
one of the early settlers of Stanton 
County and a soldier of good record in 
the Civil War, was born in Clinton County , Indi- 
ana, October 9, 1831. William Robinson, the 
grandfather, was born in Virginia, and became 
one of the early settlers of Hardin Countv, 



Kentucky. He was married to Sarah Miller, a 
daughter of a soldier of the Revolutionaiy War. 
He was in the Warof 1812. 

William Robinson, the father of our subject, 
was the second of eleven children, and was 
l)orn in Hardin County, Kentucky, October 23, 
1807. He married iliss Rebecca Richardson, 
daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Richardson, 
who were Virginia slock and probably Scotch 
descent. William Robinson settled with his fam- 
ily in Indiana in 1830. By his marriage union 
tlie following children were born, six of whom 
lived to be adults: James S., of this sketch; 
Silas, of Saybrook, Illinois ; Sarah J., wife of 
Thomas Ewing, of Richmond County, Wiscon- 
sin ; Benjamin F., who in the time of the Civil 
War enlisted in the Eleventh Wisconsin Infan- 
try and died at Batesville, Arkansas; ]\Iorgan 
M., who enlisted in the Sixth Wisconsin Heavy 
Artillery, is now a resident of Richland 
County, AVisconsin ; Mary JL., wife of John 
Booher, of Missouri; Nancy A., wlio married 
M. C. Bobb. She is now deceased. 

In 1850 our subject's parents moved to 
Richland County, Wisconsin, where they spent 
the remainder of their days. They were mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church, he being an 
elder of the same. 

Lieutenant Robinson, of this sketch, wms edu- 
cated in the common schools of Indiana and 
Wisconsin, and at Richland City Institute, 
Wisconsin. September 12, 18G1, he enlisted 
as a member of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infan- 
try', and belonged to Comjxany " D ". lie was 
mustered into service at Madison, and went 
with the regiment to Victoria, Missouri, where 
they wintered. In the spring of 18H2 he was 
jilaced in (Jeneral Steeles' Brigade, and was after 
the bushwhacker Price. Subsequently he was 
sent to Cairo, Illinois, and there joined General 
U. S. Grant's Command, and was sent to Helena, 
Arkansas, where they remained until the Vicks- 
burg campaign. After the Siege of A'icksbui-g, 
they were sent to New Orleans, and from thence 
to Rio Grande and Matagorda Bay, Texas, 
where the regiment wintered. Our subject, by 



140 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



reason of re-enlistment, had a furlough and 
came home, joining' his regiment at Memphis, 
Tennessee. Tliey went down the river to New 
Orleans ; around to i\[obile, and after the cap- 
ture of Blakely and Spanish Fort tiiey were 
sent to Montgomery, Alabama, where they 
remained the greater part of tiie summer of 
1805. Our subject participated in the following 
battles : Spanish Fort, Champion Hills, Blake- 
ic}-, Vicksburgh, Jackson, Arkansas Post, Le 
Esperanze, MiJliken's Bend, Chickasaw ]>ayou. 
Black lliver Bi'idge, where Ik! was wounded in 
the leg. lie 'was also at Fort Gibson, Fort 
Morgan, Kane lliver, Mansfield and Mobile. 
Being mustered out at the last named ]ilace as 
lieutenant, in the summer of 1865. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Rich- 
land County, Wisconsin, in 1S.")2, to Miss Mar- 
garet E. Ewing, (lauyhter of George and 
Ma'iala Pawing. J5y this union there are five 
living children : Ada, wife of W. T. McFarland, 
postmaster of Stanton ; James V., of Stanton ; 
Louie L., Frederick AV. and Edith E. 

Mr. Ilobinson is a charter member of the 
Grand Army of the Kepublic Post at Stanton, 
and is also a member of the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. Both he and his wife are 
members of the Congregational Church. 

Politically, he votes with the Republican 
party, and has held the office of deputy county 
clerk for eight j'ears. 

In 1870 Mr. Eobinson, who had followed 
school teaching for a number of years, came to 
Stanton County and took a homestead of one 
hundred and sixt}' acres, and still continued to 
follow teaching. He improved his homestead 
and remained thereon until 1881, and then 
moved into the village of Stanton, where he 
resides. 

CIJAP.LES R. SCIIAEFFEK, proprietor 
of the Platte River Zeituvg of Fremont, 
Nebraska, was born in Toledo, Ohio, 
September 15, 1801, the son of Charles Conrad 
and Caroline (Mayer) Schaeifer, natives of 
German}', who emigrated to America some time 



in the fifties; settled in Chicago for a time, 
when he helped found the Illinois State Z<'('<v/)r/ 
I.'e afterward went to Milwaukee, where lie 
was connected with the ^Milwaukee Ilcndd, 
after which he went to Omaha and started the 
lirst (lerman paper in that place. lie has for 
a number of years lived a retired life. He pos- 
sessed more than ordinary journalistic ability. 
Ml', and Mrs. C. C. Schaeifer are the parents of 
three children : Amelia, wife of O. K. Xelson, 
deputy cit}' comptroller of Omaha at the time 
of his death, April 29, 1892; Charles R., sub 
ject of this sketch, and Carrie, wife of James 
Tannehill. Mrs. Schaeffer. mother of our sub- 
ject, died in Chicago in 1S<>5. 

The subject proper of this notice was edu- 
cated in Chicago and Omaha, receiving a liberal 
education and learned his trade in his father's 
otiice in Omaha. In 1881 he came to Fremont 
and took charge of the ychraska Pioneer anil 
afterwards purchased the Zcituiuj oi Dr. E. .1. 
F. Burgh and Xerkow. who established the 
paper. 

Mr. Schaeifer was united in marriage in Fre- 
mont in 1882, to Miss Mary Prieskorn, a native 
of Germany. To them two children have been 
born : Carrie and Mollie. 

Politicalh', he runs his paper in the interest 
of Democracy, and is a strong organ for that 
party all over Nebraska. 

lie is a member of the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, and is an active member of 
the Turnverein and Mannei'chor societies ; also 
a director of the Mechanics Hose Company, 
as well as an honored member of the Indepeiul- 
ent order of Odd Fellows of Omaha. 



ISAIAH G. SLOCUM, a farmer living on 
Section 9, Bancroft township, came to 
Cuming County in Februarx', 188(>, and lo- 
cated on Section 1-1, of Cleveland township, 
where he liought eighty acres of wild land, 
upon which he placed good improvements, in- 
cluding substantial l)uildings, a gi'ove and an 
orchard of one Inuulrcd trees. He added to 



NORTHEASTERN' NEBRASKA. 



141 



liis land until ho luul two liundred acres, all 
under plow, and surrounded by a good fence. 
He remained there six years, when lie sold and 
bought liis present j)lace consisting of a half 
Section of partly improved land. 

Isaiah was born in Bureau County, Illinois, 
January, ISGO, the son of George and Mary 
Slocum, natives of Illinois, whose eight chil- 
dren were as follows: Lawrence (deceased), 
Anna (deceased), Milton (deceased), Isaiah G., 
Charles (deceased), George, Andy (deceased), 
Lottie (deceased). 

Our subject remained in Illinois until ten 
years of age, when his parents removed to 
Monona Count}', Iowa, where the father enga- 
ged in farming. His parents are now both 
deceased. 

He was united in marriage February 1SS5, 
to Xellie, daughter of William and Margaret 
Brown. They were natives of New York and 
had three children : Nellie. Pearl and Albert. 

Mr. and Mrs. Slocum are the parents of four 
children : Roy, born December, 1885 ; Lena, 
born September, ISSV; Floy, August, 1889; Ora, 
July, 1691. 

Mr. Slocum is identified with the Independ- 
ent political part}', and has held the office of 
county supervisor three terms. He is a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Pythias order and bears 
the respect of the entire communit\'. 



CHARLES A. SMITH, of Fremont, one 
of the pioneers of this section of Ne- 
braska, dates his birth from September 
5, 1.S29, in Wyoming Count}', Pennsylvania. 
His parents were Tilton and Catherine (Draper) 
gmith. Our subject resided on a farm until 
1855, and received his education in the old log 
school-house, co-incident with his school days. 
When he was twenty-one years of age he 
attended Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, for 
two winters, and in J85G came to Nebraska and 
located at Fremont. He entered land on 
Section 15, township 17, range 8. This he 
placed under good cultivation and retained until 



1SS7. In the autumn of 1858 he purchased 
the claim to one hundred and sixty aci'es adjoin- 
ing his original tract, and upon this last-nauied 
land he located his home. It is just outside of 
tlio city limits of Fremont, to the northwest, 
and is indeed a home of beauty. In ISGT he 
erected a small frame residence at that pfjint 
for tenants. 

In the S|)ring of 1857 he, in company with 
his brother, broke about fifty acres and placed 
it under fence, it being the first farm fenced in 
this part of the County, the same being con- 
structed of Cottonwood I'ails, nailed to cedar 
posts. During the first two years he lived in 
the county he was engaged in the mercantile 
business with his brothers, J. G. and J. T. The 
first crop of corn they put in was in the spring 
of 1857 ; this was done by taking an ax, cutting 
a hole in the sod, and dropping in the corn, 
frotn which they harvested a bountiful crop. 
The first abode in which they lived to call their 
own was erected by digging a hole in the 
ground four feet deep, measuring ten by four- 
teen in area. On the edge of the bank they 
laid poles, to which rafters were attached, and 
the same covered with cottonwood boards, 
prairie grass and dirt. They cut steps into the 
ground, by means of which they had easy 
access to their "dug-out." This was situated 
just south of the Congregational Church of 
to-day. Their furniture was also of that fiexi- 
ble quality of lumber known as cottonwood, 
fashioned in the rudest manner. Pillows were 
provided by hay. 

Our subject remained in this County until 
the fall of 1858, when he returned to Pennsyl- 
vania on account of weak eyes. He remained 
until the spring of lSG-1, having his eyes treated 
during those years. He then returned to Fre- 
mont and assisted his brothers two years as 
clerk, after which he engaged in the drug busi- 
ness with Dr. J. 11. Crabbs, and subsequently 
bought his partner out and conducted the 
business until 1874, giving his whole attention 
to his farm thereafter. In 1870 he erected a 
fine brick residence at a cost of four thousand 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



dollars. He has now retired from active 
business life. Politicalh', he aiRliates with the 
Kcpuhlican j^arty. He was postmaster at Fre- 
mont for one year, resij^ning in favor of II. O. 
I'aync. 

lie was married Juno, 1870, to Mrs. Sylvia 
(Cotterell) Hart. Mr. and Mrs. Smilli are among 
the representative people of Dodge County. 



FRED W. VAUGHAX, a member of the 
Fremont Bar, and one of the leading 
attorneys of Dodge County, has l)een a 
resident since February, 1882. 

lie is a native of Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, 
born December 9, 18.58. lie is tlie son of E. 
R. and Jessie II. (Hinman) \'auglian, of Eng- 
lish and Scotch-Irish descent. The parents are 
botii residents of Fremont at this writing. 
Fred was reared to farm life in the Key- 
stone State, where he remained until he was 
nineteen years of age, when he came West to 
Xorth Platte, Nebraska, and read law with 
Beacii I. Ilinman, his uncle, and who is one of 
the prominent attorneys of that part of the 
country. Mr. Vaiighan was admitted to the 
Bar at North Platte, in September, 1881. and 
there practiced his chosen profession until Feb- 
ruary, 1882, when he took up his residence in 
Fremont, since which time he has taken an 
active interest in the success of the Democratic 
party, and has held the office of police judge 
one year. 

He belongs to Fremont Lodge No. 15, A. F. 
& A. M.; Signet Chapter No. 8; Mt. Tabor 
Comrnandery No. 9, and is also as far ad- 
vanced in Masonry as the Scottish Rites. He 
is at present generalissimo of Mt. Tabor Com- 
mandery. He is a leading attorney of Fremont, 
stands high in the Bar of Dodge County, and is 
one of the progressive young men of this section 
of Nebraska. 

The father of our subject, Evander R. 
Vaughan, was born in Pennsylvania October 
24, 1819, and was tliere reared and spent most 
of his life. He turned his attention to agricul- 



tural pursuits principally, and after coming to 
Nebraska in 1882 engaged in the furniture 
business, which he followed until May, 1890, at 
Fremont, since which time he has retired from 
tiie activities of life. He was married in 18.57, 
to Jessie E. Ilinman, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania Se)*tember 1,1831. They are the par- 
ents of but one child, Fred W. 

The grandfather of our subject was Elias 
Vaughan, of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, son 
of Richard Vaughan, who was a soldier in the 
Revolutionary War. Our subject as well as his 
parents aremembersof the Presbyterian Church, 
being earnest workers for the upbuilding of 
Christianity. Their home is located on Broad 
and Thirteenth streets. The mother of our sub- 
ject is a direct descendant of James York, who 
came from England, located at Boston and 
finally went to Stonington. He was the great 
grandsire of Amos York, who was the great 
grandsire of Mrs. Vaughan. Amos was born 
about 1730, and married Lucretia Miner, daugh- 
ter of Mannassa Miner. She was born in Stoning- 
ton. Connecticut, in February, 1730. The Miner 
family are said to have belonged to the ro3'al 
iiouse of Prussia, who were strict Protestants, 
and possessed of considerable wealth. ]\Ian- 
nassa Miner gave his daughter, Mrs. York, a 
considerable tract of land, near the mouth of 
the Wyalusing creek. In 1773 Mr. York 
moved his family to Wyoming, Pennsylvania. 
The difficulties which culminated in the Revo- 
lutionary War soon commenced, and Mr. York 
was known to be an ardent Whig and an earn- 
est defender of his country's rights. He occu- 
pied a large tract of land and was the first 
object of the vengeance of the British and their 
hostile allies, the Indians. He was one of the 
first to locate at Wyalusing, and being pos- 
sessed of considerable wealth brought with him 
cattle, horses and sheep with which to stock 
his farm and had a good prospect of future en- 
joyment. His farm was a part of the "clear- 
ings " of the Moravians. About the middle of 
Februaj'y, 1777, there was a very severe snow- 
storm mantling the earth to a depth of several 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



feet, and during the evenings of tiie 12th and 
13th the family were visited by a worthless 
negro on some trifling errand. The family be- 
came alarmed and on tlie morning of the 14th 
Mr. Yoi'k rode to the old Mission village, where 
he entered the house of a supposed friend, but 
wiio i)roved to be an enem}'. About forty or 
lifty Indiiins, led by two Pennsylvania white 
Tories (one of whom was Parshall Terr}^, 
Jr.), as soon as they iliscovered Mr. Yoi-k 
pounced upon iiira, taking him ])risoner, and 
fourteen of his captoi's repaired witii liim 
to his home for plunder, where they wei'e met 
by the family, who were awaiting the return 
of the husband and father. When they dis- 
covered him witli his escort they believed they 
were doomed to death, but they were told they 
would not be maltreated ; so after taking wliat 
[ilunder they could secure, and their prisoner, 
they departed, taking horses, cattle, sheep and 
clothing. This was the last the family ever 
saw of Jlr. York alive. He was taken a jour- 
ney indescribable for suffering and cold, as well 
as grief of mind; and let it be here said 
that while his suffering was great, those 
that remained, suffered in his memory 
indescribable. He was compelled to watch 
his flocks for the enemy. He was taken to 
Canada and subseciuently exchanged, but fell 
sick of a fever and died in nine days, before 
Mrs. York could reach him. He left a widow 
and eight children, a son seven years of age 
and a babe three weeks old. Mrs. York was 
present at the battle fought at Wyoming, 
where her son-in-law, Capt. Buck, was killed. 
.\s soon as it was safe, she set out with her 
cigiit childi'en and one gran<lchild for her home 
in Connecticut, and in 1785 returned to Wyalu- 
sing, where she died October 30, 1818, in the 
eighty-eighth year of her age. She was one of 
the veiy first and purest in the church work at 
Wyalusing, being of the Presbyterian faith. 
Her son, Mannassa Miner York, is the grand- 
sire of Mrs.Vaughan and the fathei- (.f Augusta 
IFinman, who is tiie motli(M' (if ^[rs. \'aughan, 
the mother of our sul)ject. 



HENRY G. WOLCOTT, of Fremont, is 
the pi'esent postmaster, and an old 
resident of the place, hence a sketch of 
his life IS ajipropriate in this connection : 

Mr. Wolcott was born in West Farmington. 
Ohio, August, 8, 18-41, the son of Josepii II. 
anil Ilebecca B. (Webb) Wolcott, both of wliom 
were natives of the Buckeye State. The Wol- 
cott family finds its oi'igin in England, and 
dates back in this country to Henry Wolcott, 
who came to America in ltl20, who it is sup- 
posed located in Connecticut or Massachusetts. 
Our subject's father died in Kansas in 1886, 
having been variously engaged in manufactur- 
ing enterprises throughout his life. Our sub- 
ject's mother is still living, and resides at Fre- 
mont, at the age of seventy -seven years. 
Henry G., of whom we write, received liis edu- 
cation in the pui)lic schools, and the Western 
Reserve Seminar}^ and commenced teaching 
when sixteen \' ears of. age. A 3'ear later he 
was ap])ointed deputy county clerk, which 
position he filled for two years, during his vaca- 
tion from school teaching. At the age of nine- 
teen he enlisted (April 27, 1861), in Company 
C, Nineteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for 
four months, after whicii he re-enlisted in Com- 
pany D, Second Ohio Calvalry, August 19, 
1861. He was the first person to enlist from 
Farmington, Oliio. He wore the loyal 
blue until June C, 1S6;3, when he was 
sent home, as it was supposed, to die. He served 
one year in the ranks, but was made second 
lieutenant in both companies to which he be- 
longed and commanded each company in battle. 
As soon as his health would permit, after his 
return home, he entered the pay de])artment ; 
his brother, who had lost a leg at Stone River, 
having been appointed paymaster of the army, 
he acted as clerk for him until March, 1868, 
wiien he came West to Fremont, Nebraska, and 
took a pre-emption of eighty acres, and a iiomc- 
stead of eightv acres. After two years, he re- 
turned to Ohio, spent the summer of 1872 on ids 
Nebraska farm, going back again for medical 
treatment in Ohio. In 187-1, lie located in Frc- 



144 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



mont to remain. In 1875, he was elected county 
superintendent of scliools and purchased the Fre- 
mont nurseries, which he operated until 189(1. 
In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at Fre- 
mont, wliich position lie so creditably fills at 
this time. Mr. Wolcott is an affable and 
courteous gentleman, in the true sense of the 
word. 

Politically, he is a liepublican, and was a 
member of the county board for two years — 
1886-87, being chairman of ihe same the last 
vear. In 18S8, he was placed in nomination 
by the Republican party for the office of state 
senator. He is a member of IMcPhcrson 
Post Xo. 4, Grand Army of the Republic. 
June 6, 18G6, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Jennie M. Nicholson, a native of "Winsted, 
(West) Connecticut. They are the parents of 
four children : Inez E., at home; M\'rtle, wife 
of E. E. Shackelford, of Fremont ; Howard P., 
at home, and Henry G., at home. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott are members of the 
Congregational Church. 



DK. (iEORGE CARL WEBER, physi- 
cian and surgeon at West Point, was 
born in Germany, October 7, 1817, the 
son of Dr. S. G. Weber, his mother's maiden 
name being Dora Wiess. He was educated in 
the college of Goettingen, Kingdom of Han- 
over and practiced for many years. His grand- 
father before him was a physician. Our sub- 
ject is of a family of three children. His 
brother William was Icilled in the War of 1848 
and Sophia died in Germany, in 1887. The 
father died at the extreme old age of one hun- 
dred and ten years, while iiisgood wife died in 
1832. 

The doctor was educated in the rniversity 
of Heidelberg, Germany, giadualiiig in 1845, 
and was soon after serving as an assistant sur- 
geon at Pottsdam, Prussia, where he remained 
three years. He then remained two 3'ears in 
Adelaide, Aiistraliii and was one of the fouiul 
CIS of tiic Citv of Adelaide. In 1851 he came 



to America, locatingat Cincinnati, Ohio, where 
he entei'ed the practice in partnership with 
Doctor Walker, which firm dissolved in 185(1, 
when he went to Chicago to practice medicine. 
In December, 1801, he enlisted in the Twelfth 
Illinois Cavalry, as a surgeon. He remained 
with the regiment until 1863, and was at the 
battle of Pea Ridge and was at Mound Cit\', 
Illinois, in the Marine Hospital, where lie 
remained until the latter part of 1865. In the 
early part of ISOG, he was ordered to Omaha, 
where he mustered out several regiments, and 
remained in that city until 1884, when he con- 
cludetl to try the profit of a stock ranchman. 
In the winter of 18SG his stock were caught 
in a fearful blizzard, and he lost everything he 
had. 

In IS'J'i heestai)lished iiimself in the practice 
of medicine at West Point. 

He was united in marriage at Columbus, 
Nebraska, in 1SC6, to Miss -Susan Buisnet, of 
French descent. 

The doctor is liberal in politics. He is a 
man of good address and is well posted in his 
chosen ])rofession. 



JACOB SCHWAB, a farmer of Hooper 
township, living on Section 4, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1861, with 
his parents, who located on Section 9, 
wliere the father took a homestead of one 
iiundred and sixty acres of wild land. Our 
subject was twenty years of age at the time. 
His father broke up the place, built a house 
16x20 feet, in which he lived for eight years. 
Jacob remained at home until twenty-one 
vears of age, when he took a homestead of 
one (piarter of a section, the date being 1864. 
He built a log-house 15x18 feet, in which he 
lived ten years, at the end of whiili time he 
erected a brick house, 17x34 feet, with a wing 
15x18 feet, and two stories high. He built a 
barn 16x34 feet, with shetlding on l)oth sides. 
He has since added to his land until he now 
has two Innulnd and thirl v two acres, one 



XOR THE A S TERN iXEHRA SKA . 



145 



huiulred and five of which are under the plow, 
and the balance in pasture and meadow land. 
1I(! has an artificial grove of two acres and an 
orchai'd of forty trees. He coniniencod in life 
without means u[)on which to o|)erate. 

Our subject was born in Germany, in March, 
1841, the son of Henry and Catharine Schwab, 
natives of (Terinany, who had four childiH^n : 
Catharine, Jacob, Adam and Henry, , I r. Jacob 
remained in Germany imtil he was fourteen 
years of age, and in 1855 came to Auierica. 
From New York harbor he went to Dodge 
County, Wisconsin, where the family engaged 
in farming, remaining there five and one- 
iialf years, and then removed to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. His early advantages for education 
were fair. In the autumn of 1S62 he enlisteti 
in Company A Second Nebraska Cavalry, and 
was mustered in at Fort Omaha, under Captain 
Peter S. Keed. They were sent to Fort Ran- 
dall, were in the service eleven months, saw 
no actual fighting, and were dischargeil at 
Omaha. 

He was married in December, 1807, to Pau- 
lina Weigle, the daughter of George and CMiris- 
tina Weigle, natives of Germany, who had 
eight children, named as follows : Paulina, 
Rachel, Godfried, John, Louisa, Geoi'ge, Jr., 
Mary and Gustaf. 

Our subject belongs to the Masonic Order^ 
being a member of Hooper Lodge No. 72, and 
is also a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. Politically, he affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 



ATHIAS RUFF, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 27, of Union township, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1800 
in company with John Kern, now deceased. 
Mr. Ruff took a homestead of eighty acres on 
St.H-tion 20, which he improved and lived upon 
about fourteen years. He came to the countr\' 
with no means and had to buy a team on time. 
1 1 is comrade, Kern, took a iiomcsload near 
him, their nearest neighbors lacing lw(j miles. 



Mr. Ruff lived on his homestead until the fall 
of 1883, when he moved to the farm he now 
occupies, which he bougiit as v.'iJd land. Here 
lie built a- house 10.\20 feet anil two stories 
iiigli, with an addition 14x16 feet. He now 
has 440 acres in one body. The year in which 
he came to the county a school-house was built 
on Section 20. one mile from his house. 

Our subject was l)orn in Germany, Novem- 
ber 21, 1825, the son of John and Christina 
(KuU) Ruff. The mother died in the old coun- 
try, after wliicli the father married Maggie 
Markley, and in 1837 they came to America 
and settled in Hocking County, Ohio, where he 
cleared a farm, Mathias iielping him. May 
7, 1847, our subject enlisted as a soldier in 
the Mexican AVar, Com|)any B Fourth Volun- 
teer Infantry of Ohio. He enlisted at Colum- 
bus, went to New Orleans, crossed the Gulf to 
Matamoras, Mexico, and was stationed there 
awhile; then crosseil to Vera Cruz, and from 
there to Pueblo, where the\' remained until 
peace was declared. He was at the battle of 
Pueblo, under General Pierce, also at the battle 
at the Natural Bridge. He received his dis- 
charge in June, 1848, returned home and in a 
short time went to Putnam County, Ohio, where 
he took 160 acres of lanil in the heav\' timber. 
The law gave every Mexican soldier the right 
to a quarter section of the public domain. He 
cleared up this land and remained there about 
si.K years, when he disposed of his place and re- 
turned to Hocking County, Ohio ; was there 
four years, returned to Putnam County and 
bought a farm of eighty acres, upon which he 
lived until the spring of ISO!), when he sokl and 
came to Nebraska. 

He was married in 1 Licking Cminty, Ohio, 
January 20, 1849, to JVIiss Bane Pilfer, daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Rose Pilfer. Bane (Pifi'er) 
Ruff was born in Germany in 1832, and came 
with her parents to America in 1848. They 
settled in Hocking County, Ohio. 

Our subject aiul his wife are the parents^ of 
nine (children : Joiin II , Mary, Minnie, diaries 
F., Noah, Jacob (deceased), George, Solomon 



146 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Anna. All of these children were born in Ohio, 
except the hist named, who was born in Ne- 
braska. 

Politically our subject was formerly a Demo- 
crat, but now is an Independent. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Churcli. 



GEOUGE f4. MULLIX, a farmer of Sec- 
ti(jn 17, Garfield township, came to 
Cuming Count}' March, 1869, taking a 
homestead of a quarter section upon which he 
still lives. His first residence was a shanty 
built with posts and boards, and later he con- 
structed a sod house with a sod roof in which 
he lived one year, when it collapsed, breaking 
his table,dishesand his bedstead. lie managed 
to clear it out, bank it up and live in it dur- 
ing the winter, and in the spring built a small 
frame house, hauling the lumber from Fre- 
mont. It required three days for him to make 
a trip to Fremont at that time, on account of 
bad roads and unbridged streams. That house 
served him until 1885, with a few additions, 
and at that time he built his present house, 
which is a two-story structure twenty-four feet 
square, lie i)lanted a grove of five acres, 
which now towers up as a living monument to 
the good sense of this pioneer. He has an 
orchard of fifty trees, besides much in the 
small fruit line. lie was in the country during 
the grasshopper raid, by reason of which he 
lost very heavil}' the first three years, and sub- 
sequently lost seventy-five fat hogs, and one 
hundred and twenty-five stock hogs with the 
cholera. The first four years he lived inCuming 
County he was without a team, and tliCTi 
bought a yoke of oxen. He relates that many 
times he had no money with which to pay 
])ostage. 

He of whom we write tliis biogi'ai)hical no- 
tice was born in Pennsylvania, April, 1830. 
He is tiie son of George and Elizabeth Mul- 
Im, whose nine children were: Jerome, IIenr\', 
Monroe, Elizabeth. TVfordica, Walter, George, 
.lolm .-ind Sai'uli. All arc deceased hut two, 



our subject and Elizabeth. He remained in the 
Keystone State until twenty-six years of age, 
when lie went to Ohio, remained one year and 
then traveled about one year or so in the Black 
Hills countrv, and then came to Cuming 
County. In the spring of 1SG4 he enlisted 
as a Union soldier in the One Hundred and 
Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and mustered 
into service at Pittsburg, under Captain Math- 
ews and was sent to Washington ; was at Har- 
per's Ferr}' and in the Shenandoah Valley cam- 
paign under General Sheridan, and in the 
Army of the Potomac in various engagements 
from the battle of Winchester to the close of 
the war. He escaped without being wounded. 
but had his cartriilge box shot oflf upon one 
occasion. He served until the close of the con- 
flict, and was mustered out at Bailey's Cross 
Roads. 

December, 185!). he was married to Anna 
M., daughter of Henry and Delilah Gosser, 
natives of Pennsylvania, whose nine children 
were: Anna Jane, an infant (deceased), 
Emma (deceased), Ella, Mary Zillali, George, 
William, Belle, and Harry (deceased). 

Our subject and his wife have two children : 
Charles II., born August 1860, and Walter B., 
born October, 1862. 

Our subject affiliates with tiie Kcpublican 
part}' and Ijelongs to the Grand Army of the 
llepublic and Knights of Pythias orders. He 
is now a justice of the peace, which office lie 
has held fifteen years. He has also assessed 
his township several times. In his early life 
he learned the carpenter's trade and worked at 
it several years, and taught school during the 
winter season for twentv vears. 



AX DREW MADSEN, residing on Section 
:!(;, Cuming township, came to Cuming 
County in the spring of 18Ti>, and first 
located on tin' farm he now occupies, which at 
the time was one hundred and twenty acres of 
wild land, which he})rovided with the ordinary 
iuqirovcnicnts, including goid Imililings. wells. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



and artificial grove and a small orchard. His 
])resent farm comprises two hundred and ninet\' 
acies, one hundred and sixty of which is under 
niitivation, while the remainder is equally as 
valuable for meadow and pasture purposes. 

Mr. Madsen is a native of Denmark, Ilolstein, 
born March, 1SA7, tiie son of John and Ilosena, 
Madsen, natives of the same country. They had 
three children : Andrew, Henry and Christian. 

He of wiiom we write remained in his native 
i-ounti'v until twenty-tliree years of age and 
then came to America, landing at Portland, 
Maine. He then went to Cliicago where he 
worUed by the day and month for .seven years, 
at the end of which^time he came to JJurt 
County, Xebi-aska, where lie rented lantl one 
year and tlien moved to Cuming County. 
Ujion arriving in America he possessed $1,000. 

lie was married in April, 1880, to Helen 
Klingbeil, daughter of Carl and Dora Kling- 
beil, whose seven children were: Teresa, Emma, 
Helen. Augusta, Anna, Hermena (deceased) 
anil (t. L. Emil. 

Our suljject and liis wife have two children : 
Kniil born February 5, 1881, and Holger, born 
-luly 22, 1801. 

Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He 
belongs to tlie Masonic Order, Lodge No. 72, at 
Hooper. 

As an item of some historic interest, it should 
here be stated that in 1868 the German Gov- 
ernment wanted the services of our subject as 
a soldier, but he, not being possessed of a war- 
like dis])osition, left his native countiy and 
remaiiujd in Denmark two years. He then 
went back to (iermany, but, under a peculiarity 
of tiieir rigid military laws, his presence was 
not wanted there, so he came to America, the 
•• land of the free and the home of the brave," 
and an asylum for the oppressed for all 
natictns. 

E(il!KUT M. THOMAS, of Section 5, 
township LM, range 2, of Stanton 
County, in what is known as Ma])le 
Creek precinct, was born in Atlas (ienesee 



County, Michigan. He is a son of Matthew 
and Deborah (Akins) Thomas. The father was 
born in New Hampshire and the mother in 
New York State. They were marrie<l in 
AUciiigan and reared a family of three ciiildren : 
our subject, Angia and Matthew A. His par- 
ents moved from Genesee County in 18G0 to 
Tuscola County of the same State, where thev 
resided until 18(i4, when his father died, our 
subject being si.xteen years of age at the time. 
The mother still lives in Tuscola County, 
Michigan. Egbert remained at home with his 
mother until he was twenty-two years of age, 
when he started out on the road in the tin and 
hardware business, and followed that for three 
years, and then sold out. His lieadtiuarters 
was South Pay City, Michigan. After selling to 
his partner in 187-f lie went west to Wyoining 
and there engaged in railroad business, and 
from there returned to the "Wolverine" 
Slate and engaged in the hardware business, 
but after two and one-half years came to Polk 
('ounty, Nebraska, where he worked on a farm 
by the mcjuth for five years with only three 
days' lost time, and assisted his mother all this 
time. He also worked seven months for 
Becker & Welsli, of Colfax County, commenc- 
ing in the spring of 1880, and then Welsh it 
Pankee made him overseer of a herd of two 
hundred head of cattle in Stanton Countv. In 
1885 he formed a partnership with Jonas 
Welsh to carry on the stock business, both 
raising and feeding. In 1889 he purchased his 
partner's interest. In 1881 he bought the land 
where he now lives, and in 1891 ]>urchased a 
quarter section more of Stanton County land, 
and two hundred and forty acres in Pierce 
County, but soon after sold one hundred and 
sixty acres of that, leaving him four iiundred 
acres at the pre.sent time. He attributes much 
of liis success to the assistance he has received 
from Cliarles Siecke and Jonas AVelsh, of Col- 
umbus, and John Eberly, cashier of the Citi- 
zens' Panic, of Stanton, with whom he has 
done business since 1882. 



148 



NOk THE A S TEkN NEBRA SKA 



Our subject did not have good educational 
advantages, having attended the common 
schools with a sliort term in book-keeping. 

lie was married in the month of November, 
1889, to Mary F. Dome, wiio was born in 
Missouri October, 1853. She was the daugh- 
ter of Milton J. and Julia Bozartb, natives of 
tliis country, who had a family of eight ciiil- 
(Iren, five of the first family and three of tlie 
second, the father iiaving been married twice. 
The children were: Lucy A., Lizzie, Dora, 
Marv, wife of our subject ; Logan (deceased), 
Cassius, Jennie, Sophronia. 

Our subject's paternal grandfather was a 
native of New Hampshire, born May 29, 1795, 
and died at his home in Millington March 16, 
1S92. aged ninety-seven years. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Polly Brown, who died December 
9, 1S57. 

Mr. Thomas, in addition to operating his 
farm, luns a herd of twelve hundred cattle 
and has averaged a herd of one thousand for 
the past ten years. In addition to his own 
farm he leases four thousand four hundreil and 
eight}' acres of land. He owns one hundred 
and fifty head of cattle, three hundred head of 
hogs and twenty-six honses. He herds for var- 
ious persons in his own and adjoining counties. 
He takes an active part in public affairs, has 
been school treasurer for a number of years, 
and also assessor for a long tei'm. He belongs 
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and 
Knights of Fytiiias Lodge, and it may be 
added in conclusion that he is a self made, pub- 
lic-spirited man, and votes the llepublican 
ticket. 

J AMES. H. MONTGOMERY, a prominent 
farmer of Webster toAvnship, Dodge 
Count}', was born in Bedford County, 
I'ennsylvania, January 2-t, 1853, and 
came to Nebraska witli his parents in 1809, 
where he has lived ever since. 

He was united in marriage in 1881 to Miss 
Sarah Buchanan, daughter of John Buchanan, 
of Ohio. By this union two children were 



born : Wirt (died at the age of six months), 
Ora, still living. 

Mr. Montgomery possesses a beautiful I'arm 
home of one hundred and sixty acres, all of 
which is under a high state of cultivation. 

Politically, he is a supporter of the Republi- 
can party, and has iield numerous local otiices. 
A biography of his father appears elsewhere in 
this woik. 



G' 



EORGE W. MONTGOMERY (de- 
ceased), one of the early settlei's of 
Dodge County, was born in Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, in 1S20, receiving his 
education in the schools of his native county. 

He married Hannah Suffecool of Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1SS5 he settled in Bureau County, 
Illinois, where he remained until the fall of 
1869, when. he homesteadeil eighty acres of land 
in Pleasant Valley township, and there built 
his first house, which was sixteen feet S(juare. 
He remained there until his death in 1891. dv- 
ing in the month of March. He was the father 
of eight children : Sarah, wife of L. M. Swi- 
gard, of Dodge County ; James H., David W., 
of Pleasant Valley township; Mary, died when 
twenty-two years of age — she married Michael 
Rettig ; he died and she then married Charles 
Stormer; William, is now living on the old 
homestead ; Minnie, wife of Mr. Bachtell ; Lin- 
nie, wife of D. M. Clark, of Colfax County, 
Nebraska, and one died in infancy. Mrs. ^lont 
gomery is still living. She is a consistent mem- 
ber of- the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
her husband in his life-time was a supj)ort('r of 
the Republican i)arty. 



ArciUSTlTS G. MODEROW, editor and 
l)ropiietor of the Stanton Democrats was 
born in the province of Pomrania, Ger- 
many, September 23, 1860, tlie son of Gustavus 
Moderow. His mother's name before marriage 
was Wilhelmine Wollf. The parents emi- 
grated to America in 1867, locating in Cuming 
County, Nebraska, where they still reside. The 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



subject of this notice was six j'cars of age 
when his parents came to tliis countrv, and he 
attended tlie district school until he was nine- 
teen years old. and then attended North- 
western University, at \Yaterto\vn, Wiscon- 
sin. He then attended the Fremont Normal, 
and received a first grade state certificate to 
teach, wliich profession he followed from 1882 
to 1888, when he purciiased the Stanton Devi- 
ncrat, and has since been connected with its 
editorial work. 

lie of whom we wi'ite this l)iogra])iiical 
notice was united in marringe, May '2-t, 1890, 
to Miss Bridget Gallaglier, daughter of Felix 
Gallagher, of Cuming County. By this mar- 
riage union one child was born: Artiiur G., 
:\rarch 28, 1891. 

Al tile time our subject's parents came to 
('uming County, they made a dug-out, in 
which tiie family lived for two \'eai's. The 
fatiier took a claim of one hundred and sixty 
acres, to which he later added as much more 
land. The parents of our subject had three 
cliildren: Augusta, wife of Frank Malchow, a 
farmer; AVilHam, a farmer, and Augustus G. 

Gustavus Moderow died in 1S6S, after whicli 
the widow married Fred Nathen, by whom one 
cliiid was born : Frank, now of Cuming County. 

JOHN M. LUNrJGREN, a farmer of Cum- 
ing township. Cuming Countv, residing 
on Section 25, has been a resident of that 
locality since the spring of 1875, when be 
located at West Point and worked out by the 
montii on a farm for two years. He then 
bought eighty acres of his present farm. The 
same was wild land, upon which he built a com- 
fortable, but small house, which served him 
thirteen years, when it was remedied and 
adiled to, it now being twenty-four feet square. 
His barns andout-buikiingsare good; overhang- 
ing his well and tanks is a wind-mill, which 
supplies the place with the best of water. Of 
his one hundred and sixty acre farm, one hun- 
di-ed and twenty acres are under the plow, and 
all surroinuled bv a fence. He lias a "I'ove of 



six acres and an orchard of two hundred trees 
His place is also made attractive by a fine fish 
jiond, fed by a never failing spring. He came 
to the county a poor man, and was compelletl 
to struggle for an existence during the first 
few years. He encountered the grassiiopper 
plague and in 1887 was damaged by lightning 
three thousand dollars, by tiie burning of his 
buildings, grain and machinery. 

Mr. Lundgren was born in Sweden, April, 
1851. the son of Carl Jacob and lllreica Swan- 
son, both natives of Sweden, who were the par- 
ents of the following children, who took the 
names of Carlson, Anna J.., (^arl P., Christena, 
Anna, Caroline and John. 

He took tiie name of Lundgren in America. 
He lived in his native land until twenty-four 
years of age, and then came direct to West 
Point, Nebraska. 

He was married Septeitiiier, 1879, to Bettie 
Carlson, daughter of Daniel and Betsy Carlson, 
natives of Sweden, whose seven children wei-e : 
Peter, Mary, Charles, Daniel and Bettie (twins), 
John and Carrie, all of whom live in America. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
six children : Arthur, Hillman, Orville, Minnie, 
Mable and Hattie. 

Mr. and ]\[rs. Lundgren are mtmiiers of the 
Mission Church and he was its first president, 
serving for three years. He alsooi-ganized the 
Saljbath-school. 

L'olitically, he is iiidepetideiit. He is presi- 
dent of the Fai-mers" Insurance Company, of 
which lie was one of the incorporators. He 
has assessed his township for three years. He 
is vice president of the Fanners' Union Grain 
and Lumber Company, of Oakland, which posi- 
tion he has held almost continuously since its 
incorporation in 1887; he has also served one 
term as member of the Board of County Sup- 
ervisers, been school director for the past twelve 
yeai'S and took the State census for his district 
in 1885. 

He is one of the many Scandinavians whose 
life and charactei- are an honor to their adopted 
countrv.' 



ISO 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



THOMAS C. KIRK, a farmer of Section 
:.'t'), Beemer townshi)), Cuming County, 
was born near New Castle, North- 
umberland, England, March 10, 1854. He is 
son of Walter and Ann (Sharp) Kirk, who had 
four children : Thomas C, George, Margaret 
antl Anna. George was a mechanical eaginoer 
in the em))loy of the British (iovernment 
during the Zulu war. Ilis deatli was caused 
hv a fever at Oppello, on the west coast of 
Africa. Our subject is the only member of the 
family in America. He received a limited 
education, and at the age of sixteen left home 
and came to London, Canada. In IST.'j he 
removed to Saunders County, Nebraska, and 
engiiged in farming. In ISST he sold out and 
came to Beemer township, where he bought a 
farm of one hundred and sixty acred. He gives 
Ilis chief attention to slock feeding, usually 
feeding from one to two hundred annually. His 
stock was some of the best that reached the 
Omaha market in 1891. He has made this 
business a study ever since living in Nebraska, 
and understands it thoroughly. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican, but 
has little time to devote to politics. 

Mr. Kirk was married June '2.5, 1881, to Nora 
Blunt, (laughter of Thomas and Sarah Blunt, 
of Bloomington, Wisconsin. Her father was 
killed at the battle of Petersburgh ; he was a 
surgeijn in a Wisconsin regiment. Mr. and 
Mrs. Kirk have three children : Walter, Frank 
Eiirl and Mona. 



MICHAEL J. HUGHES, SR., a resident 
of West Point, is a native of Ireland, 
where he was born in 182;l Wiien 
a mere child iiis parents came to America. 
The fatiier's name was Michael and the 
mother's Mary (McGirr) Hughes, who settled 
in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and fol- 
lowed farming for a livelihooil. In theirfamily 
were eight children : CJatharine (deceased), 
Margaret, of Washingluii, I). C. ; Uosanna, 



of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; M. J., our sub- 
ject; Phillip (deceased) ; John, of Bedford, 
Pennsylvania ; Francis, of Battle Creek, Ne- 
braska ; Thressa, of Baltimore County. Mary- 
lanil. The parents died in Bedford County, 
Pennsylvania. 

Michael was reared on a farm, receiving a 
limited common school education. He was 
married in 1848, to Miss Mary Ilite, who was 
a native of Adams County, Pennsylvania. In 
ISOl they moved to Cumberland, Allegany 
County, Maryland, at about the time of the 
breaking out of the war, and there remaineil 
until IStil. when Mr, Hughes moved to Lee 
County. Illinois, and purchased a farm which 
he finality sold, moved to La Salle County, and 
later to Peoria. He also lived in Marshall 
County, Illinois, for a time, but in 1SG7, dui'- 
ing the month of March, he moved to Col- 
umbus, Nebraska. In 1SG7, there was a col- 
ony f( rmed which intendeil to locate in Ante- 
lope County, Nebraska. There were twelve 
families who intended to go, but when the 
time came only himself and brother finally 
went. They located in what is now known 
as Hopkin's Grove and were the first white 
settlei's of Antelo|)e County. The nearest set- 
tlement to them was at Noi-fdk, Madison 
County, a tlistance of forty-five miles. Tiie 
country was very wild at that time, with 
Indians on every hand. Their jirovisions hail 
to come from Omaha and Columbus, generally 
by means of ox teams! The country abouniled 
in wiUI game, including deer, elk and ante- 
lope. They remained there until Sejitember 
and then moved to West Point, which then 
consisted of two or three houses. Mr. Iluglics 
took a homestead adjoining the town plat and 
laiil out what is known as Hughes addilion 
to West Point. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have tiie following 
family : Anna, wife of John Talt, of Albany, 
Oregon; Michael J. Jr., of West Point; Rich- 
ard B., Rapid City, South Dakota; Mary, 
wife of Ward M. Braton, of Bassett, Rock 
Count v, Nebraska. 



NORTHEASTERS^ NEBRASKA. 



151 



Politically, he is a Democrat, while in re- 
ligious faitii both he and his wife are inein- 
bers of the Uoman Catholic Church. He lias 
seen much of the hardships of Western life, 
but is now surrounded with more tiian tlu^ 
average comforts of life. 



MTCIIAEL J. IIUUIIES, JR., alive stock 
dealer at AVest I'oint, came to Cuming 
County in ISri". He was l)orn in 
I'.cdfoi'd County, Pennsylvania, llareh 8, 1S5?>, 
the son of Michael J. and Mary L (Hight) 
Hughes. When a boy his jjarents moved to 
Maryland, where he attended the district 
schools, after which he removed to Illinois. In 
1S67 he came to A\^est Point and for a few years 
was in the em])loy of Bruner & Neligh, hauling 
goods from Fremont and Omaha, and assisted in 
Ijuilding the first dam across the Elkhorn Eiver 
at West Point. He afterwards spent four 
years in Illinois, traveling over the country, 
selling patent rights. \\\ 1S77 he returned to 
West Point and was elected superintendent of 
public instruction in Cuming County, Nebraska. 

In politics he is a stanch supporter of the 
Democratic part3% and is at present chairman 
of the judicial and county central committees, 
also member of State central committee. 

He was united in marriage in 1S80 to Miss 
.Mary E. Cahagan, the daughter of Christopher 
and Margaret (Ginty) Gahagan, natives of 
Ireland. She accompanied her parents to this 
county in 1871, attended the Nebraska State 
.\ornml school for two vears, and followed 
teaching eight years. By this marriage union 
two children were born ; Frank B., October 13, 
1883, and Lucille, born Dcember 22, 1885. 

Mr. Hughes is one of the live business men of 
Cuming Count}', and for the past ten years has 
been largely engaged in shipping stock. Mr. 
and Mrs. Hughes are higlilv respected peoi)le. 
Of the latter's family it may be said that Chris- 
topher Gahagan, the father, was born in Ii'c- 
land and came to Amei'ica when a boy. He 
was marrieii in New York Citv to Margaret 



Ginty, and shortly aferwards settled in the 
Co]iper mine district of Michigan, where he 
remained twenty years. In 1871 he came to 
Cuming C(ninty, where he purchased a tract of 
eight hundred acres of land, which he con- 
verted from wild prairie into a beautiful farm. 
Their children were: Mar}' E., wife of our sub- 
ject, and James. Mr. Cahagan removed to 
Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1SS2, on account of 
failing health. Politically he was a stanch 
Democrat. 

FPtED. J. IIEPtPE, a resident of Hooper, 
came to Dodge County in the spring of 
1875, in company with his parents, who 
located at Fremont, where the father was en- 
gaged in the tailoring business. Our subject 
remained at home until he was nineteen years 
of age, at which time he went into the printing 
office of the Fremont Herald^ and followed 
that business for four yeiirs, after which he 
spent some time in Osceola, and went from there 
to O'Neill, Holt County, where he opened a bar- 
ber shop. He remained there until 1885, and 
then removed to Hooper, where he has held the 
office of justice of the peace for four years. 

He of whom we write this biograi)hical 
notice was born in New Jersey, in 1804, the 
son of Fred, and Mary Herre, natives of Ger- 
many, who were the parents of thirteen chil- 
dren : Charles H., Mary M., Fred. J. Jr., Char- 
lotte, Robert M., Amanda, Emily, Rosa, Gussie. 
Four of the family died in infancy. The fam- 
ily lived in New Jersey until 1ST5, when they 
came to Fremont. 

In the month of May, 1884:, our subject was 
united in marriage to Susan, daughter of John 
and Mary Crome, of Germany, whose six chil- 
dren were named as follows: John, Christ., 
William, Susan, Delia, Liz/ie. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
three children : Robert, born in 18SG ; Rosa, 
born in 1889, and Mamie, born in IS'JO. 

Politically, Mr. Herre believes in the princi- 
])les of the Democratic party, and in religious 
uuitters both he and his wife are Lutherans, lie 



152 



A'OA- TirEA STEA'X KEBRA Sk'A. 



is a member of the Knights of Pythias, having 
started Longfellow Lodge No. 89, at Hooper, 
Dodge County, November 4, 1887. He also 
belongs to Uniform Rank Division of that 
order ; also is an honored member of the 
Masonic and Ancient Order of Thiited Work- 
men fraternities. 



CHARLES PETER ALBERT BOECK- 
ENIIAUER, an enterprising farmer of 
Section 29, St. Charles township, Cum- 
ing County, was born in Mecklenberg, Ger- 
many, December 30, 1835, and went to Canada 
in 1852, where he remained fifteen years, in 
the big woods, and in the fall of 1868 came 
direct to Cuming County, Nebraska, locating 
the land upon which he now lives, having 
taken a quarter section as a homestead. Upon 
his arrival he had six hundred dollars in 
mone}'. He purchased a yoke of oxen, a 
wagon and two cows, which consumed nearly 
all his money. His first house was a frame 
structure 14x20 feet, in which he lived for 
fourteen years, and then built the two-story 
house he now lives in. The improvements 
upon his land are first-class, including good 
barns, an orchard and a two acre grove of tim- 
ber. Subsequently he bouglit one hundred and 
sixtv acres more land in Sherman townsliip, 
and eighty in St. Charles township. Two 
years in succession the grasshoppers raised 
liavoc with his crops, which was a great finan- 
cial drawback to iiini, as he depended upon tlie 
products of the soil for a livelihood. The hail 
also cut his crops one year, almost totally 
destroying them. 

Our subject was united in niari'iage in Sep- 
tember, 1859, to Sophia Ciunzel, to whom have 
been born twelve cliildrcn : Mary (deceased) ; 
Martha, Matilda, JVEalinda, Minnie, Samuel, 
Anna, Emma, Charles, Wiiiiiun, Ella (deceased) 
and Alma. 

Mrs. Boeckeiihauer was born in Germany, 
and came to Canada where they were married. 
Our subject's father, Herman Boeckenhauer 



came to America in 1852, and is now living at 
West Point. The mother, Elizabeth (Brasc) 
Boeckenhauer, came to this country at the 
same time, and is still living. The father was 
born in 1810. and the mother in 1,812. Our 
subject belongs to the Evangelical Church, and 
politically is identified with the Republican 
party. 

GEORGE BAPJl, of Section 22. township 
24, Stanton precinct, Stanton County, 
was born at Cotesloa, Petersborough 
County, Ontario, February 4, 1858. He is the 
son of (^eorge and Rebecca (Mark) Barr. He 
received a common school education, and at the 
age of twenty-one years came to Stanton 
County, Nebraska, and purchased a quarter 
section of land,sixt3' acres of which were under 
cultivation. He now owns 400 acres, all fenced, 
provided with good out-buildings and umler a 
high state of cultivation. It is devoted largely 
to the raising and feeding of stock. 

He was united in marriage September 13, 
1883, to Rosa McKinsey, daughter of James 
and Mary A. McKinsey, of Stanton. Mrs. 
Barr was born in Iowa. Her father is a 
native of New York, and of Scotch descent, 
while his wife was born in Maine, and is of 
Irish extraction. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barr's five children arc: Nina, 
Pearl, Elsie, Harrison and Walter. 

Politically our subject affiliates with the Re- 
publican party. 

Upon coming to the country he had about 
|1,000, which, put to good use, has made him 
one of the most prosperous, inilependent and 
contented farmers in Stanton ('ountv. 



ERNEST ELSNER, senior partner of the 
firm of Eisner A: Bader, doing an ex- 
tensive furniture business at Fremont, 
was born in Saxony, Germany, April 13, 1842, 
the son of Gottlieb and Elizabeth Eisner. The 
father died when he was one and one-half 
years of age, and the mothei- when he was 



NOKTllEASTERN NEliKASKA. 



153 



three. He was reared b}' an uncle, Frede- 
rick Rothe. educated in the common scliools 
of Germany, and in 1864 emigrated to Amer- 
ica, iandins;- in New York, and from there 
went to IJeardstown, Illinois, where he had 
friends. He came to America on a visit, imt 
heing- impressed with tiie ciiances foi' a man in 
this country he concluded to remain, and went 
to work on a farm by the month. In 18G0 he 
purchased a farm, but soon afterward sold it 
out ; for a time rented land, and then purchased 
a farm of 140 acres. 

In 1870 he sold, and purchased 200 acres for 
$r.,0U0. In 1878 he came to Ts^ebraska, settling 
in Washington County, and purchased 210 
acres of partly' improved land, with a small 
house upon it. He built a house, barn anil 
cribbing, also set an orchard of 100 trees, which 
he still owns. In 1890 he purchased an interest 
in the furniture business with whicli he is now 
connected. 

He was united in marriage in I'eardstown, 
Illinois, to ]\[ai-y Unland, born in Germany, 
yhe came to America with her parents when 
five years of age. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eisner are the parents of eight 
children : Emma, wife of J. li. Bader; Lydia, 
a graduate of the Fremont Normal School, and 
now a teacher of Dodge County ; Laura and 
Lizzie (twins), the former a student at the Nor- 
mal School, and the latter at home ; Anna, 
Ernest II. and Richard, attending school, and 
Walter, deceased. 

Mr. Eisner was the first to establish his family 
name in this country. He came to this country 
a poor man, and endured many hardships. He 
is a member of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen Lodge, and in politics is a Repub- 
lican. 

The business now conducted by this firm was 
organize<l in 1880, Their salesroom is 33x100 
feet, occupying two floors and a basement. 
They carry a stock of from $8,000 to $10,000, 
wliich compares well with any furniture house 
in Omaha. Their stock is selected with great 
care and arranged in a verv tastv manner. 



JACOB R. BADER, of the firm of Eisner 
I't Bader, furniture dealers at Fremont, 
doing iKisiness on Broad street, was boiii 
in Germany July 24, 1SG4, and remained 
in his native country until he was seventeen 
years of age, receiv'ng his education in the 
common school. He then emigrated to Amer- 
ica in 1S81, locating in Johnson County, 
Nebraska, where he worked as a farm hand. 
In 1883, he attended the Nebraska Business 
College, at Nebraska Citv, and then entered the 
office of F. Beyschlag, a brewer, as book-keeper, 
where he remained two years, when he engaged 
in the furniture business with J. W. Butt, with 
whom he remained until May, 1890. and then 
came to Fremont, and in (October, 1890, pur- 
chased his ])resent business. 

He was united in marriage in May, 1887, to 
Miss Emma E. Eisner, the daughter of Earnest 
Eisner. She was born near Beardstown, Illi- 
nois, August 4, 1807. They are the parents of 
three children: Carl George. Earnest Fred, and 
Eleonore Olga. 

Politically, our subject alliliates with the 
Republican party. He is a thoroughgoing 
business man, and stands high among business 
circles in Fremont. 



JOHN CIIEliNV, of the firm of Cherny A: 
Kavan, dealers in coal, lumber and imple- 
ments at North Bend, forms the subject 
of this notice. Mr. Cherny came to 
Dodge County in the fall of 1881, and went to 
work in a lumber yard at North Bend, for C. 
Cusack. He was in his employ until he em- 
barked in business for himself. He and Mr. 
Kavan bought out and succeeded the business 
of J. B. Foot. 

Mr. Cherny was born iu Bohemia, Austria, 
December 30, 1860, the son of James and Anna 
(Shavelick) Chernv, both natives of Bohemia, 
Austria. In June, 1871, the family, including 
our subject, came to America, and direct to 
Saunders County, Nebraska. The father toolc 
a homestead in that countv and is still living 



isi 



MORTHEASTERN KEBRASKA. 



there. Our subject remained at home with his 
parents until he went to Noi-th Tlend. as above 
related. 

lie was united in marriage at Omalia, Ne- 
braska, in Ajiril.lSSfi, to Miss Victoria Sedlacek, 
and by tliis marriage union two children have 
been born: Mollie, burn 1888, and James, born 
1891. 

Mrs. Cherny is a native of Austria and 
was born in December, 18f>,3; she came to 
America in 1879. 

Our subject and his wife are both members 
of the Roman Catholic Church, at Cedar Hill, 
Saunders County, Nebraska. Politically, Mr. 
Cherny affiliates with the Republican partv. 

WILLIAM H. WEEKES, proprietor of 
the Scribner News, was born in 
Brooklyn, New York, October 29, 
1855. He is the son of James Weekes, Jr , 
also a native of Brooklyn, who died in 1861. 
lie belongs to the family of Weekes who have 
a history running back seven hundred and 
fifty years. The original Weekes of this 
branch of the family came to America from 
Devonshire, England, in 1635. His wife, Anna 
(Long) Weekes, a native of Bucks County, Penn- 
sylvania, is a descendant of William Quinibv, 
who emigrated from England in 1626 and was 
a (^iiakei'. They Vi^ere the parents of two chil- 
dren : the subject of our sketch and Charl-es P. 
The father was a wholesale hardware merchant 
of Newark, New Jerse\', but who subsequentl}' 
went to Brooklyn, where he died. William 
received his education in the public schools at 
Philadelphia, to which place his mother moved 
after the death of her husband. In 1872 our 
subject located at Crrand Island, Nebraska; but 
after traveling over the state, remaining a short 
time at various points, April, 1890, he came to 
Scribner and purchased the Neios, which he 
still continues to operate. 

Mr. Weekes was married June 17, 1882, to 
Alice Bulger, born in Indiana. By this union 
four children were born : Annie, Charley, Mary, 
and Wm. II. Jr. 



I Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and runs a very creditable 
local newspaper, a further account of which is 
given elsewhere in this woi'k. 

JOHN W. THOMAS, a real estate, loan 
and insurance agent at North I>end, 
came to Dodge County, in March, 1874, 
and engaged as a solicitor for insurance. 
etc. In 1887 he turned his attention exclu- 
j sively to insurance, and in the spring of 1S9U 
opened u]) a real estate office, in partnership 
with Earnest Kern. 

Our subject was born in Utica, New York, 
May 2, 1853, the son of John H. and Sarah A. 
(Austin) Thomas, both natives of New York. 
AVhen he was quite small his parents removed 
to Madison County, New York, and he re- 
mamed with them until he came West. His 
mother died when he was quite small. 

He was united in marriage in Dodge County, 
Nebraska, December 24, 1885, to Miss Alice, 
daughter of Charles and Sarah p]. Maddox, 
both natives of Virginia. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of two children : Sarah M., 
born March 17, 1888 ; baby boy, born June 16, 
1889, and died in infanc}'. 

He and his wife are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he 
is a supporter of the Republican party. 

Mrs. Thomas was born in Lake County, Illi- 
nois, October 29, 1865, and accompanied her 
parents to Dodge County, Nebraska, in 1 872. 
They settled on a farm near North Bend, where 
Alice remained until the date of her marriage. 
There has been great improvement in the 
country since our subject's arrival here ; he 
states that land which at that time sold 
for five dollars per acre is now valued at from 
thii'ty to fort_v dollars per acre. 

APELLER, a dealer in general merchan- 
^ dise, at North Bend, came to Fremont 
in the autumn of 1874, remained one 
year and went to Hooper, where he engaged in 



m 




C^^^crc^a^u^ ^^/£oo^ 



XOR Tff EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



general inerchamlise for two years, aftei' wliicli 
lie returned to Fremont and ari'angeil witii 
Henry Fernian to start a store in North Bend. 
Tliey built a frame building, 22x00 feet, into 
which was placed a general stocic, and in 1SS2 
they added twenty-two feet more to their build- 
ing, giving them forty-four feet front. They 
carried fn)in ten to twelve thousand dollars 
worth of goods. In the spring of 1883, Mr. 
Ferman sold his interest to Mr. Killian and 
our subject, wiio were in partnership until 
1885, when Mr. Teller succeeded the business. 
August 2(>, 1886, the store was burned together 
with a greater portion of his goods, amounting 
to about lifteen thousand dollars ; but he only 
remained out of business eight days, lie put 
up a temporary store building and the ninth' 
day was again selling goods. A brick building 
was erected that fall into which he moved in 
the spring of 1S8T. 

Our subject was born in ^Montgomery County, 
Xew York. October 22. 1849, the son of Elijah 
and Helen M. CWashburn) Feller, the father a 
native of New York and the mother of Massa- 
chusetts. Our subject remained at home on 
the farm in Xew York until 187i, at which 
time he came to Fremont, Nebraska, 

He received his education in the common 
schools of the Empire State, and was married 
in his native county, November, 1874-, to Miss 
Amelia Nellis, daughter of Jacob W. and Eliza 
Nellis, natives of New York. 

Mr. Peller is a member of the Knights (jf 
I'vtiiias Order. 



THEODORE UEHLING, of Section 2, 
Logan township, came to Dodge County 
in Jul}', 18(?0, and located on Section 18, 
township 19, range 9, where he built a log- 
house and covered it with slough grass. Tiiis 
with the same kind of shedding for his stock 
served' him until 1870, when he provided bet- 
ter buildings. He remained on that place six- 
teen years and in 1872 bought eighty acres, 
on Section 3, the same being Union I'acific 
railroad land, lie boiii'lit and tradeil land in 



various shapes, doing the necessary im|)rove- 
nient, to make each tract valuable; linal!\' 
traded his old home farm for a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres on Section 3, and kei)t 
adding to his landed estate, until he now owns 
nine hundred and sixty acres of well improved 
land. When he came to the country he was 
obliged to go to Omaha for the necessities 
of life. lie used to make the trip with ox 
teams, leaving his family at the mercy of the 
semi-savage Indians. Great were the hard- 
ships he and his family endured, in order that 
they might possess the goodly heritage, a por- 
tion of the Elkhorn Valley. Our subject was 
one of the few who remaineds until the storms 
of adversity had passed over, and was the 
gainer thereby. 

T\Ir. Uehling was born in (rermany, Jan- 
uary \\\ lS3tj, and is the son of Casper and 
Gotliebetta ( Deusing) Uehling. His parents, 
dying when he was very young, left a family 
of six children: Frederick, Casper, Otto, Caro- 
line, Louisa, and Theodore. 

In 1847 our subject, then eleven years of 
age, came with his brother Frederick and fami- 
ly to Dodge County, Wisconsin, and from 
there to Nebraska. Frederick died in Wiscon- 
sin, September IS, 1892. Theodore was united 
in marriage January 2, 1860, to Catharine 
Schwab, the daughter of Henry and Catharine 
Schwab, natives of Germany, whose four chil- 
dren were: Catharine, Jacob, Adam and Henry. 

Our subject and his wife are the jiarents of 
the following children: Otto, November 1. 
1860; Henry, November 12, 1861; Edward, 
March 13, 1863; Lewis, November S, 1864; 
Tiieodore, January 20. 1867, now deceased; 
Martin, August 20, 1869; Frederick, November 
4, 1873; Lanore, December 19, 1875; Frank, 
October 26, 1878; Louisa F. . June 6, 1880. 

Politically, our subject aHiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in his church relations 
is a Lutheran. lie belongs to Oaklanil, 
Masonic Lodge, \o. 72. He has been one of 
the school board for twenty years, and has held 
other local ollic(>s. He erected his present 



158 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



house in ISS'2, which is one of tiie best in all 
this section. 

Ill llie reviewing of tliis man's life we see 
wliat can he accomplished bv energetic men 
with willingness to do and do well. Coming 
to this country as he did an or|)lian boy at the 
age of eleven years, battling in life for himself 
and finally making the success he has, both in a 
(inancial and social way, too much credit can- 
not be placed upon his career. 



FI.OKENDO E. KRAUSE, a notary 
public, agent of North German 
Lloyd ]]altiiiU)re and New York line, 
and insurance agent at West Point, was born in 
Zirke, Province Posen, Kingdom Prussia, Ger- 
many, March 5, lS3-f. He learned the mason's 
trade and emigrated to America, Sept'ember 1, 
JSoi, landing in New York, and from there 
went to Canada in 1855. He married Mary 
Mitchell, in Steaphen township, county of 
Huron, Ontario, September 30, 1858, and came 
to Cuming County, Nebraska, locating at West 
Point in the spring of 1870. He received his 
first naturalization papers in Chicago, Illinois, 
and his final papers in West Point, Nebraska, 
June 1(), 1875. 

His children are as follows: Iihi, who mar- 
ried Peter Poellot, a printer by trade, residing 
at West Point ; Charles, a jeweler at Norfolk, 
Nel)raska ; Florando Ernest, a clerk in the 
general merchandise store at West Point; 
Edmund, a tinsmith of Randolph, Nebraska; 
Alonzo, a printer of West Point ; Adolph, a 
druggist at West Point; Wanda, Lottie and 
Ralph at home. 

Our subject's father, August F. William 
Iviaiisc, was a master builder and was born in 
Landsberg, Kingdom of Prussia, Germany. 
His mother's maiden name was Henrietta 
Klose. They were the parents of Edmond 
Rudolph, a mason b}' trade, now residing at 
West Point, Nebraska ; Ida Pauline, who mar- 
i-ied Ernest Riebe, a machinist, and died in 
Chijago ; Aiiiaiulus, a mason by tiailc, living 



at West Point ; Meta Laura, who married Fritz 
Remainder, a farmer of Madison County. 
Nebraska ; Henrietta, who married Joseph A. 
Leppen. a clerk in the War l)e])artment with 
headquarters at St. Paul, Minnesota; William 
Eugene, a merchant and vice-president of the 
First National Bank at West Point. These 
were all born at Ziike, Province Posen, King- 
dom of Prussia, (Tcrmany. 

Politically, Mr. Krause is a supporter of the 
Republican party, and has held numerous local 
offices, including that of city clerk, and 
member of the school board. He has been a 
notary public at West Point for thirteen 
years. For honor anil integrity the Krause 
family stand high in the community in which 
they live. 

JOHN 13. WAGNER, a highly respected 
citizen of Everett township, whose farm 
home is on Section li, came to America 
in 1865 and worked one year in Phialdel- 
phia; the following two yeai-s were spent on a 
farm in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1808 
he went to Illinois and worked on a farm, and 
in the spring of 1809 came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska, took an eighty-acre homestead, anil built 
thereon a sod shanty lOxl-Jr feet; his furniture 
consisting of a home-made bedstead, table and 
chair. Being without mone}', he worked out 
by the month for a time, and then returning to 
the homestead batched it for two years. He 
provided himself with a yoke of steers, for 
which he paid one hundred and fifty dollars, 
two shoats that cost as much as six would to- 
day. Many a hard day's woi'k was spent on 
this place, and frequently he went without his 
breakfast oi' supper, getting up at four o'clock 
in the morning to work. He afterward added 
eighty acres of land, which had a small house 
upon it, in which he lived for four years, and in 
lSS-1 built his present residence. lie now 
has two hundred acres of land, upon which 
he has placed a most excellent class of inqu'ove- 
ments. He has one hundred and twenty 
acres under the ])l()\v, while the halaiu-e is in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



159 



pasture and meadow land ; an artificial grove 
of live acres, together with an orchanl of forty 
trees and three hundred grape vines, lends a 
heaut}' and adds value to his i)lace. Like most 
men who came to Nebraska at an early day, our 
subject brought no means with himtospeak of. 
His nearest trading point was Fremont, and the 
streams were all unbridged at that day. lie of 
whom we write this notice was born in North- 
lieim, Guttenburgh, Germany, February, 1S41. 
He is a son of Jacob and Catharine Wagner^ 
whose seven children were : Philip (deceased). 
Catharine (deceased), Dorathy (deceased), 
Christena, John B., Fred erica and Caroline. 

August, 1871, our subject was united in 
marriage to Charlotte Mariah Wilhelmina 
I'aesch, of Provence Pomerania, Gei'many. Her 
father, Henry Paesch, was a farmer in his native 
country ; both her parents are now deceased. 

Like most of the early settlers of theElkhorn 
X'alley, our subject has been obliged to endure 
many hardships. The grasshop])ers from 1873 
to 1877 destroyed a great deal of his grain, and 
in 1874 from twenty acres of corn he harvested 
twenty-five bushels. The following spring he 
jiaid ninety cents per bushel for i)oor wheat to 
feed his team ; but being possesseil of energy 
ami perseverance, he has finally accomplished 
Llie end for which he came West — the gaining 
possession of a good home for himself and 
family. Mr. and Mrs. Wagher are parents of 
the following children : Louisa, born June 
1S72 ; Johannah (deceased), born August, 1S74 
Ilerta (deceased), born February, 1876 ; Ida, 
born Decendjer, 1879 ; John, born December, 
1881; Charles, born April, 1SS;5; and Henry, 
l)i)rn May, 1885. 

Our subject and his wife are both accejitable 
members of the Lutheran Church, and in political 
matters he affiliates with the Democratic party. 

JIDSON GRAVES, editor of the Neligh 
Advocate, was born at ^'ienna, Oneiiia 
County, New York, December 20, 1831. 
His parents were Horace S. and Hannah 
(^Eaton; Graves. The former was boi-ii in 



Columbia County, New York, and iiis father 
was a captain in the Continental Army, and of 
English descent. Horace S. Graves died at 
Neenah, AVisconsin, in 1880, having been a 
farmerall his days. Mrs. Hannah Graves died 
at Martinsburgh, New York, May 3, 18-13. 
Her grandfather, Eaton, came from Cheshire, 
Massachusetts, settled in Little Falls, Herkimer 
County, New York, soon after the Ilevohition- 
ary War. It is supposed the family were of 
Scotch descent. 

In the spring of 1840, Judson removed with 
his parents to Martinsburgh, Lewis County, 
New York, where he attended school. When 
fifteen years of age he left home and went to 
Little Falls, and served a five-years apprentice- 
ship in the office of the Mohawk Courier, 
which is still published. From that time to 
this, our subject has been connected with the 
newspaper business, working at his trade in 
New York City. Utica, Oswego, Syracuse, Buf 
falo ; Davenport, Iowa; Peoria, Illinois; Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and Chicago. He spent about 
nine years on the Chicago Tribune. The first 
paper he published was the Hendeison Flain- 
dealer, at Biggsville, Illinois, in 1868. He re- 
moved the plant to Young America, Warren 
County, Illinois, and there published it until 
1872 ; removed it to Galesburg, and con- 
tinued it until December, 1879. He then bougiit 
the Standard, at Vermillion, South Dakota, and 
lost much of his oifice by the great Missouri 
river flood of April, 1881. He then came to 
Neligh, Nebraska, and bought the Advocate, 
July 4, 1881. This paper had been formerU^ 
called the Eayle. The Advocate is now one of 
the leading journals of Antelope Count}'. 
December 21, 1889 our subject was appointed 
|)ostmasterat Neligh, ami took possession Feb- 
ruary 15, 1890. Politically, he is a stanch 
Kepublican, and takes an active interest in cam 
paign work, having served six years as chair- 
man of the Republican County Central Com- 
mittee. As an indication that he is a loyal 
American, and not afraid to defend his convic. 
tions, it only needs to be added that September 



160 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1, 1864, he enlisted as a member of Company 
B, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
under Gen. A. J. Smith, in the Army of the Ten- 
nessee, and took part in many engagements, 
including Big Blue, Missouri, the two days 
tight at Nashville, Dec. 14 and 15, 1864, siege 
and assault on Fort Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 
18(55. He escaped without wounds or imprison- 
ments, receiving an honorable discharge at 
Montgomery, Alabama, June, 1865. 

Mr. Graves was uniteil in marriage in 1880, 
to Anna, daughter of Scott Freaner, of Canton, 
Illinois, her birth-place. By this marriage union 
have been born two children : Edna L., and 
Logan E. (named in honor of Gen. John A. 
Logan, an old acquaintance). Mr. Graves is a 
member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Com- 
mandery, of the Masonic Order, also of the 
Grand Army of the Kepublic, having filled 
nearly all of the positions in the former organ- 
izations. 

Too much credit cannot be attached to one 
who has achieved the success which hascrowned 
the efforts of this man's life. Beginning as a 
])oor boy, apprenticed to learn the printer's 
trade, he has steadily worked himself up the 
ladder of success and acconiiilishment. 



CARL P. LUNDGKEN, a representative 
farmer of Section 2G, Cuming township, 
came to Cuming County in the spring 
of 1876, and spent the lirst ten months at farm 
labor, and then went to school two months. 
The following season he purchased a yote of 
oxen and broke prairie. lie then sold his team 
anil hired out for thiee months, after 
which he bought a team and rented land for 
one year, then leased school lands of the 
State, the time specified in the lease being 
twenty years. But he sold out his lease and 
bought the farm he now occupies, which con- 
sisted of a quarter section of wild land, upon 
which he made good improvements, built a 
house. l)arn, granary, cribbing, and shedding 
foi- lifty hi'ud of cattle. lie also (lu!,^ a well ; 



planted out a three-acre grove, and an orchard 
of one hundred trees. He has one mile of 
willow hedge about his place. His farm now 
consists of two hundred and thirteen acres, one 
hundred and fifty of which is under the plow. 
He came to the county with one hundi'ed dol- 
lars in money, and has lost fifteen hundred 
dollars b}' going security for other ])arties. He 
hauled wood from Decatur to AVest Point, and 
took goods, upon which he subsisted, when he 
first came to the country. He was born in 
Sweden, August 7, 1854, the son of Daniel 
and Eva Johnson, who had four children. The 
names of these children are as follows : Ma- 
tilda Danielson (deceased), John Danielson, 
Carl P. Lundgren, and Gustaf E. Lundgren. 

Our subject remained in Sweden until he was 
twenty years of age. and then came to Burt 
County, Nebraska, remained six months, and 
came to Cuming County. He was united in 
marriage, October, 1881, to Mary Carlson, 
daughter of Daniel and Betsy Carlson, whose 
nine children were as follows : Peter, Mary, 
Betsy, Charles, Daniel, Carr\', John, and two 
who died in infanc\'. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four children : Alma, boi'n September, 1882 ; 
A'ictor. born December, 1883 ; ICllen, born Sep- 
tember. 1SS5, and Emil, born March, 1887. 

Mr. Lundgren is a member of the Farmer's 
Alliance, and favors the Prohibition movement. 

Both he and his wife- belong to the Swedish 
Mission Church. 

Our subject has been put to great e.\i)ensc 
and annoyance in regard to perfecting the title 
to his land. He bought his farm in 1880, and 
receivetl a perfect title, as shown b}' the abstract, 
and in 1889 a man brung an action against 
him that a former deed was a forgery, and tried 
to remove him from his premises. He has had 
thiee trials of the case and won in every in- 
stance. It went to the Supreme court, and was 
sent back for a new trial, and our subject won 
again, anil theca.se is back again in the Supreme 
court, and up to this dale it has cost him over 
live hundred dolhu'sto defiMul his riiihts. 



iVORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



JASPER L REWEY, a fanner of Grant 
t(nvnshi|), Cmiiing County, was born in 
Xew York, August IS, 1837, tlie son of 
Henry and ilar\' Kewey, natives of Con- 
necticut and New York respectively. Their 
seven c-iiildren were : Addison, Jefferson "W., 
.lasjier. Il&nry (deceased), Freeman J\l , Jay 
and John (tleceased). 

His parents emigrated from the Emjiire 
State when he was seven years of age ami 
located upon a farm in Grant County, Wis- 
consin, wliere he spent the years of liis minor- 
ity. Leaving home at twenty-two years of 
age, he spent a year at Pike's Peak, when he 
returned to Wisconsin. At the outbreak of the 
war for the Union he enlisted in Conij)any "C" 
Seventh Wisconsin Infanti'v, under ('aplain 
Nasmith. lie was mustered in at Madison, 
the state capital. August IS, ISfil, and was as- 
signed to the Army of the P(jtomac under 
Cjlonel Robinson. IJis was the First Army 
Corps with Rufiis King as brigadier-general, 
lie I'eceived a gun-shot wound at the battle of 
South Mountain, and still carries the ball in his 
body, in consequence of this wound he was 
dischaiged. In February, ISGJ, he re-enlisted 
in the n:ivy ami i-emained until the close of 
the war. 

Mr. Rewey came to Cuming County, Ne- 
braska, from Wisconsin in the spring of ISGS, 
and homesteaded a quarter of Section 21 
in (irant townshij). He built a sod house 
similar to the first dwellings of most of the 
pioneers of the Elkhorn Valley and broke some 
of his land. The next season he replaced his 
sod house with a substantial frame, in which he 
lived until he proved up on his claim. lie re- 
turned to Wisconsin in 1873, wliere he spent 
the next eleven years of his life engaged in 
clerking in a store and devoting his attention 
to the duties of the office of sheriff of Grant 
County for the years of 1883 and 1884, as well 
as lining several other official positions in that 
county and in the city of Platteville. 

Returnisg to his claim in Cuming County in 
1885, he improved it by erecting a C(;muiodious 



dwelling, and has since added all the otiier nec- 
essary adjuncts of a well-improved and con- 
veniently arranged farm. 

Our sui)ject was mari'ied in Jlay, ISOo, t(j 
Susan Galbraith, daughter of Amlrew J. and 
Melinda Galbraith, natives of Pennsylvania 
and Virginia I'espectively. Their four childien 
were: Eliza A., Susan. Richard and Isaac. 

Ml-, and Mi'sr Rewey are the parents of 
three children: Frank, born .lanuarv, ISO-t ; 
Lida, born February, 1874, and Jasper ],., Jr., 
born March, 1877. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican. lie 
belongs to the i[as<)nic fi'aternity, being a 
member of Loilge A'o. 114 at Wisner, Neb., 
and of Chapter \o. 2 at Platteville, Wis. He 
is also a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic. 

HERMAN liLrMEXTIlAL. the leading 
merchant of the city of Fremont, oper- 
ating the largest ami only tlepartment 
establishment in the city, established his busi- 
ness at F'remont in 1S87. with a stock of dry 
goods and clothing in two separate depart- 
ments, on Sixth and .Main streets. At lirst the 
business was conducted by Herman and Bai'uey 
I'lumenthal. This })artnership existed for one 
year, when the last named pui'chased the cloth- 
ing stock, while our subject conducted the dry 
goods department alone lor two years. At the 
end of this time the dry goods department was 
closed, and he made a trip to his native coun- 
try, s|)ending some three months, when he re- 
turned to Fremont, and opened up for business 
again, and within a few days rented one room 
in the Ward block, on Main street, his present 
location, carrying dry goods, clothing and car- 
pets. After one year he leased iheentire block, 
which contains two large I'ooms, 24x115 feet in 
depth, with four doors, besides the basement, 
into which he placed a full line of general mer- 
chandise, carrying everything in all branches, 
except groceries and hardware. He carries a 
stock of $50,000, and his i\y\ goods depaitment 
is the nu)St complete ami largest in I'lcuKUit. 



. NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



while his clothing dei)artnient can not be sur- 
passed in the West. In connection with his 
dry goods and clothing deiiartinent he also 
carries a complete stock of cloaks and carpets. 
Our subject came to Fremont from Inde- 
pendence, Iowa, he having a store at that point, 
as well as La Porte. lie is a leading business 
man of Fremont. lie has been engaged in 
trade for the past sixteen years, commencing 
the same in Vermont, from which State he 
came to La Porte, Iowa. He is a native of 
Germany, coming to this country when he was 
sixteen years of age, since which time he has 
been an active, prudent bnsiness man, and as a 
result has been very successful. His family 
consists of his wife and three sons. lie will 
soon erect a block four times his present capac- 
ity on one of the best corners in the citv. 



AUGUST KOPLIX, of Humbug precinct, 
Stanton County, residing on Section 20, 
township 2-i, range 3, accompanied his 
])arents to the county in the autumn of 1872, 
when his father took a homestead of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres. He remained at home 
until he had reached his majority and then 
i)ought a quarter section of wild land, upon 
which he placed substantial improvements, 
including good frame house, barn, shedding, 
wells and a grove about his building site and an 
orchard of fifty ti'ces. He now has eiglity 
acres under the plow, and the remainder in 
])asture and meadow land. 

Mr. Koplin was born in Germany, September, 
1860, the son of Frederick and Wilhelmena 
Koplin, natives of Germany, whose children 
were us follows: John, August, Gustave, 
Adolph, Hci'man, Louis, Pauline and Henry, 
all living in Nebraska. He of whom we write 
remained in Germany until twelve years of 
age, when he sailed for America, landed at 
Baltimore, and from that city fouml his way to 
Stanton County, Nebraska. His educational 
opportunities were not gootl. He M'as united 



in marriage on October 1st, 1889, to Henrietta, 
daughter of August and Dorathy Axen, natives 
of Germany, whose three children were: Hen- 
rietta, Charles and Ernest (twins). The father 
is a Lutheran minister and lives in Germany. 

Mr. and ilrs. Koplin are the parents of four 
children: Antony, born December 5, ls8T; 
Charles, born March 15. ISS'J ; Clai'a, born July 
17, 1890, and Arnold, born May 10, 18il2. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and in politics he favors the 
Democratic party. 

October 2, 1886, Mr. and iMrs. Kojjlin visited 
German}^ returning in December to Scribner, 
where the}' remained with Ciiarley and Ernest 
Axen, a mile or so South of Scribner. The fol- 
lowing spring, August Koplin and wife went 
to Stanton County, and erected their building. 
In Se])tember Mrs. Koplin's mother came from 
the old country to see the home of her daugh- 
ter in the West. 



BEKNAUD MONNICH,located at Hooper, 
was born in Dodge County, April 20, 
1869. the son of Gehard and Anna 
Monnich, natives of Germany, who reared a 
family of ten children : Mary. Herman, John, 
Dorah, Bernard. The other children are 
deceased. 

I'ernard worked at farming until he arrived 
at the age of his majority, when he engaged in 
the hardware and agricultural imi)lement busi- 
ness. He had a common-school education 
only, and has spent the most of his life in 
Dodge County, Nebraska. He was united in 
marriage April 21, 1890, to Barbara Uehling, 
daughter of O. Uehling, wliose sketch appears 
elsewhere in this work. To our subject and 
his wife have been born one child: Charlotte 
M., August 28, 1891. 

Mr. Monnich is a member of the Masonic 
Order and the Knights of Pythias. In religious 
matters he is a Lutheran. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. . . 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



163 



T T 71LLIAM HEXRY KAIJLS. of Xi-liol,. 

Y V Nebraska, was born in Nasliville. 

Illinois. January 25, 1S0+. llis jia- 

iciits were Henry and Mary J. (Lawton) Karls. 

Henry Karls was born in Missouri, in 18."j(>. 
llis parents came from Germany about IS.'id. 
He came to Antelope County. Nebraska, in 
May, 1872, claiming a homestead in Elgin pre- 
cinct. He now resides at Oakdale, and was 
one of the incorporators of that village. Mrs. 
Mary J. Karls is a native of Indiana; iier 
father, Thomas Lawton, was a native of N(mv 
England. He was also among the jnoneers of 
Oakdale, where he died in the aiitiinui of 
1885. 

When the Karls family came to Antelope 
County, our subject, William H., was but eight 
years of age. He attended the Oakdale public 
school during the winter and worked on the 
farm in the summer season, until twenty years 
of age, after which he engageil in teaching and 
clerking in the office of the county clerk. 
Sul)se(]iiently he was appointed (lei)uty county 
clerk, holding such office four years — 1880-89. 
In March, 1890, he accepted a position as cleric 
in the Merchants' Bank of Neligh, and has 
been its cashier since October, 1891. He is a 
stockhokler in this bank, and in connection 
with his other business writes insurance. 

October 12, 1887, he was united in marriage 
to Kate E., daughter of John T. and Candace 
J>. Nims, who was born near Koyalton, Wis- 
consin. By this union two children v.-ere born : 
Elliott Leroy and Beatrice Vernice. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with tlu! 
Democratic party, and was elected assessor of 
Neligh in 1891. lie was a candidate for 
county clerk of Antelope County in 1889. and 
served as city clerk in 189U. 



ISAAC L. GALBKAITII, of Section 22. 
Grant township, came to Cuming County 
in the spring of 1808, and located on a 
homestead of one hundred and si.xty acres 



where he now lives. Hei-e he built a si^d house, 
8.\12 feet, with a sod roof, one window, and one 
door. In this habitation lie managed to live 
for si.K montiis, when he built him a story and 
one-half frame house 14x24 feet, hauling the 
lumber with which it was built frinn Omaha, 
each trip consuming six days lime. Subse- 
quently he added to this farm house. His place 
is well provided with wells, and has a beautiful 
grove of ten acres and an orchard of sixty trees. 
He has since added to his land until he now has 
two hundred ami forty acres, one hundred and 
sixty of which is under the plow. He has trees 
upon his farm, mcasin'ing thi-ee feet in diameter, 
of his own planting. In 1890, he had eight 
head of cattle killed by lightning at one stroke. 
It was his ill-fortune to live in the country 
during the grasshopper years, and his crops were 
destroyed for several seasons. 

He of whom we wriie this sketcli is a native 
of Wisconsin, born in (irant County, Novem- 
bei', 1847, the son of Andi'ew and JIa.linda Gal- 
braith, natives of Bennsylvania and Kentucky, 
respectively. Theii' live children were: Rebecca 
(deceased); Eliza A., Susan, li. M.. I. L.. our 
subject. Three are living in Nebraska, and one 
in Wisconsin. Our sidjject remained in the 
Badger State until eighteen years of age and 
then went to Omaha, where he followeil the 
butchering business one year and followed car- 
l^enter work and on a bi'ick- yard until he came 
to the Elkhorn \'a!l(>y. settling in Cuming 
County. 

November, 1873, hi? .was married to Anna B., 
daughter of William and Mary Mann, natives 
of England and Scotland respectively. Their 
two children were: Jane and Anna 11., both 
living in Nebraska. 

To Mr. and Mrs. (iaibraith have been burn 
seven children: Charles, born September 10. 
1874; Susan, August 9, 1876; Jessie, June 15, 
1878; Chester, August 9, 1880; Jane. September 
24, 1882; Clare, August 25, 1885, and Ruby, 
March 15, 1890. Mr. Galbraith is a member of 
the Modern Woodmen of America and in ])oli- 
tics is independent. 



164 



A- OH THE A S TERN NEBKA SAA . 



FERDINAND VERGES, physician and 
surgeon, practicing at tiie Cit}' of Nor- 
folk, Nebraska, was one of the pioneers 
of Madison and Pierce Counties. He was boin 
in Prussia, Germany, August 21, 1S33, and was 
the first to establish the family name in Amer- 
ica. His father, August, and his mother, Hen- 
rietta (Siegfried) Verges, were the parents of 
two sons and one daughter: Ferdinand, of 
wlioni this sketch is written ; Frederick, a resi- 
dent of Germany, and Minnie, who died at the 
age of fifteen years. The parents of these 
children were lifelong members of the Luth- 
eran Church and both died in Germany. 

Ferdinand was educated at the high scliuol 
in his native place, and commenced reading 
medicine when twenty-one years of age, under 
the charge of Prof. Lutz. He graduated in the 
medical college Coethen, the first homoeo- 
l>athic college established. This was in 1857. 
He followed his profession in his native 
country until 1808, when, hearing of the advan- 
tages of the United States, he decided to come, 
and landed in New York in the spring of that 
year. He immediately came West, locating in 
("hicago, but hearing of Nebraska and the great 
prairies, he concluded to come and "grow up 
with the people and the country." In 1800, he 
located on a homestead in Pierce County, where 
he built the customary sod house, which served 
for two years, when he built the first frame 
house in tiiat vicinity. He took a quarter sec- 
ti(jM homestead, afterwards, took three hundred 
and twenty acres of land, making four hundred 
and eighty acres in all, two hundred of which 
he put under cultivation. In 1881, he removed 
to Norfolk, having a large ])ractice at the time, 
and found that he either had to give up his 
profession or his farm life, and chose the latter, 
and since that time has been in active practice. 
In 1880, he erected Verges Block. 

Our subject was united in marriage at Nor- 
folk, in 1873, to Miss Augusta Marqnardt, 
born in Prussia, in 1850. By this union three 
children were born, who still survive: Minnie, 
born September 21, 1S70 : Anna, born De- 



cember 25, 1881 ; Charles, born March 25, 
1884. Mrs. Augusta Verges died April 4, 
1887, and December. 1880, our sul)ject married 
Miss Mary Blaettermann, b}' wliom one child 
was born: Mary, January 28, 1801. This 
child's mother died February 2, 1801. 

In politics, Mr. Verges is liberal, aiming to 
vote for the best man at each election. While 
a resident of Pierce County he was one of the 
county commissioners. 

At the time the Doctor came to Nebraska, a 
band of Indians roamed about over the ))rairies 
on ponies and occasionally frightened the white 
settlers. At the time lie was building his dug- 
out, and while at work, he heard the brush 
crack and looking around saw two Indians and 
he thought his time hail come! He said his 
liair began to raise up. This was his first 
experience with the " noble red man," but he 
escaped without harm. He came tothecountr}' 
with but fifty dollars in liis pocket, but, by 
good management and close attention to busi- 
ness, he has accumulated a large property, and 
is one of the directors in the Norfolk National 
Bank, also of the Elkhorn Building and Saving 
Association, and president of the (^Hieen City 
Real Estate Improvement and Trust Company. 



WILLIAM A. BARNES,oneoftheenter- 
prising merchants of Battle Creek, 
Madison County, is justly entitled to 
a notice in this connection. He was born in 
Tazewell County, Illinois, March 2, 1841. The 
family are of German extraction and came to 
America prior to the Revolutionary War. The 
grandfather of our subject settled in Virginia, 
and subsequently moved to Holmes County, 
Ohio, at an early date, being the first to cross 
the Allegheny Mountains. His father, AVilliam 
Barnes, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, and 
there married Martha Richard, of an old ^''ir- 
ginia family. In 1833 the famil}' moved to 
Tazewell County, Illinois, when there were but 
a few scattering settlers in that locality. They 
took up Government land and improved the 



NOKTHEASTERN NEB K A SKA. 



166 



farm. Tlie father erected a log-cabin, with the 
old-time |)unciieon floor and covered with 
•■ shakes." He tiiere lived and made a com- 
fortable home for the family. At an early day 
he hauled li is corn to Pekin and sold it for a 
shilling per busiiel, and paid fifty cents for 
calico. Jlr. and Mrs. William Barnes were the 
parents of five children, thi'ce sons of whom 
shouldered their muskets and wore the loyaL 
blue during the Civd AVar. Lorenzo D., now 
of Cherry County, Nebraska, enlisted in Com- 
pan\' E Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
and was severely wounded through the right 
shoulder, but remained in the service until the 
war closed. Benjamin II., a member of Com- 
pany I Third Iowa Infantr3', was in tlie guer- 
rilla warfare against Price, and participated in 
the battle of Shiloh, was at the siege of Cor- 
iiilh ; at the siege and capture of X'icksburgh, 
and later transferred to the Tiiird Heavy 
I'nited States Artillery, sei'ving over five 
years. He is now a resident of Kansas. William 
A., tlie subject of this notice; Mary E., wife of 
Leo lirown. who was also a soldier in the late 
war. now a resident of Cuming County, Ne- 
braska ; Martha, wife of S. H. Thatch, of Battle 
(reek, who was a soldier in the late war, a 
Southerner but a Union soldier. The father of 
this family died in 1846, while the widow is 
still living in Cuming County, aged seventy-six 
years. 

William A. l>arues, the suljject of this notice, 
was educated in the old log-cabin subscription 
school and grew to manhood in Tazewell 
County, Illinois. Being fired with the spirit of 
patriotism and devotion to his country, in IStil 
he enlisted twice but was rejected. In 1802 he 
again enlisted, as a member of Company E 
Seventh Illinois Infantry, and was mustered 
into service at Springfield, Illinois, and from 
that point was sent direct to Corinth, Miss- 
issippi, aiTiving soon after that battle. It was 
not long before he was wounded and sent to 
Pulaski, Tennessee, where he made head- 
quarters for some time, and then went to 
Athens, Alab;ima. was dismounted and sent to 



Georgia, where the regiment purchased new 
rifles, and soon after took part in the battle 
of Altoona Pass, Monday, October 4, lSC-1, 
where iiis company lost heavily in killed and 
wounded. He then went to Rome, Georgia, 
and November 11th the regiment started with 
General Sherman on his famous "March to the 
Sea." TheSeventh Regiment, of which he was 
a member, was partly mounted, and was the 
advance guard for the Fifteenth Army Corp.*, 
and was under fire until the siege of Savannah, 
when they were sent out on the flank and sub- 
sisted-chiefly upon corn and such provisions as 
they could ]iick up by the wayside. After the 
fall of Savannah in December, 1SC4, they were 
sent to Pocotaligo, where the regiment remained 
a few days and was sent to Columbia, South 
(_!arolina, which was destroyed by fire occa- 
si(jned by the rebels having fortified the place 
by cotton bales. The city was surrendered, 
General Logan being in command of the Fif- 
teenth Aru)y Corps at the time. In March, 
18(^5, they passed into Goldsboro, and soon to 
Raleigh, North Carolina, having several skir- 
mishes on the way. AVhile en route to Raleigh, 
at Lowell news was received that Lee had 
surrendered to General Grant, and while at 
Morrisville the sail news of the assassination of 
Lincoln was received. After the surrender of 
Johnson they slaited on their nuirch to 
Richmond. \'irginia, and from thence to 
Washington, where on the 24th of May thev 
crossed tlie long briilge into the National Capi- 
tal, and participated in the Grand Review, June 
1. and went from Washington to Louisville, 
Kentucky, was mustered out at that point Au- 
gust 9, ISii:"), and sent to Camp Butler, where he 
received his final discharge. Aftei' the close of 
the war he returned to his old home, remained 
until April, 18(iC>, and then came to Madison 
County, Nebraska, arriving May 22 with L. i). 
Barnes, William II. Bradshaw, Mathias Kerr 
and David Allen, all young men. Here lie 
Iji'oke prairie and assisted in building up a 
home and was one of the first settlers in Madi- 
.son. He built the first log-cabin; whatever 



166 



,\OJiTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



lumber was needed had to be brought from 
Omaha, more than one hundred miles distant, 
the teams liaving to ford most of the streams. 

In 1870 our subject was united in marriage 
to Miss Ilannaii Gallen, a native of Iowa, born 
in Dubuque County, March 3, 1851. After 
tiieir marriage Mr. and Mi's. Barnes settled 
down upon a farm, remained until 1874 and 
then located at Battle Creek, where he has 
since been engaged in the mercantile business, 
carrying a general stock of merchandise. On 
the 4-th of July. 18(50, in company with another 
party, our subject walked within six miles of 
West Point, wliere he attended the first dance 
in Cuming County, the trip there and back 
covering a distance of ninety miles. When he 
came to the country there was plenty of game, 
such as deer, antelope and wild turkey, and the 
streams were filled with excellent fish, while 
bands of Indians passed and rejiassed ever}' 
week. Mr. Barnes was with the Indians a short 
time before the Munson tragedy of Cuming 
County occurred, wliercin a white man was be- 
headed. 

Politically, our subject is a stanch supporter 
of the Repul)lican |)arty, but in no sense can be 
classed among tiie ofiice seekers. He is a mem- 
ber of Grand Army Post No. 272, at Battle 
Creek. 

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes are the parents of five 
children : Harry, born May 27, 1871 ; William, 
born July 23, 1S7C); Millard, born June, 1878; 
Ita, born 1887. and Agnes, born 1SS9. 



J.V.MKS K. PETERS, a farmer living on Sec- 
tii)n 13, Nickerson township, came to 
Dodge County in company with his parents 
in the sjiring of 1857. They located at Fonta- 
nelle and he remained at home until he was of 
age. lie received a common school education, 
also attended a select school for a time, lie 
then went to Madison County, Nebraska, and 
took a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres and a pre-emption for tiie same amount. 
He finally gave onc-luilf of his pre-emption to 



get money to pay for the other half, which left 
him two hundred and forty acres of land, fifty 
acres of which lie broke and built a sod house 
upon, in which he lived about two years, and 
then built a log-cabin 14x16 feet; also stables, 
corn-cribsand other out-buildings. He remained 
tliere about six years, when he sold and bought 
the place he now occupies, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty acres, wiiich at the time was 
wild land. Upon this tract he built a house 
and made other necessary improvements, in- 
cluding the planting out of an orchard of three 
hundred trees and a grove of artificial timber. 

Mr. Peters was born in C()luml)iana County, 
Ohio, June, 1849, the son of James II. and 
Jane Peters, natives of Virginia and Ohio re- 
spectively, who had nine children : Samuel, 
James K., Emma, Mary, Thomas (deceased). 
Ethvard (deceased), Sallie (deceased), Lena and 
Luna, twins. Our subject lived in the Buckeye 
State until he was four years of age, at which 
time he moved to Dodge County, Nebi'aska, 
with his parents. 

He was united in marriage Octoijer, 1882. to 
Mannie Todd, the daughter of William and 
Tiebccca Todd, who were natives of Ohio and 
the parentsof the following ten children : John, 
Sarah, Lydia (deceased). James, Elizabeth (de- 
ceased), Josepii, (ieorge, Vance, Zannah atid 
Mannie. 

Our subject and his wife are tlie parents of 
three children, born as follows: William II.. 
August 15, 1883; Viola, April 11. 188."); and 
Boy S., August 22, 1889. 

Mr. and Mrs. I'eters are acceptable members 
of the Methodist E|)iscoiial Church and in )>()li- 
lics he votes the Indcnendrnt ticket. 



HE X R Y (; O RE U A M, of Section l(i, 
(iratit township, Cuming County, 
liicatcd as a renter in 1882, and the 
following year purchased a farm of two hun- 
dicd aiul forty acres, with fifteen acres of 
breaking upon it. lie finished the breaking, 
built a set of l)uildings, dug a well, set out an 



NOR THEA STERN NEBRA SKA . 



orchard of two hundred and fifty trees and an 
artificial grove of two acres. lie now has one 
liiindred and eiglity acres under tlie plow. 

lie for whom tliis sketch is written is a native 
of Canada, horn in Novend)er, 1854, tiie son of 
Warren B. and Lucinda Goreham. natives of 
New York and Canada respectively, whose ten 
children were: Henry. Piatt (deceased), Amelia 
(deceased), JIartha. Deborah, Myron, Amanda, 
Charles (deceased), Alden and I'liincas. 

Our subject moved to Clinton County, Iowa, 
with the family when a small child, his father 
purchasing a farm in that vicinity. lie lived 
at home until twenty-one yeais of age, after 
which he rented land until he came to Nebraska^ 
bringing three hundred dollars of his hai'd- 
earned money with h'ui 

Mr. Goreham was united in nuviriage in IST-I 
to C3'nderilla Pi'iarv, daughter of Thomas and 
Isabel Priary, natives of P^ngland and (.anada 
respectively, who were the parents of three 
children: CynderiUa, Sarah .1. and Rosana. 

Mr. and Mrs. Goreham arc tli(> parents of 
nine children: Piatt, May, Minnie, Earl 
Lucinda. Martha, Ilenr}', Charles, an;! Uertha. 
Our subject and his wife are both luembers of 
the Methotlist Episcopal Church, and polit- 
ically, he is a Republican. 



CII.UILES BOWER, residing, on Section 
S, of Maple township, came to Dodge 
Countv with his parents in the spring 
of 1S71, when he was about eight years of age. 
The parents located on the homestead of eighty 
acres, which had some improvements on at the 
time of their coming. The house consisted of 
a one-story structure eighteen feet square, in 
which they lived for twelve years, when the 
present house was erected. This is 10x28 feet 
with a wing sixteen feet square. He built a 
barn 2ux2() feet, a wagon-house and crib ISx-tO 
feet, besides a granary lOxlG feet and a cattle 
barn 22x32 feet. The old original house is 
used for a shop and tool house. Water is sup- 
])licd fi'iiui a dug well, to which wind-puwer is 



attached. E'even acres of an arlilicial grove 
grace the place, besides an orchard of one hun- 
dred fruit trees. Our subject has added land 
to the original homestead, until he now iuis 
three hundre<l and sixty acres, two-thirds of 
which is under the plow. He has ai)out three 
miles of fence about his premises. 

Ml'. Bower was born in Prooklyn, New 
York, October 12, 18(53, the son of George and 
Eva B. Bower, natives of Germanv, who came 
to America in IsriU, and were the parents of 
four children : Mary, George, Carrie and 
Charles. Our subject lived in Brooklyn until 
nearly eight years of age, when his people 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. Ilis advan- 
tages for an early education were limited. 

lie was married March 30, ISSO, to Rosa A. 
Beebe, daughter of Henry P. and Levina J. 
Beebe, natives of New ^Ork ami Vermont 
respectively. Their children were: Wealtliy 
S., Stedman I'.. .Iiilia F., Henry !>.. Curtis E.. 
Sarah J. and Rosa A. This family all live in 
Nebraska. 

Politically our subject casts his vote and uses 
his influence toward the advancement of the 
Pr()hil)ition party. 



JD. STROUP, located at the village of 
Hooper, came to Dodge County Au. 
gust, 1889, and engaged in the practice 
of a veterinary surgeon, which profes- 
sion he still follows. 

Mr. Stroup was born in Pennsylvania, De- 
cember, 18C2, the son of Jacob B. and Johanna 
Stroup, natives of the Keystone State, whose 
nine children were named as follows: Moses 
D., Elizabeth, Frederick. Almira, J. D., Daniel, 
Jonathan, and Amanda (deceased). 

Our sul)ject remained in his native state until 
twenty-one years of age and then spent live 
years in Kansas, after which he located in Ne- 
braska. His advantages for obtaining an edu- 
cation were good. He has followed his pro- 
fession since 1877. 



168 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He was married in April, 1882, to Alice M., 
(laiigiiter of Aciiun Castereranil wife, natives of 
Pennsylvania, wlmse ten cliiidi-en were: Lvdia 
A., Clirislo])iior, Saraii, Benjamin, Almira, 
Mary, Alice W., Emma. Perry, and Ida. 

Our suijject and his wife are the parents of 
tlie following children: John A. (deceased), 
born March IS, 1883 ; Emma J., born April 13, 
1884; J. IT. A., born May 13, 1886; Ida P.. 
born January 11. 1890. 

Politically he is identified with the Republican 
party, and is a member of the Ancient Order 
of United Workmen. 



JOHN TVM.a faiincrof Section 4, Cutterell 
townsliip, came U-) Dodge County in the 
spring of 18<i8, and took a homestead of 
eighty acres, constituting part of his 
present farm. At the time of his coming he had 
no neighbors wiiiiin tiiree miles, but about the 
same timecame ^'angildel• Banghartand family 
and iiis two brothers, Isaac and Henry, wiio lo- 
cated near him, but in llidgely township. Mr. 
'J\vm first built a shanty 14.\20 feet, boarded up 
and down, in which he lived until the fall of 
1884, when their present frame house was 
erected. This is a two-story frame building, 
24.\32 feel. His barn was erected in 1888, the 
same being a large building. His present farm 
comj)rises IfiO acres. 

Mr. Tym was born in Knox County, Ohio, 
December 23, 1838, the .son of Charles and 
Sarah (Coppler) Tym. His father was born in 
Manchester, England, while his mother was a 
native of Pennsylvania. He remained at home 
with his ])arents on the farm. His father was 
a stone mason and stone cutter, and Joljn 
learned tiie trade under him, and worked at it 
from the time he was eighteen years old until 
he was twenty -five, and worked two years at it 
after he came to Nebraska, between Lincoln 
and Crete. He also took up the trade of black- 
smithing on his own account, and erected a 
shop on his place and worked at it up to 1889, 
when his son Ph'ssos S. took tlic l)usinoss. 



Our subject was married in Knox Countv, 
Ohio, October, 1SC3, to Miss Eliza Horn, the 
daugiiterof John and Sarah Horn, both natives 
of Pennsylvania. Eliza was born in Knox 
County, Ohio, in 1839. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of one chihl : Ulysses S., 
born in Knox County, Ohio, in Novend)er, 1864. 

Mrs. Tym is a member of the Baptist Church, 
but as there is no such denominatu)n where siie 
is she attends the Methodist Church. 

Politically Mr. Tym adheres to the principles 
of the Independent party. In the fall of IS'.'l 
he was elected to the office of supervisor of 
Dodge County. He is also State central com- 
mitteeman for Dodge County foi'the Indepenil- 
ent party. 

His grandmother. Elizaijetii (Salsburry) Tym, 
was born in England March 12, 1814; came 
to America in 1832, having i)een married in 
the old counti-y. Her husband died, and for 
twenty-seven years she has been living with her 
giandson, John Tym. 

Our subject's son, Ulysses S., who married 
Miss Sadie Boggs, is now the father of two 
ciiihlren, Bessie and Ida M. 



FMJKD L. BUPtltElX, professional civil 
engineer, residing at Fi-emoiit, Dodge 
County, constitutes the subject of this 
sketch. He is a native of Boston, Massachu- 
setts, born April 26, 1855, the son of Joseph 
W. and Caroline (Hunt) P>urrell, natives of 
Weymouth, Massachusetts, and of English 
descent, coming from one of the Puritan fami- 
lies. On the maternal side, the family dates 
back to the "Mayflower," and on the father's 
side only a few yeai's later. The father of ouv 
subject died when Fred was but ten years of 
age — just when a boy most neeils the care and 
kindness of the head of a family. Our subject's 
mother is still living in Waltham, Massachu- 
setts, and is now the wife of S. W. Nash. 
There were live children in the 15urrell fam- 
ily', of which Fred is the eUlest; Bradford, 
the second ciiiid, is a hardwai'c nuMvliant at 



NORTUEASTERM NEBRASKA. 



Bee Nebraska; Arthur, the third chikl, is a 
resident of Indiana, proprietor of one of tiie 
rolling mills at AVabash ; Grace, wife of William 
\\. Hotel), of Amhurst, New Hampshire, a cap- 
italist ; Annie W., wife of Hon. C. II. Loud, 
owner of a lai'ge cattle ranch near l\[iles City, 
ifontana. 

The father of our subject was a leather and 
boot and shoe manufacturer, hanillingthe hides 
from the time they left the aniuial until they 
were in footwear ready for use. He was a res- 
ident of Alabama when he died, having I'esided 
at Camden, tluit state, from 1854 until the 
time of his death, which occurred April '2fi. 
1865. He was shot by a soldier in the I'nion 
army (one Lieutenant Ellis). However, Mr. 
llui'rel was a stanch Union man. He was but 
thirty-six years of age at his death. He was a 
jirominent member of the ]Masonic fraternity. 
He operated the largest leather concei'U in the 
South. 

Fred L. spent ten years of his life in .-\la- 
liaina, after which his mother reiuoved to 
Massachusetts, where he made his home until 
twenty-one years of age. When he was sixteen 
years of age, remarkable to relate, he had 
passed through the high school and commenced 
the study of civil engineei'ing, by taking a j)re- 
paratory course at Harvard; but owing to sick- 
ness, he had to abandon that cour.se, and went 
out with a corps of engineers with Professor 
Ilenck, with whom he received a practical as 
well as a theoietical training. He was thrown 
with such men, in actual field work, for a few 
years, and at the age of twenty-one came to 
Wahoo, Nebraska, where he spent two years, 
working at his vocation, after which he went 
to Furnas (Jountv, Nebraska, and spent three 
years in locating Government lands, and there 
located a homestead. From 1S81 until 1885 
he was back and forth between Cleveland, 
Ohio, and his homestead. He was engaged in 
city work as engineer, and served as deputy 
county surveyor at Cleveland for two years, 
and was also employed on a division of the 
Lake Shore railroad in the maintenance of way 



department. In 1885, he was engaged by a 
banking company at North Loop, Nebraska. 
After nine months at that point he located at 
Omaha, renuiining one year, and in the spring 
of 1887 came to Fremont to su])erintend I he 
Fremont Stock Yards Comj)any"s work in lo- 
cating their yards, and was also engaged with 
the Elkhorn Railroad Company. He was city 
engineer in Fremont during the years ]S8S-S!t, 
when he did the work for the city on the pub- 
lic improvements. As an evidence of his skill 
as a civil engineer, the subjoined, whicii ap- 
peared in one of the Fremont jiapers concern- 
ing a prize that he won in Manitoba, is inserted : 

About the first of August, Engineer 
E. L. Burrell, of this city,saw an advertisement 
in the J'Jnyiueer'uig News of New York, in 
which tlie city of Brandon. Manitoba, invited 
plans and specifications for the work, offering 
a premium of ^250 for the best system. ^Ir. 
Ikirrell went to work on a set of plans and 
soon after forwarded them to the city oHicials. 
Upon receipt of them the latter notified him 
that there were then on file eighteen other sets 
to compete with his. This was the last heard 
of them until to-day, when Mr. Burrell was 
made happy by the receipt of a notice from J. 
C. Kerr, city clerk, notifying him that his had 
been accepted and that the award was his. 

This speaks volumes for j\Ir. Burrcll's abil- 
ity in his profession and confirms the good 
judgment of the numerous Nebraska cities 
which have employed him for that |)urpose. 
There are several others about to put in 
water-works systems and should they consult 
Mr. Burrell they will be in the hands of a 
safe and competent guide. 

May 1, 1889, our subject formed a partner- 
ship with J. W. Andrews, under the firm name 
of Andrews & Burrell. 

Politically, ]\[r. Burrell is a supporter of tiie 
Republican party. He is a member of the 
Masonic Fraternity, Iris Lodge No. 229, at 
Cleveland, Ohio, also belongs to Centennial 
Lodge No. 59. Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows, at F'remont. 



170 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He was united in marriage, December 20, 
18S2, at Lima, Ohio, to Miss Nellie Barney, 
daugliter of F. O. and Susan M. (Dean) Barne\'. 
Mr. and Mrs. Burrell are tiie parents of two 
children: William Raymond, born December 
17. 1885, and Gladys, born July 29, 1890. 



JOHX McKEAGE, a book-keeper employed 
at the village of Hooper, came to Dodge 
County in the month of December, 1882. 
lie came to the place as a station agent, 
wliich position he held for four years, after 
which he clerked in a store six months, and 
then operated the Wick wire Hotel for about 
six months, at the end of which time he engaged 
iiimself with A. M. Spooner, as a book-keeper, 
in what is now tiie Nye <fe Schneider Company. 
He was born in Industry, Pennsylvania, July 
Ifi. 1851, the son of Robert and Hannah Mc- 
Keage, both natives of the Keystone State, and 
whose five children were as follows: Mary, 
John, Smith G., Nellie and Katie. 

Our subject lived in Pennsylvania until he 
was twentv-five years of ago, when he went to 
Kane (\)unty, Illinois, where he worked for the 
C'liicago & Noith-Western Railroad Com|mny 
for SIX years as their station agent. From that 
jioint he was sent to Hooper, Nebraska. 

lie w;is uniti'd in marriage in June, 1881, to 
.\ettie !•'. Coleuian, daughter of Sumner and 
Marietta N. Coleman, natives of Vermont, 
whose ten children were: Mary, Charles J., 
(ieorge S., Sumner I^I., Nettie F., Frederick W., 
Eliza B., Frank A.. James K., and Henry (de- 
ceased). 

He and iiis wife arc the parents of four chil- 
dren, born as follows^ Blossom, July 25, 1882; 
Robert Sumner, October 2-1:, 1884; Charles 
Irwin, July •;, is'.to, ;uul Jay Angus, July 26. 
1892. 

Politically, our subject is identified with the 
Republican parly, and in society matters is a 
member of Hooper Lodge No. 22(5, Ancient 
Order of rniU'il Workmen. 



ADAM STOLTENBERG, one of the rep- 
resentative German farmers of Pleas- 
ant Valley township, and whose farm 
home is on Section 30, came to Dodge County 
in the month of November, 1872 ; taking a 
homestead of eighty acres, the same being a 
part of his present farm. The first winter after 
coming to the county he lived on his brother's 
farm in a small shanty, and the following spring 
built a sod house, 12x24: feet, on his own place. 
During the summer he provided this iiouse 
of earth with a shingle roof, and it served tiiem 
until 1875, when he erected a one-story frame 
house, 12x24 feet, which is the kitchen of his 
present house. His new house is 24x28 feet, 
one-story and one-half high. In 1884 he built 
a barn, granary and corn cribs. He has added 
to his original lands until he now has three 
huiulred and sixty acres, two hundred and fifty 
of which is under cultivation. I'pon coming to 
Dodge County, our sui)ject had a team, a few 
cows and tliirly-six dollars in money, one-half 
of which he had to pay to secure his iiome- 
stead. The earlier years of his residence in 
these |)arts were anything but a continued I'ouml 
of jileasure. The soil was productive, the show- 
ers frecjuent, and he lacked not industry, but 
grasshoppers paid their annual visits to this 
section of Nebraska, and devoured what liie 
tillers of the soil could I'aise. In this connection 
it may be i-ecorded that Dowlini>- k, Purcell, of 
North Bend, were running a general store at that 
time, and they, having confidence in our subject, 
carried him on their books and trusted him for 
goods until such timesashe could pay them. \\\ 
this way he was enabled to subsist in those dark 
days. 

Mr. Stoltenberg is a native of Germany and 
was born inllolstein, February 4, 1837, the son 
of Hans 11. and A. (Paustain) Stoltenberg. 
Our subject remained at iiome with his parents 
until ho was twenty years of age, and then went 
to Denmark and engaged at digging clay of a 
peculiar (|uality, which was used by the farmers 
as a fertilizer for their land. At this he worked 
by thejoijiuul made abuut one dollar per day. 




*t . ,. 




^^ 



^Ht-mJ^Z- 



MORTIIEASTERN^ NEBRASKA. 



173 



whicli lie considered good Avages. lie was tliere 
most of tlie time until 18(5?), after wliicli he re- 
turned to Germany and woriced out for as low 
as fifty dollars per year : but during tiie month 
(if April, ISTc, when nature was putting on her 
robes of beauty, he in company with liis wife 
and three children, fatiier and mother, sailed for 
America, going direct to Davenport, Iowa, 
wliere he woriced on the farm by the day until 
llie fall of 1872, which was the date of his com- 
ing to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

He was married in Germany, October 11, 
1S(!1, to Miss Margai'et Denker, daughter 
of Peter and Elsbe (Piper) Denker, by which 
marriage union twelve children were born: 
Anna (deceased), Emma C, Wilhelmena (de- 
ceasetl). Hans P., Gustave, Herman, Elizabeth, 
Anna M., Paul, Ulrich (deceased), jMarv, Caro- 
line 0. 

Vly. ami Mrs. Stoltenberg, together wiih 
their family, are members of the German Luth- 
eran (JIuirch. 

Politically, our subject is an independent and 
votes for the man and not the |)aity. He be- 
liings to the Dodge County Grange. 

His father and mother came from Scott Coun- 
ty. Iowa, to Dodge County, Nebraska, in 1ST4, 
and soon after the father died, aged about sixty- 
six years. His good wife makes her home with 
her daughter Mrs Ladehoflf. 



LEWIS A. WARNEPt. proprietor of the 
Maple \'alley Stock Farm of ]\Iaple 
township, i-esiding on Section i!, came to 
Dodge County in the autumn of 186T, and first 
located near Nickei'son, where he rented land 
lor three seasons. The first winter he was in 
the country he 'lived in a dug-out and then 
moved into a Cottonwood structure and lived 
the remainder of the three years. Upon dom- 
ing to this county he was too poor to buy feed 
for his horses the first year. His earthly 
efTects as lie wendeil his way into Dodge 
County consisted of his covered wagon, two 
pan of mares, four colts and two cows. After 



the three yeare above mentioned our subject 
removed to Maple Creek and went in conijiany 
with a man from Kcntiickv in the stock busi- 
ness. He furnished one thousand dollars and 
the land to raise grain on. Their partnership 
was to exist for eight years, but finally lasted 
nine j'ears, at the end of which time he bought 
a part of the laml he now occupies. This land 
was partly improved and cost him eighteen 
dollars per acre. At the same time he bought 
four hundred acres, at ten dollars j)er acre, 
causing him to go in debt, on three years' time, 
to the amount of three thousand dollars. This 
was a tract of wild land, upon which he made 
first-class improvements, including a story and 
one-half farm house, 2-1x125 feet, a barn 14x4o 
feet, several large corn cribs, scale house and 
Fairbanks scales, and self-feeder for cattle, and 
a three hundretl and twenty -two foot shed. 25 
and 28 feet wide, part floored with oak timbers. 
In addition to this he has assisted two of his 
sons to houses and criljs with a ca])acitv for 
holding nine thousand bushels of corn, weigh- 
ing scales and other improvements. His place 
is furnished with water, dei'ived from wells 
l)ored, elevated b\' wind-power. He has a 
supply tank, separate, for cattle, lnjrses and 
hogs. He has five hundretl rods of willow 
hedge and shade trees and an orchard of two 
hundred bearing trees, and one hundred and 
twenty young apple trees set out. His total 
crib capacity on the farm is twenty-two thou- 
sand bushels. He now has seven hunilred and 
twenty acres under fence, and five hundred and 
fifty under the plow. He has also purchased 
six hundred acres of land in Oi-egon, for one 
of his sons. i)aying three thousaml dollars for 
the same. 

The first year our subject lived in the country 
his family were compelled to use unbolted 
Hour ("shorts") for brea<l, and meat was ob- 
tained by his gun in killing game. He shot 
two deer within one-fourth hour of each other 
upon one occasion, and he is considered one of 
the best shots in the State with the rifle, and 
has two of the finest rilles made, one mounted 



If4 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



with telescope sight. Mr. Warner was born in 
Warren County, Indiana, November 22, 1832, 
the son of Asa and Hannah J. Warner, natives 
of Connecticut and New York respectively, and 
were the parents of six children : Lewis A., 
Daniel D , Robert C, James T., William E. and 
Ilarvev A. The father and mother are both 
lieceased. Tiie former died in Indiana and the 
latter in Nebraska, at her son's house. The 
father had a cancer in tiie mouth, which caused 
his death. Our suljject remained in tiie Iloosier 
State until he was eight years of age, when 
tlie familv removed to Illinois, the father being 
(lead at the time. The mother subsequently 
married again, and our subject remained at 
iiumo until fifteen years of age, when he went 
to driving five yoke of oxen as a breaking 
team at a salary of $7 per montii. giving his 
earnings to his stepfather. lie then hired out 
l)v tiie year, on a farm, for which he received 
his boarii, clothes and $.jO in money. At the 
end of each year he put his money out at inter- 
est, drawing ten per cent. This he did for 
two vears. lie then liired out at $15 per 
month for one year, at the end of which time 
he bought a team and rented land for one 
vcar. IIo then traded his team for cattle and 
went to breaking prairie. He broke fifty acres 
for which he received a yoke of steers and $10. 
We next find iiim moving to Missouri with his 
team and wagon, where he followed breaking 
for the remainder of that season, and then 
moved to I3utler County, Iowa; this was in 
1856, the year of the "deep snow." He bought 
forty acres of land, lived there during the 
winter, sold out and in llie spring of 1857 went 
back to ]\[issouri and purchased forty acres of 
wild land, wiiich lie held for two years, sold and 
bought eighty acres of wild land, upon which he 
built a iiouse and made other improvements; 
also later added one iiundi-ed acres. It will be 
remembered tliat this was during the Civil War 
jieriod, and he was greatly annoyed by the guer- 
rillasand bush wliackcrs. August 28, ISG-i, at a 
time when our subject had inflammation of the 
eves, he went to town lo.seea physician, who j)er- 



formed an operation upon them ; Major Dodson, 
who was quartered in the court-house, gave him 
advice that there were guerrillas ahead, and 
to be on the lookout ; however, he arrived 
home safely and turned out his only horse, it 
Ijeingtlien very dark. He had hidden his fire- 
arms outside the house before going to town. 
He went to bed. and, about 1 o'clock in the 
morning, heard a noise resembling shooting, 
and upon waking he found his house sur- 
I'ounded by guerrillas. Ujjon approaching, one 
of their numi)er said : " Look out, he is well 
armed ;" and another exclaimed : '• We are, too, 
by G — (II "■ They guarded each door and win- 
dow and demanded the door to be o))ened and 
the surrender of his fire-arms. Our subject 
opened the door, when one of the number said: 
" Give up your arms, or we will blow your 
d — d brains out." •' Shoot the black son of 
a b — "' exclaimed another. Warner then ex- 
claimed : '"I was to town to day to have my 
eyes treated and Major Dodson woukl not let 
me bring my fire-arms home." Says another : 
"Thai's too d — dthin." Stillanother exclaimed: 
"Where is the rope ^ If he don't deliver u]) 
the guns we will blow his i^rains out." Where- 
upon Warner replied : " I can not give them 
up unless you go with me to town." The men 
then made a search in the Iiouse, did not find 
the guns, but saw a violin, and commanded 
him to play them a tune. He attemjjted to 
play, when one of them remarked, ''Lay that 
violin down, or you are a dead man." Warner 
obeyed orders! 

He was in his night clothes, and the}' ordered 
him to i)ut on his coat and vest, which he did 
promptly. Then rang in his ears — and does 
to this day — the words: " Yon d — d hkick lie- 
indillcan — walli (dony.'^ He iharched out, and 
as he walked along under the curtain of night, 
he threw his pocket-book (which contained a 
few dollars) into the yard, believing that it 
might be found by his family. As they 
passed into the road and turned to the 
east, the twelve men divided themselves — 
four ahead, four behind, and two on cither 



NORTHEASI i 



side. Those behind would reach over and hit his 
head, saying, "'D — n you, run"! Tiiey liad 
given him a cliase ])i-evious to this and he iiati 
outgeneraietl them and got away ; l)ut after 
tiiev liad gone about one iiundred yards tliey 
st(ipi>ed, and two of them rotle to one side and 
counseled together, uiiich gave him to iielieve 
that his end hatl come. They ordered iiim to 
get his lire-arms, or take one iiundred hislies 
witli a I'ope which they (Ujubled and twisted 
Hiic a wliij). Warner replied to them : " 1 am 
in your power gentlemen, what I told you 
lirst I tell you last."' One of the numi)er dis- 
mounted; taking the rope in both hands, he 
struck him twenty times, while the other man 
counted the blows, and when he said " twenty^ 
he gave hira three blows more, wliereupon 
"Warner exclaimed: "You might as well shoot a 
man as to treat him in this manner;" but 
they replied: " Consider yourself d — n well off 
as you are " {he did too). They^ ordered him 
to throw up his right hand and said if he was 
ever caught taking up arms again, the penalty 
would be death, and ordered him back to the 
house, which order Avas very pleasing to his 
ears and was promptU' obeyed. 

Mr. Warner i-ecognizcd two of the men by 
their voices, and knew them to be desperate 
l)ush-whackers, who were lead by Tice Cain, 
who had killed two of his neighbors. He 
managed, therefore, to keep his fire arras close 
at hand about thirty feet from the house in a 
fence corner, and on one occasion, after having 
scouted all da}', he rode along late in the even- 
ing, by the house of a neighbor, when a man 
run out, wiiom he recognized as one of the men 
who had marched him out on the night spoken 
of. His gun being on the horn of his saddle, 
and in haste, the gun was discharged before he 
got good aim, consequently he did not get his 
man, and he escaped into the brush. When 
his comrades came up they wanted to know 
what he was shooting at, and he told them that 
lie was shooting at Isaac Smoot, he supposed. 
'• Where is he? " "He is here in the brush." 
'• Vou go one wav and I will the other, and 



look for him." He then reloaded his gun, but 
they did not find their man, but upon further 
searcli they found his nest, which consisted of 
a V. S. Government coat, a blanket, two sheets 
and a pillow. 

Having met the man lli;it owned the place 
(he being a rebel uniler bonds) ordered him to 
report at the house, when he rode thi'ough the 
timber in search of his man. He met another 
man, who had heard the report of his gun 
and came to learn the cause ; this man proved 
to be Captain Smith, a I'nion man, and they, 
with liie man who owned the place and his 
own scouts, met at the corner of his own field, 
when Captain Smith took this man in charge. 
Mr. Warner made the proposition to Smith, 
that his men take charge of this man, while 
they made further search in the brush ; this was 
finally agreed to. They took a scout through 
the brush, when Smith projiosed to return, as it 
was of no use. Warner replied: " I will make 
one more round. " Passing through a field 
and over a piece of brush-land dismounted. 
He did not go far when he discovered a horse 
tied to a tree. Keeping well on his guard, he 
apjiroached the horse cautiously. This was 
found to be a horse that belonged to Colonel 
Merrill of the Eleventh JHssouri Cavalry. The 
horse was taken in charge and rode to the 
house, two men were left to guard the horses, 
leaving but two to guard the house. It was 
now after dark and they a])proached tiie house 
from the west side. He whispered to his com- 
rade to take his station at the northwest corner, 
shielded by a rail fence; for by so doing he 
could guard the north side of the house, while 
Warner guarded the south side. He had not 
been there long before he heard voices near the 
house on the east side, and a man started to 
go north, whereupon the guard pulled the trig- 
gers of a double-barreled shot gun, but both 
barrells failed to discharge, when his guard 
whispered "Here, here" as a man passed 
through the gate. Warner pulled on him with 
his riHe when all was quiet. Warner ))assed 
a gun, loaded with buck-shot, to his partner 



176 



N\ik / ii i: AM ERN NEB A' A SKA . 



flirecting liim if he heard a noise to shoot, and 
finally he iieard a noise and dischai'j^etl tiie j^iin, 
the recoil of wiiicii skinneii his check and i)rolie 
his nose, whereupon the man they \ve"e watch- 
ing returned the shot by firthg his revolver, 
liut missed iiis aim and no one was hurt, 
except AVarner's jmrd'a none and face, which 
was pretty badly bruised, but he was grit and 
never said a word or complained. 

Thus it went on from month to month, witli 
anything l)ut a pleasant situation between the 
years 18G1 and 1S65, for the hardships endured, 
the skii'niishes he ])artook in. and especially the 
stripes he had received at liic iiands of a mob, 
who gave him twenty lashes with the rope. I>v 
ordei- of General Scliofield he was granted one 
thousand dollars, but the ordiM- was revoked by 
President Lincoln, for the reason that it would 
do injustice to citizens who iiad to pay tax (of 
the llcbel persuasion) in those counties. Tiie 
('a[)tain Sinitii aljove referrcid to was killed 
with fifty-live of his men, by Bill Anderson, 
after they had surrenderet! at the Centralia 
massacre. 

Our subject remained in Missouri until after 
the war, and was bondsman lor the sheriff who 
defaulted to the amount of thirty-eight thou- 
sand dollars, which reduced Mr. Warner's 
))roperty to almost notliing, antl after which 
he loaded his family into a "' prairie schooner,'" 
and set .sail for Dodge County, Xebra.ska. 

He was united in marriage April 18, 185;), to 
Mahala McCoy, daughter of Peter and Myra 
McCoy, natives of Nortii Carolina, whose seven 
children were as follows: Jacob, Mahala, Su- 
sana. Mary ,]., Mary, Malinda and Elizabeth. 

Mr. and Mrs. Warner are the parents of a 
family, bom in the following order : John II., 
William E., M:uy J., ^[yra A., Robert E., and 
Sarah E. 

Our subject has voted the Democratic ticket 
for the past three years, and has held the office 
of justice of the peace for eighteen years; has 
been assessor of his township and was one of 
the supervisors two j'ears. Poth J[r. and Mrs. 
Warner are members of the Christian Church. 



The career of our subject has been one 
replete with thrilling and liistorical events. 
He commenced life as a toiler, and has toiled 
through all these years, and finally been 
crowned with success. His experience among 
the guerrillas during the Civil War was 
indeed a hard one. War is always cruel, but 
nothing compares to a civil war, where brother 
is against brother, and neighbor against neigh- 
bor. As our subject looks back over his life, 
and thinks of the hair-breadth escapes and mis- 
fortunes he has had, there must come a satis- 
faction to him to know that in his declining 
years his lot has been cast in goodly ])laces, 
living as he does in one of the best States in the 
Union and a citizen of one of the best counties 
in that State, while peace and ])lonty reign on 
every hand. 

He had three brothers that served in the 
army.- Two were under General Sherman in 
his famous Mai'ch to iheSea, and one was with 
General JlcXeal lighting guerrillas in Missouri. 

During the summer of 1892, accompanied by 
liis wife, Mr. Warner made a tour of the Pa- 
cific coast, visiting all the principal cities, includ- 
ing Victoria, British (Joluuibia; hunting in the 
Cascades, and was at Poitlaud and witnessed a 
procession over two miles long on '• Columbus 
Day."' 

Ilis whole trip on water and land covered 
about 6,000 miles. I^Ir.Wai'ner was well equip- 
])eil for such a trip, for he possessed an aner- 
oid ]iocket barometer and compass to guide him, 
and three guns of the best finish and make. He 
is a great lover of fire-arms, and though sixty- 
years of age can " wipe many the young man's 
eye." The highest jjoinl he reached was '.),0.'iO 
feet. 



FPEDEKIC W. PICHAPtDSON, county 
clerk of Madison Coun^j*', is a native 
of Winnebago County, Illinois, born 
July 31, 184i, the son of Charles AV. Rich- 
ardson, a native of Vermont. His mother 
was Edna (Pluliollow) Richardson, a native of 
New York. When sixteen years of ajre 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



CMiM'les Kicliardsoii nioveil lo New "^'oik 
Slate, where he was married in 1830, and 
eiiiii^rated to, ami located near, Ivonieo, Jliclii- 
gaii. In about lSi2 they removed lo 'Win- 
nebago County, Illinois, which at tiial time 
was a wild, unsettled country, but in lliai un- 
surpassed section known as liock Iliver Valley. 
In 184!t it IS found that this family moved to 
Clayton County, Iowa, whei'e the father pur- 
cliasetl government land and made a home. 
They were the parents of eight children : 
Elizabeth, married J. E. Chase, and died in 
1S72, at ilillville, Iowa; Sarah, wife of George 
W. Schnell, now a resident of Madison County, 
Nebraska; Ileniy, who served in the Twelfth 
Iowa Infantry, as a member of Company H, 
and was at the battles of Fort Donaldson and 
Shiloh, where he was taken ])i'isoner aud died 
at Macon, Georgia, from sheer starvation ; 
Edward, also a member of the same regiment, 
was at Fort Donaldson, was taken prisoner 
at the same time, and also died at Macon ; 
George E., who was a member of the Four- 
teenth Iowa Infantry, served three years, and 
is now a resident of Butler County, Nebraska ; 
F. W., the subject of this sketch ; Charlotte, 
when last heard of, residing in Maryland ; 
Albert I'., a resident of Madison County, 
Nebraska. '' 

Mrs. Richariison died in Clayton County, 
Iowa, in 1853, while her husband survived 
until December, 1887, and died in Madison 
County, Nebraska. He also took part in the 
Civil War, being a member of Company D 
Twenty-first Iowa Infantry. 

F, W. was educated at the district schools 
of Clayton County, Iowa, and has worked his 
own way through life. He too possessed the 
spirit of loyalty and patriotism, which pre- 
vailed to such a large degree in this family. 
July, 1862, he became a member of Compan}' 
G Twenty-first Iowa Infantry, and was mus- 
tered into service at Dubuque. In September 
he was sent to the front and spent the wititer 
in Missouri, llis first engagement was at Fort 
Gibson, Jlississippi, and from thei'e to Vicks- 



burg, and was in the charge at lilack liiver 
liiidge, siege and capture of N'icksburg, also 
at Jackson, Mississippi, and then relurned to 
Yicksburg and was sent to the (iulf and on to 
Indianola, Texas. .He remained thi'ough the 
winter and then went to Mobile and took part 
•in the capture of Spanish Fort and Blakeley. 
Our subject was mustered out at Baton Kouge, 
Louisiana, July 15. ISO."), and icluincd to 
Clayton County, Iowa. 

He was married in the above named county 
in ISO", to Jliss Emily Bartlett, daughter of 
Lewis Baillett, a native of \'irginia. In 18C(t, 
he came to Madison County, Nebraska, and 
claimed a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres, which he still owns. I'pon this tract of 
land he erected a log-house sixteen feet squai'e, 
providing the same with a dirt roof, while the 
lloor was of the same material. Their nearest 
nuirket point was Columbus, about fifty miles 
distant. The old log-cabin has been replaced 
by a frame structure, situated within a beauti- 
ful grove, planted out in an early day by our 
subject. He has lived to see this section of 
Nebraska transformed from the wild prairie 
state, witli Indians h(!re and there, roaming 
about over tlieir hunting-ground, to a well- 
'tilled country thickly populated with highly 
intelligent people. 

Politically Mr. Uichardson believes in the 
general principles of the Republican ]iarty. He 
cast his first presidential vote for President 
Lincoln, while in the army. In ISSl he was 
elected to the office of county treasurer of 
Madison County, but by reason of fraud was 
deprived of the office for one year, which was 
given to him after a contest in the Supreme 
Court of the State. 

In 18S3 he was re-elected to the same posi- 
tion and in 1889 to the office of county clerk. 
He was re-elected in 1891, and is the present 
incumbent. He is a member of Madison Lodge 
No. 85, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and belongs to the Grand Army Post at Battle 
Creek, he being post commander of the 
same. 



NORTH E A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are the parents of 
nine children : George E., assistant recorder 
in tlie county clerk's ollice ; Edna E., a gradu- 
ate of ^ladison high school ; Amy, also a 
graduate of Madison iiigli sciiool ; ]>ertiia, 
Frederick W., .Ir., Albert li., liuth. liichard 
and Frank. 



BERTFL FKANDSEX. <jne of tlio n-prc- 
sentative farmers of Elkhorn luwn- 
ship, residing on Section 22, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1880. He first 
located at Fremont, where he rented a house 
and engaged in the business of dyeing, which he 
followed for two years, and then took up a 
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres 
upon which he still lives. Here he made the 
necessary improvements, huilt a story and one- 
half house; a good, but small, barn, set out a 
grove, and now has eighty acres enclosed. 

Our subject was born in Denmark, October, 
1841, the son of Ferands Hanson, whose wife 
was Mary Hanson, who reared a family of eight 
children: Hans, Dorthea, Martin, Maria, An- 
drew, Bertel, Sine and Frank. 

JJertel remained in his native land until twen- 
ty-nine years of age, when he came to America, 
landing at New York, where he remained two 
years as hostler at a hotel. He went from 
there to Wisconsin, where he engaged at catch- 
ing lish for five years. We next find him at 
Xortli Port, Miciiigan, where he engaged at 
farming and lishing for two years and then 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. Prior to 
his coming to this country, he received a good 
common school education and was engaged in 
the mercantile business. 

Mr. Frandsen was married January 20, 1874, 
to Mina Jacobson, of Denmai'k. She had four 
sisters and one brother, all in Denmark except 
two sisters who live in America. Her parents 
are both dead. She died in Wisconsin, i)ecem- 
ber, 1874, after giving birth to a daughter, 
named Ida, who died August 7, 1880, at Fre- 
mont, Nebiaska. 



May 20, 1878, our subject married for his 
second wife ]\[ettie Jepsen, a native of Den- 
nuirk, who had four sisters and two brothers '• 
Pergctta, Chresten, Anna, Allen, Nels and 
Christina. Py this marriage our subject has 
had four children : Martha, born June 7, 1880; 
Ira, born May 10, 1883, Andrea, born May 27, 
1685; and Einora, born June 17, 1887. all of 
whom are living. 

()ur subject and his wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the ]\Iethodist Episcojial Churcii, ami 
politicall}' he affiliates with the Republican 
)iarty and is treasurer of his school district. He 
was a soldier in his native country in 1854-.')."i 
during the war between Denmark and Prussia. 
He was in the navy department one ycai-. 



RICHARD I. THEW, of the lirm of Tiiew 
& Ilildum, dealers in hardware at North 
Bend, came to Dodge County and 
located at North Bend in the s])ring of 1S8G as 
a buyei' and shipper of live stock, which lie fol- 
lowed for two years, during which time lie also 
carried on a farm in Saunders County. At the 
end of that time he sold the farm and bought 
the hardware business belonging to A. K. 
Walla, of North Bend, which he has since con- 
ducted. "^ In the autumn of 1889 he took his 
son-in-law, A. L. Ilildum, in as a ])artncr. 
Mr. Thew was born in Mai'ion County, Ohio, 
October 22, 1845, the son of Henry and Han- 
nah S. (Ilayward) Thew, both natives of F^ng- 
land. In September, 1892, J. A. Wolfe 
purchased Mr. Iliklum's interest in the 
hardware business when the firm became 
known as Thew & Wolfe. The 29th of 
the same month a sweeping fire destroyed their 
property and October 10 they began to rebidid 
and by the middle of November the same yeai- 
they were doing business in new quarters. 

IleniT, father of our subject, was born in 
Lincolnshire, England, June 10, 1815. He was 
the son of Richard and Ann (Bothanley) Thew, 
also a native of England. Richard witii his 
family came to America in 1824, and settled in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



179 



iiiclilanil County, Ohio, where he resided until 
liis deatli. His wife also died there. Henry 
Thew went from Richhind County to Marion 
County- in 1829. He learned the shoenialcer's 
ti'ade and followed that business in Marion 
County twelve years, when he disposed of iiis 
busini'ss, and in 1S4S bought a farm of three 
iiundred and ten acres. He began life with 
nothing but his own energies. January 30, 
ls;!'j, he maiiieil Hannah S. Hay wai'd,ilaughter 
of Isaac and Ann (Shephard) Hayward from 
Kngland and they were the parents of eight 
children. His wife died February 11, 1872, and 
October 8, 1874, he married Emma Bothamley. 
He died in Marion County, Ohio. June, 1887. 

Our subject, Richard Thew, remained at 
home with his parents until he was twenty- 
three years of age, and then went to Marion 
County, Ohio, continuing until March, 1872, 
and then came to Saunders County, Nebraska, 
where he took a homestead of one hundred and 
sixty acres, upon which he lived until the 
spring of 188(5, when he came to North Bend. 

He was married in Marion County, Ohio, in 
ISf'iB, to Miss Ettie Moi'ris, daughter of S. and 
Mary (Stevenson) Morris. The father isa native 
of 01iio,wliile the mother was born in Maryland. 
Ettie was born in Marion County, Ohio, in 
1850, and there remained with her parents until 
tlie date of her marriage. As a result of this 
marriage union, four children were born : Edith 
10., born in Marion County, Ohio, and now the 
wife of A. L. Hildum and the mother of one 
ciiild : Mildred ; Guy M. (deceased) , Henry 
II. and Anna M. 

Mrs. Thew is a member of the Metiiodist 
Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Ancient 
( )r(ler (jf United Workmen, Loilge No. 25, and 
in ])olitics he votes the Repul)lican ticket. 

Mrs. Thew is proprietor of the Ilildum House 
:il \orlh IJend and is a very popular landlady. 

CIIAULES K.WATSON, one of the enter- 
prising business men of North Bend, 
and manager of ttie Ciiicngo Lumber 
Company, commenced operations at this point 



in the spring of 1889, having purchased the 
lumber yard of S. K. Howell, Jlr. Watson 
came to Dotige County that sjjring anil took 
charge of the business for the company. 

For a time, our subject worked in a lumber 
yard at A.xtell, Kansas. He went to Norfolk. 
Nebraska, in January', 1889, and was ihert' 
engaged with the Chicago Lumber Company 
until May, 1889, at which time he located at 
JSorth Bend. 

CHARLES II. WILDE, a farmer of Section 
31, Garfield township, was among the 
earliest settlers of Cuming County, com- 
ing as he did in June, 1867. He located on the 
farm he now occupies, which at the time con- 
sisted of a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres, together with four hundred and eighty 
acres of wild lanil which he purchased. In 
order to provide his place with a house he was 
compelled to haul lumber from Omaha. This 
was the first house in Cuming County huilt of 
2nne lumber. At that time there was but one 
house at West Point. This house served him 
sixteen years, when he erected his present resi- 
dence. He provided his place with a grove of 
twenty acres and added small fruit in great 
abundance. He now has three hundred acres 
under the plow and the balance in ])asture and 
MU'adow Luul (Miually as valuable. It was his 
ill-fortune to be in the country during the 
gi'asshopper raid between 1873 and 187*!, during 
which period he lost much by these little 
winged pests, and at another time he lost 
ninety acres of grain by hail. When he first 
came to the country he was compelled to go 
twenty-three miles to mill and OnuUia was his 
nearest market place. All the streams had 
to be f )rded,as no bridges had been constructed 
at that early day. 

Our subject was born in (;(!rinany. Fein-uary, 
1826, the son of Charles II. and Mary AVilde, 
natives of the Goi'inan Empire, whose three 
children were: August, Matilda and Charles H. 

The first twenty-five yeai's of our subject's 
life was spent in iiis luitive country, after which 



180 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



he came to America. He worked three months 
in Xew York, for live dollars and his board, 
the first month after which he worked by the 
piece at tailoring, making about seven dollars a 
week. We next find him in AVaukesha County, 
Wisconsin, where he worked at his trade and 
l)urchase(l forty acres of timber land which he 
commenced to clear u|) and make for himself a 
home, but subsecjuently loft that locality and 
came to Nebi-aska. liefore coming to this 
conntry he had been in the German army, 
during the lievolution of 1848-19-50. lie 
traveled for six years in Germany and Austria, 
before the war, working in all the principal 
cities at his trade. In June, 1849, ho was 
united in marriage to Amelia Kant, daughter 
of Martin and Henrietta Kant, of Germany, 
whose six children were : Amelia, Henrietta' 
Fritz, Herman. Leopold (deceased), and Mary 
(deceased). 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eleven children, born in the following order: 
August, born August 10, 1849: Charles, born 
March 21, 1851; Emil, born March 22, 1854; 
Hulda, born July 4, 1855; Ida, born October 
20,1856; Anna, born November 12, 1858; 
Herman, April 12, 18G1 ; Gustaff ; born Septem- 
ber 13, 1802; Matilda, born May 12, 1864 5 
Sophia, born December 13, 1865; Mary, born 
February 8, 1S08. 

In his political attiliations, our subject is in 
sympathy with the Democratic party. He 
voted this ticket in 1848-49-50. He held 
local offices in Wisconsin, such as road overseer, 
treasurer and supervisor, but since coining to 
Nebraska lias declined all offices tetulered him- 



"1 ^ 7 ll.Ll.VM WAItD, one of the business 
Vy factors of the village of IJuncroft, 
came to Cuming County in the fall 
of 1883, and engaged in the real estate business 
and farming, and hence has been connected 
with ihc interests of that portion of Cuming 
(■ounty. 



He was born in Upper Canada, in January, 
1837, the son of Highland and Hannah Ward, 
natives of Vermont and New Jersey respect- 
ively, and whose ten children were: Truman 
H., Mary E., Catharine J., William, Hannah, 
Hiram, Walter S., George 11., Prudence Ann, 
and Judson D. (deceased). 

He of whom we write lived in Canada iinld 
twenty years of age, when he came to Iowa, 
worked at the carpenter business and attended 
school for five years, and then purchased a 
farm and tilletl the soil in that locality for 
twenty years. He next located in Nebraska. 
He started in life with but little means save 
his own energies and determination to accom- 
plish something in the world. 

He was united in marriage in Aprik 1863, to 
Abbie A. Morse, the daughter of John and 
Phoebe B. Morse, natives of New Hampshire, 
whose four children were: Helen (deceased), 
Abbie A., Mark II., Virgil Nelson (deceased). 

Our subject and his wife have had one child : 
Julia L. (deceased). They have an adopted 
son who bears their name, Archie C. Wanl. 
who was born in California. His mother was 
a niece of our subject, and his parents are both 
deceased. 

Politically, Mr. Ward is a Republican, anil 
among the local offices lield b\' him may bo 
named that of justice of the peace, township 
clerk and village treasurer. He is president 
of the Citizens' Pank at Paiicroft, and has done 
his share toward the upbuilding of the place. 



GEORGE L. TORREV, editor ol the 
Dodge County Z(?a </('/■, edited and jiub- 
lished at Fremont, is a native of Ne- 
bi'aska, born at Fort j\[cPherson, February 14, 
1871, and is the son of James and Elsie Lynch, 
both of whom are deceased, having died the 
same year of our subject's birth. The father was 
in the Unitetl States service, being a inemi)er of 
the regular Army; his regiment being stationed 
at Ft. Mcpherson. He was a commissioni'd 
oiliccr, lioldinu: the ranl< of cMiilain. and lost 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



181 



liis life near the fort just mentioned, at the 
hands of the Indians. He had been in tlie 
service a nund)er of yeafs. He was of Irisli 
nationahty, while his wife was IScotch. Our 
sul)ject was their only child, and after the 
death of his parents was adopted by T. J. and 
Isabel A. Torrey, with wiioni lie made his 
liome from tiie time he was ten years of age, 
having prior to this time been reai'ed in the 
Catholic llosi)ital at Omaha. Aflei' liis adop- 
tion he took upon hira the name of his foster 
parents, whicii lie still retains. His adopted 
parents now reside at Yalley, Nebraska, having 
moved there about 1SS2. Our subject was 
educated in the public schools where he was a 
very apt scholar, and at the age of sixteen 
Ijegan teaching, following it for three years, 
l)eing employed in the public schools of Doug- 
las County. He was stockholder in the 
Omaha Leader, and its traveling manager, 
(luring the year 1889. He was also employed 
on the Ilerahl and Bepublican, of Omaha ; com- 
ing to Fremont in the summer of 1890, he 
entered the Fremont Normal College, gradu- 
ating from the same in 1891, after which he 
commenced reading law, in the office of C. L. 
Williams, of Fremont, also working tire and 
life insurance; representing the Lincoln Farm- 
eis and Merchants, and the United States 
Mutual, in life insurance. He also does a col- 
li'clion and loan business. In November of 
1S91, he became manager of the Wedern 
Tiucher, edited at Fremont. He takes an active 
l)art in the political world and is independent in 
his jiolitical view.s. He has already assisted in 
stumping the state in the interest of his party. 
Allhough but twenty-one years of age he is 
making himself felt in the political world; hav- 
ing been elected to several impoitant political 
]iositions. In Januarj^ 1802, lie became editor 
and proprietor of the Dodge County Leader. 
He was elected the following month count v 
lecturer for the Alliance in Dodge County, 
lie is a thorough-going gentleman, in every 
sense of the wortl, and is destin(;d to stand in 
the I'oic raid; of his fellownuMi. 



Our subject has had an exceptional bright 
and successful career; having just crossed the 
threshold of manhood, he has achieved public- 
ity and success through the activities of his 
years, far surpassing the average man of twice 
his age, and much credit should be attached 
to him when one considers that he was bereft 
of father and mother, who passed from the 
scenes of earth long prior to his recollection- 
from which time on he was the charge of 
strangers. 



LOUIS SCHNETZKY, of Section 29, Wis- 
ner township, Cuming County, was 
born near Betlin, Germany, February 
9, 18-14. He is a son of Martin L. and Louisa 
(Krienitz) Schnetzky. They had a family of 
eight children, three of whom are now in 
America. Louis was educated at Wriezen 
G^'mnasium, with a view to becoming a for- 
estman. At fourteen years of age he left 
school and began to learn the trade of a willow- 
ware basket maker. From eighteen to twenty 
he spent considerable time in traveling about 
liis native land. Saxony and IJoliemia. In 
1S66 he came to America and worked at wil- 
low ware, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and later 
carried on a shop of his own. In 1809 he 
removed to Nebraska and homesteailed a farm 
within the present limits of Stanton County. 
Later on he removed to Wisner township, 
Cuming County, where he now owns one-half 
section of land. When he first came to the 
country there were not more than a half dozen 
cows within ten miles of iiini, and all supplies 
liad to be drawn from Fremont with ox teams. 
Bacon cost lifty-five cents per pound, and a 
small box of matches twenty-live cents. Neigh- 
boi's came in slnwlv and land appreciated 
slowly but steadily. T'lve years after coming 
to the county our subject was offered eighty 
acres adjoining his f;iriu for a pair of boots. 
The same land has since sold for fifteen hun- 
dreil dollars. The reason he did not take the 
land was lierausc he lacki'd the hoots! 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Aside from his farm propertj', our subject 
owns in tlie villaf^e of Wisner, including stock 
in the Wisner Town Lot and Improvement 
Company. 

lie was united in marriage October 29, 1884, 
to Mrs. Sophia (Obenauer) 'Geasel. Mrs. 
Schnetzky is the mother of eight children: 
Louisa, Anna, Robert, John, Lydia, Emma, 
Paulina and Albert. Mrs. Sclinetzky has been 
a resident of the county for twenty years. 

Our siil)ject is in sympathy witii the Repub- 
lican party. lie has served his tou-nship as 
justice of the peace for two years and declined 
a re-election. He is also a member of Wisner 
Lodge, Modern Woodmen of America. 

For several years after Mr. Schnetzky came 
to the county, the Indians had a trail across 
his farm, which the}' continued to use on their 
hunting excursions. Deer anil antelojje wei'e 
plentiful for two or three 3' ears. 



FRANK M. STEADMAX, photographer, 
of Fremont, who is well known through- 
out Dodge County, was born in Winne- 
bago County, Illinois, December 7, 1863. His 
parents were J. Stead man and E. B. (Sloan) 
Steadman, natives of New York and Indiana, 
res]iectively. They were of Irish and Scotch 
ancestry and are both still living. They are 
the parents of two children : Ciiarles M., a 
resilient of Chehalis, Washington ; Frank, of 
wlidni we write this sketch, was reared in Illi- 
nois up to the time he was nine years of age, 
when he came to Nebraska, where he has made 
it his home ever since, with tlie exception of 
three years. When sixteen years of a<re he 
went to Rollins, where he engaged at the car- 
jienter trade foi' two years, after which he 
engaged at freighting into Utah. After spend- 
ing about three years in the Western wilds, he 
returned to Nebraska, worked at the car|)enter 
business oneyear, and spent twoyears in school 
and then followed teaching oneyear. In 1887 
he turned his allenlion to photography, erect- 
ing a gallery at Clarks, .Merrick Coiintv, 



Nebraska, where he spent some two years: but 
finiling the place too small for his business, as 
well as for the development of his talent as an 
artist, he came to Fremont and ))urchased the 
Dwight gallery, at number 6i3 Broad street, 
where he has a fine art studio, and is looked 
upon as one of the finest artists in the State. 
He does all kinds of ])ortrait work and enjoys 
a large patronage. The date of his location at 
Fremont was November, 1889. In more than 
the ordinary sense of the term " he is a nat- 
ural born artist," and while he was in school 
l)e had determined to take a course in the State 
University and prepare for a musical instructor, 
as he was a lover of music. But owing to his 
health giving away his plans were changed and 
the photographic world was thereby given one 
of its masters. 

Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and in his 
religious affiliations he is associated with the 
Congregational Church. In 187-4 he moved 
to Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska, where 
he spent nine months, after whicii he returned 
to Clarks. It may be said in this connection 
that his knowledge of the art of photography 
was acquired largely through his own reail- 
ing and experience, as he was never engaged 
as an apprentice in anv studio. But through 
his love for the same, and his natural ability, 
he has made his way to the front of his profes- 
sion and is conceded to be a |)eer in his art. 
While in business at Clarks he was in partner- 
ship with one Cosgrove for about a year, and 
they also operated a gallery at Genoii in 
connection with the one at Clarks. Our sub- 
ject also operated a gallery a short time in St. 
Edwards, Nebraska. 



HANS J. SIMONSON, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Cuming township, 
residing on Section 3, came to Cuming 
County, in the autumn of 1875, and bought the 
fai'm he now occu])ies, which consisted of a 
ipiarter section of partially improved land. He 
remained two wcelis, and Ihfii went baik lo 



AfOfiTi/EASrER/\^ NE^KASk'A. 



183 



Wisconsin, where he worked at the wagon- 
nuiking business for three years near Ilacine. 
lie tlien came back to Cuming County, in the 
fail of 1S7S, where hehas remained ever since. 
He built a house 22x30 feet, with a wing 10x18 
feet, also a barn, granary, cow barn and double 
corn-ci-il). He also provided his pkice with a 
dug well, with a wind-power pump and a mill 
attachment, lie lias an artificial grove of five 
acres and an orchanl of seventy-tive bearing 
trees. He has ninety-two acres under the plow, 
while the balance is in pasture and meadow 
kind. 

To learn something of our subject's career 
let it be saitl he was born in Novendjer, 1850, 
in that picturesque poilion of Northern Europe, 
known as Denmark. He is the son of Simon 
Anderson and Mary Anderson, natives of 
Denmark, whose seven childi'en took the name 
of Simonson. The}' were as follows : Hannah 
(deceased) ; Mary, Hans (deceased), Anna, 
Pathrea (deceased), Caren (deceased), Hans J. 

Our subject remained in Denmark until 
twenty-four years of age, when he sailed for 
America, and came to Racine, Wisconsin, where 
lie worked at the wagon maker's trade until he 
came to Nebraska. He came to this country a 
poor man, and had been a soldier in the 
Danish army for six months. He had a 
fair oppotunity to obtain a common school 
education. 

1874 marked a new era in this gentleman's 
life, for in September of that month he was 
united in marriage toChristena Larson, daugh- 
ter of Lars Llemmengsen and wife, whose 
children were: Hemming, Nels P., Christena, 
Robert and Mar\'. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four children: Anna, born January 11, 1876; 
Andrew, born May 28, 1878; Lawrence, June 
19, 18S0 ; Augusta, August IS, 1885. 

In his political choice he of whom we write 
is a believer in the Republican party, and is a 
supi)orter of the same. He has been supervisor 
of his township for three years and is the 
pi'cseiit incuud)ent. 



WILLIAM H. SPJLLNER, a farmer 
residing on Section 7, of Garfield 
township, has been identified witii 
Cuming County since the autumn of 1888. He 
first located on the farm he now occupies, which 
at the time consisted of one hundred and liftv- 
one acres of partly improved land, upon which 
he built a frame house, a barn 28x30 feet; also 
cribbing and a granary. He has a four-acre 
artificial grove and an orchard of fifty trees. 
He has since added to his land until he now 
has two hundred and thirty-one acies, two hun- 
dred of which is under the plow. 

Concerning his earlier life it may be said that 
our subject was born in Ohio in November, 
1856. He is the son of Charles and Caroline 
Spillner, natives of Germany, whose two chil- 
dren were Charles and William. When two 
years of age our subject left the ]5uckeye State, 
accompanying his mother to Missouri, the fatiier 
then being deceased. The mother married 
again, and when he was six years of age the 
family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. He re- 
mained at home until he reached his majority, 
after which he spent some three years in the 
Black Hills, South Dakota, engaged in mining. 
From there he went to Idaho, remained one 
year and spent the next year in Montana. He 
then returned to Idaho, where he stayed two 
years, and from there went to Salt Lake City, 
then to Omaha and St, Louis, antl fi-om the last 
named place back to Montana, where he re- 
mained until 1888, when he came to Cuming 
County, Nebraska. He was engaged all these 
years in mining and prospecting. He started 
in life with no means save his own determina- 
tion to accomplish something for inmscliin tiic 
great battle of life. 

He was united in marriage in Novemi)er, 
1888, to Agnes Erhardt, the daugiiter of Peter 
Erhardt and wife, natives of Germany. Our 
subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children: Stella, born iS'ovendjcr, 1S8(*, and 
Sidney S., born in January, 1891. 

Politically our subject votes with the Repub- 
lican party, and in i-cligious matters liotii he 



184 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Church. 



AUGUST SCIIitOEDEIi, a farmer living 
on Section S, Everett, townshii), oame to 
Dodge County in the autumn of ISTO, 
and first located on the farm lie now occui)ies. 
He took a homestead of eight acres of wild 
land, upon which he placed good improvements, 
including a good residence 18x30 feet, built in 
1881 ; also a barn, cribbing, good granary, and 
a bored well provided with wind-power. He 
also set out an orchard of one hundred trees. 
The farm now consists of one hundred and 
eio"hty acres, one hundred and fifty of which is 
under the plow. He brought about one thou- 
sand dollars to the country with him, but being 
here through the terrible ravages of the grass- 
hoppers, lie saw many hard times, but all in all 
has made a successful farmer. 

To acquaint the reader with tliis man's eailier 
career, let it be stated that he was born in Ger- 
many in January, 1841, the son of William and 
Charlotte Schroeder, natives of Germany, who 
had six children, nametl as follows: Robert, 
August, Charles, I'ertha, Minnie and Emma. 

Our subject remained in Germany until seven- 
teen years of age, when he emigrated with his 
parents to America. From New Yoik they 
came direct to Dodge County, Wisconsin, where 
he woi'ked out for a time and bought a farm 
upon which he remained thirteen years, and 
tlien came to Dodge County, Nebraska. In 
1801 he enlisted in Company E Tenth llegu- 
lar Wisconsin Volunteers, under Captain John 
H.Ely. He was mustered in at Milwaukee; 
belonged to the Fourteenth Army Corps, was 
sent to Kentucky, and was in the engagements 
at rerryville, ('hickamauga. Stone River, and 
IVIurfreesboru, but came out of the service with- 
out receiving a wound, after having served 
three years. 

Our subject's advantages fui- an education 
were fair. He was married October, 18GS, to 
Johanna Bushkv. Foi' his second wife our snl)- 



ject married, March 4, 1872, Maria Ollermann, 
daughter of Franz and Ottilie Ollermann, who 
had six children : Gustav, Frank, Maria, Her- 
man, Anna and Edward. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
nine children : John, Emma, Walter, Adaline, 
Ottilie, Meta, Edwin. Elsie and Herbert. 

Politically, Mr. Schroeder believes in the 
principles of the Republican party. 



JOSEPH SAUERS, a resident of the village 
of Hooper, came to Dodge County in 
the spring of 1SS2. He fii-st located at 
Nickerson, where he went to work on a farm. 
After following this one 3^ear, he bought a farm 
of one hundred ard sixty acres; the same was 
wild land. He built a house 2-1x28, two stories 
high, and a barn 24x32 feet, and put one- 
hundred and forty-five acres under the plow. 
He also planted out a grove of one acre, and an 
orchard of fifty trees. After living on this 
])lace for five years, he moved into the village 
of Hooper, but still owns his land. He bought 
him a house in Hooper, and worked at the car- 
penter's trade. He commenced life with no 
means save his own hands with which t(j 
work. 

Our subject was born in Snyder County. I'enn- 
sylvania, August, 1854, the son of John and 
Diana Sauers, whose five children were: Eliza- 
beth, John, Joseph, Edward (deceased) anil 
Henry. He of whom we write remained in the 
Keystone State until twenty-six years of age, 
having onl}' a limited school education. His 
father going into the army when he was a small 
bov, he did not have the opportunities of other 
bovs, but was thrown upon his own resources 
early in life. 

lie was united in marriage November 14. 
1881, to Ellen J. Musser, a daughter of Adam 
and Elizabeth Musser, whose nine children were 
as follows : Amanda, Mary, Salinda, R(jbeit 
(deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Jeremiah 
(deceased) , Catharine (deceased) , Ellen J. and 
William (deceased). 



t 



jVOt^TIiEASTF.RN NEBRASKA. 



18S 



]\[r. and l\[rs. Sauei-s have two children : 
Minnie S., born August, ISSl, and Roy M., ' 
l)oni September, 1SS6. 

r.oth our subject and liis wife are nuMubers of 
the ]\[ethodist Episcojial Ciuircli ; and in polit- 
ical mutters he is a Democrat. 

Through good management and hard work, 
the man of ^^ hom we write has succeeded 
remarkabh' well. In addition to his original 
(puirter section of land he has purchased two 
hundred and twenty acres more and placed that 
under cultivation. He also owns three resident 
lots in Sioux City, Iowa. 

DANIEL Y. STEPHENS, county super- 
intendent of public instruction of 
Dodge County, was born in Bloom- 
ington, Monroe County. Iiuliana, November 4, 
ISOS, and was elected to his present office the 
day previous to his twenty -first birthday. He 
is the son of R. L. and Martha (Lambkins) 
Stephens, who were natives of Indiana and 
Kentucky, respectively, and both reside at 
Bloomiiigton, Indiana. Tlie father is a farmer 
by occupation and their family consists of six 
children. 

The father of our subject is one of the public- 
spirited men of Monroe County, Indiana, tak- 
ing an active part in the political world, having 
held many of the offices of trust in the county, 
and is what may be termed a I'ock-ribbed 
Democrat. Both our subject's father and 
mother are connected with the Baptist Church. 
Daniel was reared in the county in which 
he was born, and there received an edu- 
cation in tlie public schools. He was reared to 
farm life until he was fifteen years of age, 
when he spent two years in traveling and 
teaching school; during that time making a 
trip to Texas, after which he returned to the 
Hoosier State and took a two years' course at 
the Valj)araiso Normal School. After finishing 
his course he went to Nebraska, landing at 
Fremont March 28, 1887, and at once beginning 
a term of school at Glencoe. at which place he 
continued to tt-ach until l^S'.t. He then entered 



the law office of Frick Dolezal & Stinson with 
whom he read law one summer, the following 
autumn teaching a school near Dodge, Dodge 
County. While engaged in teaching this school 
was elected to the office of superintendent of 
schools, which position he now fills. 

Politicalh', Mr. Stephens is a sn])portei' of 
the Democratic party. He is a member of 
Centennial Lodge No. 59, of Inik'i)endent Order 
of Odd Fellows. 

June24:, 1890, he was mai-ried to Miss 
Hannah Boe, who was a teacher in the 
schools of Dodge County for three years 
prior to her marriage, and was at the 
time teacher in the primary department 
of the Dodge schools. jVfi's. Stephens is a 
native of Bergen, Noi-way, born Sfay 10, 186G, 
and the daughter of K. O. and Mary (Miller) 
Boe, both natives of Norwa}^ who came to 
America in 1870 and are now located at North 
Bend, Dodge Connty, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. 
Stephens are the ])arents of one child : Edith, 
born June 26, 1891. 

Our subject is the editor an<l publisher of 
the Western, Teacher, a monthly publication of 
the three-column magazine foi-m, devoted to 
the cause of education. This was established 
in December, 1890, and now has a large circu- 
lation. He is but a young man, having just 
passed bis majority, yet he assumes the duties 
of city superintendent, which he is discharging 
with credit to himself as well as to the satisfac- 
tion of his constituents. 

He has made a successful elfort in grading 
the schools of the county and introducing a 
complete s^'stera of records and reports both 
for the schools and the " Teachers' Association.*' 

The county contains a school po])ulation of 
6,721 pupils and 124 teachers. 



JOHN SWARTZ, the senior nu'inlx-r of 
the firm of Swartz & St)n, livery men, at 
Fremont, will be noticed in this connec- 
lion. 
He is a nativ(> of Cumbei'land CounlN', Penn- 
svlvania, born at the town of Carlisle, Octobei- 



18C 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



22, 1844. He is the son of Abraham and L\'dia 
Swartz. Tlie father is deceased and the 
mother is a resident of Lincoln, ]S'ebrasl<a. Our 
subject was Ijut an infant when his parents 
moved to Xauvoo, Illinois, where he was 
reared and spent his early life. His home was 
upon the farm and the public school afforded 
him his eilucation. When he was nineteen 
vears of age, and in 1804, he enlisted as a mem- 
ber of Company D Twelfth Illinois Volunteer 
Infantry, serving until the close of the war. 
lie did hospital duty and took part in skir- 
mishes. He returned home and was married 
to Miss Susan McAuley, of Illinois, where they 
continued to reside for four years, and then re- 
moved to Creston, Iowa, where they spent one 
year. In 1871 he located on a farm in Saun- 
ders County, Nebraska, remained ten years, 
and in about 1880 moved to Antelope County, 
where he purchased a farm of three hundred 
and twenty acres. He spent four years in im- 
nroving this farm and then sold and removed to 
Fremont, where he has since made it his home. 
In 1890 he embarked in the livery business on 
Fourth street, and in July, 1891, took charge of 
his present quarters on Third and Broad streets, 
where he keeps a general livery and feed barn. 
He has two sons living and one daughter de- 
ceased. William H., one of his sons, is in com- 
pany with his father, while George H. is en- 
gaged with the I'lail Publishing Company. 
Minnie A., the deceased child, died in 1890, 
aged eighteen years and nine months. Polit- 
ically our subject is a Republican. 

He is a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic, McPherson Post No. 4. 



JOHN STA UK, a resident of Section 12, Lin- 
coln township, is a son of one of the pioneer 
iiomesteaders of Cuming County. He was 
Itorn in Wisconsin, June, ISOo, his fallicr 
moving to Cuming CV)unty, Nebraska, locating 
three miles and one-half north of West Point, 
when our subject was little more than three 
Vearsof age. The father dated iiis settlement 



in Nebraska, in 1863. He died in 1869, after 
which the family remained on the homestead 
two or three years, when the mother 
sold the place. In our subject's parents' 
family were the following children : August, 
Chai'les, William, Tinna, Bertha, Tinn:i, Henry, 
Herman and Joim our subject. 

He of whom we write was marrieil in 1886, to 
Augusta GrDose, by which marriage union four 
cliililren were born: Ainiel. Ji>hn. Matilda 
and P^rnst. 

The family belong to the German Lutheran 
Church, and in political matters he votes with 
the Democratic party, and has been township 
supervisor two years. 

At the time oui- subject's parents located in 
Nebraska, West Point only had three houses, 
and his father, like other of the pioneers, was 
compelleil to draw his grain to Omaha as the 
nearest market point, and there sold it at forty 
cents per bushel. The Indians used to camp near 
their place for weeks at a time, Init never mo- 
lested them more than to worr\' them. For five 
years in succession their crops were destroyed 
by the grasshoppers. From the above it will 
be seen that our subject has been reared amidst 
perplexities coincident to a new country. He 
has rentetl land for the past twelve yeai's. 



JACOB C. SORRICK, of Maple Creek pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, residing on Sec- 
tion 26, township 21, range 3, was born 
in Pennsylvania, October 5, 1862, the 
son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Sniveley) Sorriclc, 
both natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob re- 
mained at home until thirteen years of age, 
when he went to work by the month for him- 
self. When nineteen years of age, he came 
to Illinois, where he woi'ked on a farm two 
years and then came to Stanton County, Ne- 
braska, and hired to Tobias Mack, by whom 
he was employed for si.x years. In 1881, he 
purchased the farm he now lives upon, at least 
a part of it, from his mother, who had bought 
it several years prior. Later on he bought 



MOkTMEASTkUM NtbkASk'A. 



isf 



eiglity acres on Section 27, of tlie same town- 
sliip. His father died in Pennsylvania in 1ST3, 
having been a farmer all his days. In his 
])arents' family there were five children: Frank, 
now with our subject, on the farm ; Jacob, our 
subject; Julia, George, and Anna (deceased). 

He of whom we write this notice stai-ted 
with little means, and now depends upon his 
farm foi- a livelihood. He is a member of the 
Modern Woodmen of America, was constable 
two vears iind is now school ti'easurer. 



WILLIAM E. SMAILS, cashier of the 
Farmers' and Merchants" National 
Ijank at Fremont, will be made the 
subject of tlie subjoined notice. He is a native 
of Cold water, Michigan, born December 2, 
1S58. His parents were James and Margaret 
Levington Smails, he being the youngest of 
nine boys. He was reared in the Wolverine 
State until his eighteenth 3'ear and was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Cold water. 
When twelve years of age he engaged as news- 
carrier and later at telegraphy, beginning as 
messenger boy for the Western Union Tele- 
graph Companv. Finally he completed his 
knowledge of tlie same and entered the emploj' 
of the Lake Shore it Michigan Southern Kail- 
road as operator at Douglas, Michigan, at which 
place he was put on as an " extra." We next 
tind him at Holland, Ohio, where he spent a 
few months, and in 1876, after having been in 
the einplov of the railroad company for two 
years, he came to Fremont, Nebraska, where he 
lias since lived. He associated himself with 
his brother, who was tlien, as now, proprietor 
of the Frewant Daily llerahl. He remained 
with him four years and in November, 1880, 
entered the employ of Hon. George W.E. Dor- 
sey, attending to his books and office work, in 
the real estate and insurance business. He 
remained in this position until the oi'ganization 
of the ^[ercliants Bank in 1882, when he took 
the position of teller in that institution, acting 
as sucii until the re-oriiani/.atioii of the bank to 



the Farmers and ^lei'chants National liank, 
when he was made assistant casiiier, serving as 
such until Januarv 1, 1889, and was tiien 
electetl cashier. The capital of the bank was 
increased at that time from fifty to one hundred 
thousand dollars, he being one of the stock- 
holders and directors in the bank, as well as in 
the Fremont Hemp and Twine Company, of 
which concern he was one of the organizers, 
an<l is also a director of the same; it is now 
known as the Nebraska Binder Twine Company. 
He is also one of the incorporators and trustees 
of the Christian Park and As.sembly Associa- 
tion of Fremont, and vice-president of the 
Young Men's Christian Association. 

Mr. Smails was united in marriage May G, 
1886, to Miss Leula Morrow, a native of Oneida 
County, New York. They are the jiai'cnts of 
three children : Edwin Dorsey. William Her- 
bert and Helen. The family are connected 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, he being 
one of the official board. 

Our subject's residence is situated on the cor- 
ner of Eleventh street and Nye avenue. He 
has two farms in Dodge County, one of foi'ty 
acres, within one mile of Fremont, while the 
other consists of eighty acres, three miles and 
one-lialf from the place. His property is chiefly 
in Fremont,although owningsomedesirable resi- 
dence and business property in Salt Lake City. 
He is a thoroughgoing business man, ranking 
high in commercial circles. And, be it said 
to his credit, his name adds another to the 
long roll of the successful business men o'f 
to-day who are the architects of their own 
fortunes. 



HERMAN A. LEHMAN, a farmer of 
Lincoln ])recinct, Stanton County, re- 
siding on Section 30, township 2;'), was 
born in Do(lge County, Wisconsin, A))ril .5, 
1858. He is the son of L. C. and Amelia 
(Welnetz) Lehman. When our subject was 
eleven years of age the family removed to 
Stanton County. He received a common 
school education in both English and (icrnian. 



18S 



XOK THE A S TEKN NEHKA SKA . 



When twenty-five years of age, he began life 
for himself as a farmer on bis jiresent farm, 
whicli liis father hail purciiased two years 
previous. lie follows farming and stock raising. 
His herd consists of grade Durhams and Here- 
fords. He also has some very fine horses of his 
own raising. During the smnmer of 1802, he 
bought an interest in a general mercliandise 
stock at Stanton. 

He of whom we write was married Decem- 
ber 20, ISS:^, to Antonia Schnabel, daugliter of 
Frederick and Ernestine A. (Kruger) Sclinabel, 
of Wisner, Nebraska. By this marriage union 
five children have been born: Albert, Pliiilip, 
Anna, who died the second day ; Paul and 
Felix. 

Politically our subject affiliates witii the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters 
both he and his wife are members of the St. 
John's Lutlieran Ciiurch. 



FPtANCIS SCHWEDHELM, residing in the 
village of Bancroft, came to Cuming 
County in the spring of 1867, and first 
located on Section 3, of Neligh township, where 
he homesteaded a quarter section of land. He 
constructed a dugout wlien there was but one 
family living between that rude structure and 
West Point. Subsequently he built a frame 
house, 10.x24 feet, of cotton wood lumber, wliich 
he hauled from Decatur, twenty-four miles dis- 
tant. This served the family for ten years, 
when he built a more commodious farm house. 
He ])lanted a g!'ove containing five acres and 
added to his land until he had a half section, 
one-half of which was under the plow, and two- 
hundred and forty acres enclosed within a fence. 
He lived in the country during the grasshopper 
])lague, which for a time bid fail' to ruin the 
country. Fi'emont was their nearest market 
])lace for lumber and the streams were all un- 
briged. Ous subject continued to till this farm 
for nineteen years, and then engaged in the mer- 
cantile business at Bancroft, where he owns a 
store building, 22x50 feet, and carries a live 



thousand dollar stock of dry goods and gro- 
ceries. He came to the country with five 
thousand dollars, nearly all of which was ex- 
pended to keep " the wolf from his door " dur- 
ing the grasshopper times. 

Mr. Schwedhelm is a native of Germany, 
born June, 1823, the son of Henry and Teresa 
Schwedhelm, whose seven children wei'o : 
Nicholas, Phillip. John, Francis, Joseph, Anna, 
Ragena. 

Our subject remained in Germany until 
twentj'-eight years of age, and then came to 
Quebec, Canada, remained nineteen years, clear- 
ing up timber land, and from there came to 
Cuming County, Nebraska, where the stump of 
a tree was a rare curiositj^ 

He was married March, 18-48, to Afagdalcna 
Sottman, daughter of Christopher and Teresa 
Sottman, natives of Germany, whose six chil- 
dren were : Catharine, Teresa, Magdalena, 
Elizabeth, Fritz, (deceased) and Engnats. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schwedhelm are the pai'ents of 
six children: John (deceased), Francis, Henry 
Joseph, Teresa (deceased), and August. The 
famil}' are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church, and politically he is in sympathy with 
the Democratic party. He has been post- 
master for ten years, the office being kept at his 
place and known as Buckan postoffice. 



CONRAD SPENNER, a farmer of Section 
33, of St. Charles township, Cuming 
County, will form the subject of this 
biographical notice. Pie was born in Germany, 
December 7, 1837, and landed in Amei'ica 
June 12, 1SG5. He landed at Baltimore and 
came direct to Cuming County, Nebraska, and 
located the homestead on which he now lives. 
He itroviiied a dug-out, which was the fashion- 
able house of that day in Nebraska. He lived 
in that for six months, and then built a log- 
house in which he lived until 1884, and 
built a story and one-liall' frame house. lie 
has a goud barn, an orchard, ami a three-acre 
grove. 





o>^yni^^ 



'■^^\ i 



/> 



MOkTiiEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



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Our subject was united in marriage February. 
ISOo, to Theresa Knievei, by whom eleven 
chiiilren have been born : Gertie, Lizzie, Anton, 
AFary and Anna (twins) (deceased) Theresa, 
Ignatius, Katie, Mary, Conrad, and baliy 
(deceased). Our subject's ])arents Hved and 
died in Germany, their native country. Mrs. 
Spenner's father was born in Germany, and 
spent his days there; but the mother came 
to this country in 1866, and died about one 
month after her arrival. The family belong to 
the Itoman Catholic Ciiurch, and in politics our 
subject affiliates with the Democratic party. 
Upon arriving in this country, he of wliom we 
write had only two hundred dollars, out of 
which he bought a yoke of oxen, a cow, and 
tiled on his homestead, which took all of his 
money, and on account of the grasshojjper rav- 
ages for the first four or five years he saw 
very hard times to subsist ; and only the self- 
sacrifice and hardihood found among the pio- 
neers would ever have endured it. Ills first 
market place was Omaha, and trips with an 
o.x team usually consumed one week's time, 
lie now has in his farm three hundred and thirty 
acres, and has quite an amount of stock about 
him. 

JANE HALL, wife of Thomas Hall (do. 
ceasetl), settled in Cuming township 
Dodge County, Nebraska, in ISTO, during 
the month of February. Mr. Hall purchased 
a farm ujion which there was timber, for which 
he paid twenty dollars per acre, and continued 
to farm until his death, lie was born in West- 
moreland (younty, England, September 18, 
\%',V1. lie grew to manhood in England, re- 
ceiving a limited common school education, 
and followed farm life until 1856, when he 
emigrated to America, locating in La Salle 
County, Illinois, where he was married June 
20, ISGi, to Jane Golder, a native of Stone- 
house, Lanerickshire, Scotland, where she was 
born September l-l, 1843. She came with 
her parents to the LTnited States and went 
to Toronto, Canada, where thev I'cnuiined two 



years, and from there removed to La Salle 
Countv, Illinois, where the father worketl at 
shoemaking. 

They resided in l.a Salle County, until thev 
removed to Dodge County. Nebraska, and 
settled on land purchased by Mr. Hall the 
autumn before. Mr. Hall remained there 
until his death, which occurred November 12, 
1S87. lie was a most successful farmer. At 
first he purchased one hundred acres and 
kept adding thereto until he had nine hundred 
and twenty acres, the same all coming from 
his own exertions, and he did not take ad- 
vantage of a homestead or pre-emption law, 
but bouglit and paid for all his land. He made 
a specialt}' of stock raising, and was the first 
person to ship a car load of hogs from Scribner. 
He was a member of the Church of England, 
and while not uniting with any church after 
coming to this country, he made liberal dona- 
tions toward the building of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Scribner. Mrs. Hall together 
with three children are members of the Con- 
gregational Church. Our subject is the mother 
of eleven children : Jesse A., born September 
8, 1SG5 ; Margery J., born March 10, 1867; 
Maggie H., born November 13, 1869 ; Wilson 
O., born October 20, 1870; Orrin ()., born 
August 19, 1873 ; John C, born January 8, 
ISSO; Thomas A., born December 2.5, 1876; 
Byron M., born March 1, 1879; Eoy B., born 
December 15, 1882 ; Guy G., born February 
14, 1885, and Jennie A., born January 6, 
1887. 

The parents of Mr. Hall died when he was 
young and he was " bound out " until he was 
of age, and thus was compelled to commence 
life without anything but his hands to do 
with, and had no means to speak of when he 
was married. When he removed to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, he had three thousand 
dollars accumulated b}' his own exertions. 

Mrs. Hall i-emoved to Scribner in March, 1889, 
for the purpose of having better advantages for 
the education of her children. Her son Wilson 
O. is attcndinii- Hijihland Park Normal Col- 



192 



h'OA' THE A SIERK NEHRA SK'A 



lege, at Des Moines, Iowa, being on his second 
year. 

The foregoing sketcli is but another example 
of a man born on a foreign shore, without 
means, and enduring the hardships for a time, 
finally coming into the possession of a good 
property, which has placed his family in inde- 
pendent circumstances ; yet in the midst of 
his busy career he was called from tiie scenes 
of earth. 



CHARLES F. SHARP, of Humbug pre- 
cinct, ranks among the very earliest 
settlers of Stanton County, locating, as 
he did, on Section 34, township 24, range 3, 
in the autumn of 1865. He took a homestead 
of one hundred and sixty acres, and at that 
time was iive miles west of a settler on the 
Elkhorn Kiver. Here he built a hewed log- 
house 14x20 feet, in which he lived eight \'ears, 
and then erected a frame residence. He made 
many valuable improvements on this place, 
including the planting of a hedge on two sides 
of his farm and a grove about his farm house. 
He had one hundred and fifteen acres under 
cultivation, and remained there until 1880, 
when he sold and bought his present farm of 
two hundi'ed and twenty acres, where he again 
went through the lal)orious and expensive task 
of erecting buildings, setting out hedges about 
the premises, setting out an orchard of one hun- 
dred and seventy trees, and planting of small 
fruits. When he first came to the county Fre- 
mont was but a small town, and Sioux City and 
Omaha were his principal trading points. The 
Indians were to be seen on every hand, but 
through good judgment on his part he never 
had any diftictdty with them ; but not so much 
can be said of the grasshoppers, for they w^ere 
more than human ingenuity could conquer. 

Mr. Sharp is a native of Virginia, and was 
born March 2, 1836. He is the son of Cyrus 
and J.ydia Sharp, who were also natives of the 
Old Dominion State. They reared a family of 
foui'teen children, who were born in the follow- 
ing order: Henry (deceased), James, William 



(deceased), John, Martha (deceased), Charles, 
Mitchell, Rebecca (deceased), Henrietta, Martin. 
Silas, Jose])hine, Louis and Ada. 

Of the ten who survive, seven live in Ne- 
braska. Our subject remained in Virginia onl}' 
one year after iiis birth, when his parents 
moved to Indiana, where tlie father bought a 
farm and lived until Charles was fourteen years 
of age, and then the family moved to Wiscon- 
sin, he remaining at home until he hail reached 
his majority, after which he worked out by the 
month until 1859, when he went to California 
and followed mining one year, went to Nevada, 
and remained until 1865 and then went back 
to Wisconsin, remained a short time, and came 
to Stanton County, Nebraska, bringing two 
thousand dollars with him, all made by his own 
exertions. 

Mr. Sharp was married March, 1874, to Au- 
gusta, daughter of Carl and Sophia Engel, 
natives of Germany, whose six children were: 
Augusta, August, Charles, Levi, Henry and an 
infant deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sharp are the parents of live 
children : George, Harry, Edith, Charles and 
Kittle. Two are deceased, George antl ILirr}'. 

rolitically, Mr. Sharp casts an Independent 
ballot. He has been an important factor in the 
settlement and developmentof Stanton County. 
He was appointed county commissioner, and 
helped to organize the county. 



WILLIAM II. SWEET JR.. a resident of 
Section 4, Nickerson township, has 
been a resident of Dodge County sHice 
the autumn of 1867, when he located upon the 
place he now occupies, consisting of thiee hun- 
dred and sixty acres. Here he made suljstan- 
tial improvements, built a house 16x24 feet, in 
which he liveil for six years, and then built an 
upright addition, 22x28 feet. He also provided 
his place with a good barn, granary, cribbing, 
wells of water, a good wind-mill, also an or- 
chard of two hundred and fifty apple trees and 
a grove of shade trees. He now has three 



NOS THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



hundred acres under cultivation : notwitiistand- 
ing- ho came at an early day and endured the 
hardships coincident to the grasshopper years 
antl other drawbacks, he is now in the posses- 
sion of a very fine farm home. 

lie was born in Erie County, New YorU, 
July, 1832, the son of William II. and Olive 
E. Sweet, the former a native of Massachu- 
setts, and the latter of New York. Their six 
children were as follows: Olive E., William 
II.. Mary J., Cinthia M., Haltie E., Elija B. 

^Villlam. of whom we write this sketch, 
lived in the Empire State until he was five 
years of age, at which time his parents re- 
moved to Ohio, remained three years and then 
moved to Massachusetts. Upon his reaching 
manhood, he went to work by the month in a 
chair factory, and worked at this business 
tliree years. We next find him in Peoria, 
Illinois, near which city he rented land for 
eight years. He then went back to Massachu- 
setts, bought the old homestead and remained 
one year; but having seen the beauties of the 
West, and the fertility of the prairie soil, with 
the accompanying opportunities offered to 
young men of industri(nis habits, together with 
tliedisUkehe had taken to the narrow lanes, 
stumps and stones of New England, he sold 
out the homestead, or rather traded for land in 
Cedar County, Iowa, and at once came on to 
take possession of his place. He remained 
there two years and then came to Nebraska. 

While working in the chair factory iie had 
tiie misfortune to have three fingers cut off by 
a circular saw. 

He was united in marriage in August, 1S56, 
U) Marcissa F. Keith, daughter of Lycander 
and Clarrissa Keith, natives of Massachusetts, 
wliose three children were: Ambrose I., Nar- 
ci.ssa K. and Jane J. 

(Jur subject and his wife have been blessed 
with the following children, born in the order 
hej-e given: Ilattie M., August 30, 1857; 
lOnima J., Februar\' 23, 1859; Susan A., Nov- 
(Miiijer 3, 1861; Alice 15., October 2", 1SG3; 
William F., July <>, lbf)5; Carrie \t. (deceased), 



January 6,1868; Jessie L., August 20,1871; 
Clarence A., March 1, 1876, and Lena G., 
August 19, 187S. 

I'olitically, Mr. Sweet is identified with the 
Prohibition part}', and stands high in the com- 
munity in which he lives, and is one of the 
present day well-to-do farmers of Dodge 
County. 

JOSIAII M. SHIVELY, present clerk of 
the District Court of Dodge County, is 
one of the competent officials now in 
charge of the executive and governmen- 
tal affairs of the county. The following is a 
brief sketch of his life : He is the son of O. 
II. P. and Jennie E. (Baker) Shively, and was 
born in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, January 1, 
1868, and remained in the Keystone State until 
he was nine years of age, at which time the 
family removed to Pebble, Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. He was reared to the customs and 
habits of a farmer's boy until he was eighteen 
years of age, and the public schools of Dodge 
County, including the Fremont normal school, 
have been his educators. He attended the last 
named one year, receiving a State first-grade 
certificate. He then entered the county clerk's 
office as copyist, also worked in the county 
treasurer's office, where he remained one year. 
During the years 1888-89 he was assistant 
county clerk under his father, who held the 
office during that term. In 1890-91 he was in 
pai-tnershi|) with D. J. Si)ringer in the real 
estate, loan and insurance business. May 4, 
1891, he was appointed clerk of the District 
Court and also purchased the abstract business 
of George W. Davy, covering the County of 
Dodge. In the autumn of 1891 he made the 
race for the clerk of the District (Jourt on the 
Kepul)lican ticket, receiving a majority of one 
hundred and eight votes, being the only lle- 
])ublican elected on the entire county ticket. 

He was united in marriage December 18, 
1889, to Miss Nellie Wintersteen. of Fremont, 
born in Ohio June 13. lSt;7. Mr. and Mrs 
Shivelv are memliei'.s nl' the .Methoilist Episcu 



N0RTHEAS7EKN NEBKASKA. 



pal church, of which he is one of the stewards 
and secretaiy of the official board. His resi- 
dence is located at 607 West Eiglitli street. 

Mr. Shively is a member of Centennial 
Lod<;e No. 59 of Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, Apollo Encamjjment No. 22, and 
Canton No. 4, Patriarchs Militant, as well as 
of the National Union. In April, IStH, lie was 
elected secretary of the Fremont Fire Deparl- 
ment. 

Our subject is well calculated for the place 
he has filled in Fremont for the past few 3'ears, 
his work being a good index of the scholarship 
of the Fremont Normal School. 



FERDANAND A. SCIIULZ, who is en- 
gaged in the harness trade at Scribner, 
embarked in business at that point in 
1879 in a small shop in the building now used 
for the post-office, which at the time stood near 
the depot. He used this for his shop until 
18S2, when his present building was erected, 
in which he carries a stock of about three thou- 
sand dollars. To acquaint the reader with 
this gentleman's life, early history, etc., it may 
be stated that he was born in Prussia, April 
14, 1859, and came to the United States with 
his parents ten years later. They settled on a 
farm in Pebble township, Dodge County, Ne- 
braska, upon a homestead. (!)ur subject 
worked for Mr. Southwick, herding cattle for a 
time, but commenced to learn the harness busi- 
ness when he was fifteen years of age. After 
serving as an apprentice for two years, he went 
to '"tramping," visiting many of the towns and 
cities until 1879, when he eml)arked in his pres- 
ent business. 

Mr. Schulz was united in mairiage October26, 
1880, to Miss Matilda Joss, born in Rochester, 
New York, April 29, 1860. i'>y tliis marriage 
union live children were born : Rudolph, Hen- 
ry, Bertha, Frank and Walter. 

Our subject's parents were August F. and 
Sophia (Katzke) Schulz. natives of Ciermany. 
TIkm' were the parents of seven childien, two 



of whom are deceased. The father was born 
October 19, 1833, and came to Nebraska in 
18G9 and is a resident of Pebble township. 
The mother was born in 1827. and died April, 
28, 1885. They were both members of the 
German Evangelical Lutheran Church. 

Politically, our subject is a Democrat, and 
has served two years as city clerk, two j'ears as 
township clerk and was a member of the city 
council one year. He is a member of the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Schulz is an example of what early train- 
ing in the ways of industry and sobriety will do 
for the person determined to accomplish 
something in life; as it will be observed that 
he has been quite successful thus far in his 
career, and that he is competent is seen from 
the fact that his people have chosen him to 
offices of trust and responsibility. 



ALEXANDER V. RICH, one of the enter- 
prising farmers of Pebble township. 
Dodge County, living on Section 14, 
township 20, range 6, was born August 10, 
1841, in Indiana, and when five or six years of 
age came to Iowa, and lived in Marion County 
until lie was seventeen years of age and then 
went to Kansas, where he remained one year, 
returned to Marion County, Iowa, and followed 
farming for two or three 3'ears and came 
to Nebraska, and located on a homestead in 
1868 ; the same consisted of eight_y acres. He 
had no team at first, so he hired some breaking 
done. i)aying five dollars per acre for the same. 
He finally managed to get one hundred and 
fifty dollars in money together, anil with this 
he bought an ox team. His first house was 
built of logs, and served as his residence for 
eight years. His present house is a story and 
one-half building, erected hi 1883. 

Our subject was married in 1875, to Ilulda 
Shepherd, by which union five ciiildren have 
been born : Eva Jane, Henry. Ella, Arthur and 
Edith. His wife was born inOiiio. in 1830. 
Iler parents are now residents of Cuming 



VORTI/EA STERN NEBRASKA. 



Coiint\', Nebraska. Our subject's father and 
luoilier were born in Tennessee, and are now 
both deceased. They died in Marion County, 
Iowa, wiien Alexander was a boy. 

lie endured the hardships of pioneer life 
in Nebraska, in the days when the grass- 
hoppers worked sad havoc with the crops. 
They took about one-half of his corn crop for 
two years in succession. 

In 1881, the Elkhorn Iliver, which sti'cam 
our subject's farm is located on, came out of its 
banks and was eight inches deep in his door- 
yard. 

Like every other true American citizen, he 
has his i)olitical convictions, and exercises his 
right of franchise by voting with the Demo- 
cratic party. 

JOIIX ROSS, a farmer living on Section 
22, of Pleasant Valley townshij), came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1869, 
and pre-empted eighty acres of land 
where he now lives. He afterwards home- 
steaded this same eighty, upon which he built 
a frame hou.se, 12x16 feet, but subsequently he 
made additions to the building, until now he 
has a good-sized h<juse. His land is all under 
cultivation, he now having one hundred and 
twenty acres. When he came to the township 
all was new and wild, and there was no school 
building within the townshi)). In the spring 
of LSTo the few settlers got together and 
built a small sod school-house, covered with 
slough grass. This was located on Section 
33, and they had school in that improvised 
building that season, which was taught by 
Miss L. A. Miller, now the wife of George 
lioss, living in Box Butte, Box Butte Counl\', 
Nebraska. This sod school-building was used 
until 1873, when a frame building was provided, 
and is still in use. The territory that com- 
prised the disti'ict then has been sub-divitied 
into several districts. 

Oui' subject was boi'u in Saratoga (J(ninty. 
New York, March 6, l.S4o, the son of Janu-s 
and Marv (llolmcs) Uoss, both natives (jf Scot- 



land. John remained at home with his par- 
ents until he was fourteen years of age, and 
then went to Chicago, Illinoi.s, where he had an 
uncle, William G. Holmes, proprietor of a book 
store, and our subject clerked for him about 
four years. John's father died when he was 
but nine years of age, after which he had to 
meet the demands of life himself. After he 
left his uncle, in Chicago, he returned to his 
native state and worked on his mother's farm 
two years, or until August 1863, when he 
shipped in the United States Navy on board the 
old I'eceiving ship "North Carolina". From 
that was drafted to the United States steamer 
''Grand Gulf". He served two years in the 
Naval service and was discharged in August, 
1865. He was on blockade duty nearly all the 
time he was in the service. The first year 
he was stationed at the mouth of Cape Fear 
River, near Wilmington, North Carolina. For 
a time his vessel was orilered to act as convoy 
for the United States steamers plying between 
New York and Central America. They made 
two or three trips from New Y'ork Cit}' to 
Aspinwall. The last year of the war he was 
(m blockade duty off the cost of Galveston, 
Texas. After his discharge he returned to the 
home of his mother, remained until 1866, i)ur- 
chased a farm which he worked until 1869, 
sold out and came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Ross was married in Saratoga County, 
New Y'ork, March 18r,6, to Miss Addie \\. 
Helling, daughter of (iarrett and Martha 
(Wenban) Helling, the father a native of New 
York and the mother of England. Addie 11. 
was born in ^lontgomery County, New York, 
September 1, 1847. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
live chiklren, born as follows: Martha W., July 
2, 1S67; William II. .April 3, 1870 ; Addie B. 
August 16, 1872; John .\., August 29, 1875 ; 
Edith, July IS, 1878. 

Politically, he is a sujtporter of the Kepid)- 
lican party. He has never aspireil to oflice, 
liiit was circled assesoi' of his township for 
two terms, lie is a inemlier ul' the Grand 



A'O/i THE A S TEN , V NEBRA SKA . 



Army of the Republic, Sulley Post No. 105, at 
Norih Bend. He was one of the charter 
members of this post, lie also belongs to the 
Modern Woodmen of American, Norih Bend 
Loiij^e No. 1016, of which he was also a charter 
member. 

While on blockaiie duty, in time of the war, 
his vessel discovered and caj)tured three steam- 
ers running the blockade; two were manned by 
English sailors, and tiie other an American 
built ship. 

ELIPHUS IIIBBARD ROGERS, second 
son of Rev. L. C. Rogers, of the Metho- 
dist Episco|ial Church, was born in Litch- 
field, Herkimer County, New York, January 12, 
1830. In early cliildhood he met with an acci- 
dent which cri|)pled one foot through life. But 
nature had endowed him with an energy and a 
persistency of purpose which quailed before no 
obstacle, and made success in life possiijle to 
him, notwitiistanding his physical disabilities. 
At the age of sixteen he had acquired a good 
academic education, and commenced teaching 
school. He took time, however, to attend sev- 
eral terms of the O. C. Seminary, at Cazenovia, 
N. Y., before he attained his majority, and 
soon after married ]\[iss Lucy J. Goff, at 
Augusta, New York, and, purchasing a farm 
in the neighborhood, settled down to the life 
of a farmer. But he soon found that the 
amount of hard work required by tiiat avoca- 
tion was out of propoi-tion to the ])rofits, so he 
sold iiis farm and in the spring of 1854 removed 
to Fort Atkinson, Wis., where he remained 
until the fall of 1856, when he came to 
Nebraska, and in the following spring settled 
at Fremont, then a rude frontier liamlet of 
three unlinished log-iiouses and a "dug-out." 
From that time, Fremont was his home, 
and he had been identified witli almost every 
measure for the prosperity and u|)building of 
the tou-n. As |)resident of the first board of 
trustees, he procured the title to the town site 
from the United States, and deeded it in lots 
and i)locks to the I'mliirul claimants. AViiiU- in 



Wisconsin he had begun the study of law, and 
j was admitted to the Nebraska bar in 1858. 
The next year he was elected to the Territorial 
j Legislature, and at once took rank as one of 
1 the leaders of the House. In the spring of 
1860, chafing under the slow, hard times which 
settled down over this new countr\' as a result 
of the financial crash in 1857, and fired with a 
towering ambition to do and to be something 
in tiie world, he converted his farm wagon into 
a " prairie schooner," after the manner of the 
times, loaded his family into it, and went to 
the mining region, then newl\- discovered in the 
vicinity of Pike's Peak, Colorado. Shortly 
after his arrival he was elected judge of the 
Miners' Court for Russell District, and filled 
the position with acceptance until the autumn 
of 1861, when he returned home and resumed 
the practice of law, to which he soon after 
added real estate and banking. He also held 
the office of county clerk for four years prior 
to 1867, and for many years filled the position 
of deputy collector of internal revenue for his 
district. In 1866 he was elected to the last 
teri'ilorial council, and also to the first slate 
senate, and honored both bodies by being their 
president. Occupying so prominent a position 
at such a time, he hsid an important part to 
perform in setting the machinery of the new 
state government in motion. In doing this he 
gained for himself a reputation for ability and 
uprightness wortiiy of emulation. But no 
sketch of his life would be complete should it 
fail to point attention to the strong religious 
element which entered into his composition. 
Having been favored with early religious train- 
ing, his mind and heart soon embraced the 
ti'uths of religion, and he became a member of 
the MeiUhodist Episcopal Church when quite 
young. During his residence here he was 
twice elected lay delegate to the general (.•(in- 
ference of his church, and on each occasion 
was placed on committees of importance, and 
ac(|uired a national ie|)utation for his ability 
in denominational work. At home he was the 
main pillar nf his ciiurch.and bv far tin- larjicst 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



contributor to its support. Possessing intel- 
lectual endowments of a liigli order, with a 
genial disposition, united witli strong- religious 
convictions and unflinching integrity', he was 
far riciier in ijualities whicii would adorn an 
exalted office than in those necessar}' to success 
as a j)olitician. He may have been wanting in 
cunning; lie ma}' have had too great faitii in 
the professions of men t(j i)e worldly wise, and 
he doubtlessly erred sometimes in judgment; but 
he was large-iiearted, honest, generous, synipa- 
tiietic and conscientious. lie died August 1, 
1881, at Yei'a Cruz, Mexico, just as he was en- 
tering upon his duties as United States consul 
at tiiat place. "Peace to his ashes." 

[ Written hy E. II. Barnard, &j.] 



LUCIUS IIEXRY PvOGEliS was born in 
the village of Fayetteville, Onondaga 
County, Xew York, on March 20, 183-1. 
His father, Rev. Lucius C. Rogers, was a minis- 
ter of the Metljodist Episcopal Church. The 
Metiiodist econoniv provided for constant 
changes in the pastorate ; therefore his boyhood 
days were spent in many different ]ilaces. 

When about sixteen, the father's failing health 
nuule it necessary for him to retii'e from active 
service as a pastor for a time, lie tiien decided 
to occupy his little farm in Augusta, Oneida 
Count}', New York. The son remained at home 
for some years, aiding him in its cultivation. 
1 pon attaining his majority he was favored 
with a suit of clothes — and likewise a horse. 

Supi)lementing this modest start in life with 
some experience in teaciiing, Mr. Rogers then 
followed the familiar advice of Horace Greeley: 
••(W> West, Young Man!" and did so in the 
spring of 1857. He traveled by railroad and 
stage to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here the stage 
line stopped, lie tlien crossed the Missouri 
river in a skiff and on the ice, and tiience on 
foot to Fremont. Ilis brother was already on 
the ground, ami he assisted him in the con- 
struction of a log-house. 



The bi'others were in partnoi'ship for some 
years, and cultivated their farms toffetiier. 
The eai'l}' hardships incident to ])ioneer life 
gradually lessened and in the fall of IStiG Mr. 
Rogers gave up active farming, and devoted 
himself to the banking business with his brother 
E. H. Kogers, who had (some time before) 
oponed the first bank in Fremont, with funds 
of both brothers, under the name of E. H- 
Rogers it Co. The business was c^arried on till 
April, 1872, when this was reorganized into the 
First National Rank of Fremont. Mr. Rogers 
was elected assistant cashier, and served the 
bank in that capacity for many yean's. He was 
later vice-president for some 3'ears, and since 
its organization has been a director of this 
financial institution, but on account of ill health 
retired from active service in 1883. 

Mr. Kogers owns a large interest in the 
Fremont KoUer Mills, and is also connected 
with other Fremont business enterprises. Is a 
trustee of the Fremont Normal School, and was 
also for years a trustee of the Nebraska W^es- 
leyan University at Lincoln. In 188S he was 
a delegate to the Methodist General Conference 
then assembled in New York City. 

Politically, he has always been a Ilepublican, 
baing in early days a probate judge. Was 
married September 7, 1SG4 to Miss Lottie 
Heaton, a daughter of Rev. Isaac E. lleaton of 
Fremont. They have two cliiklren*: Carey 
Irving and Belle Heaton, born respectively in 
1871 and 187G. 

Mr. Rogers is still largely interested in the 
old "Rogei's" farm near Fremont, and takes 
great pride in the line grove of timber cover- 
ing thirty-five acres which was planted by the 
Rogers brothers at a very early day. 



JAMES I!. ROBINSON, iiroprietor of tlie 
Pebble Roller Mills at Serii)ner, who is 
also connected with the Seribner State 
liank. was born in Union County, Penn- 
sylvania, .lanuary, 1821 ; the son of William 
Robinson, a native of New J(>rse\' ami of Em;- 



XOJi TilEA STEA' .V XEBKA SKA. 



lish descent. His wife was Elizabeth (Barger) 
Robinson, who died when our subject was about 
fourteen years old, she being the mother of 
nine children, James H. being next to the old- 
est. The father died in Pennsylvania about 
1845, having spent his life as a day laborer. Our 
subject grew to manhood antl I'eceived his edu- 
cation in the common schools, working on a 
farm until he was eighteen years of age, when 
he learned the miller's trade, which he followed 
until 1847, at which time he came to Hickory 
Grove, Scott County, Iowa, and worked on a 
farm. We next find him in a mill at Maquo- 
keta, where" he remainetl two years and then 
went to Galena, Hlinois, anil purchased a fai'm. 
AVhile living there he became acquainted with 
General Grant. In 1859 he took a pre-emption 
in Cuming township, Dodge County. 

Politically, he is a Democrat, and received 
the nomination as county treasurer, but owing 
to his party being in the minority he was 
defeatetl. 

Mr. Robinson was married in 1812 to Caro- 
line Stoughton; she died in Scribner in 
1884. Their family consisted of ten children : 
William, Mary E., Adaline, Thomas II., Sarah 
Alice, Charles Wesley, James Henry, Ella and 
Emma, twins ; and Carrie. 



^11 T'l-LLIAM ROP.INSON, a pioneer of 
yV' Dodge County, elfected his settle- 
ment May 4, 1659, in what is now 
Cuming township, and in 1809 removed to his 
present home in Pebble township. lie was 
Ijorn in Union County, Pennsylvania, August 
2, 1843, the son of James 1!. Kc^biiison, who 
was born in 1821. 

Our subject is the eldest of ten children, and 
was married September 21, 1873, to Miss Sarah 
Elizabeth Shepard, born in Ohio April 2, 1857. 
Their children are ('lark, Leslie. Mary. Alice, 
Effie J., and I\Iili's. Tiiey have lost four chil- 
dren. 

Mr. UoliiiisMM reccivi'il a (•(imiiKJM sclinol ed- 
ucation. 



Politically, he votes the Democratic ticket, 
and was nominated by his party as a member 
of the legislature; he ran ahead of his ticket, 
but on account of the minoi'ity of his party 
was defeated. 

LIDWIG ROSENTHAL, cashier of the 
Nebraska State Bank at West Point, 
was born in Vienna, March 12, 1863. 
He is the son of Charles and Theresa Rosen- 
thal, who emigrated to Ainerica in 1869. While 
in Vienna he followed the grain and commis- 
sion business. After coming to Nebraska he 
located on a farm in Cuming County, and suf- 
fered great loss during the grasshopper plague. 
In 1876 he came to West Point, since which 
time he has been quite successful. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rosenthal were the first to es- 
tablish their family name in America. They 
are the parents of three children: f^inda, wife 
of Henry D. Calland, of West Point; Lutlwig, 
and Amelia, wife of Robert F. Kloke. 

Our subject was seven years of age when he 
came to Cuming County, and was educated in 
the common schools of West Point, lie is a 
thorough stutlent, well posted in all state and 
national matters. In 1876 he was engaged in 
the dry goods business, and in 1887 engaged 
with ]\Ir. Kloke in real estate, loan and bank- 
ing. At the time of the organization of tiie 
Nebraska State Bank he was made its cashier, 
which position he still holds. 

Politically, he is a Republican, ami is at pres- 
ent president of the Republican club. He be- 
longs to the Ro\'al Arch Degree of the ^fasonic 
Order, and is also a member of the Knights of 
Pythias. 

ALEXANDER ROGERS, of the firm of 
Rogers Bros., liverymen, at the village 
of Pilger, came to Stanton C<iiinly 
in the autumn of 1881 and i-ented a 
farm near the village where in company with 
his brf)tliei's he engaged in the stock business, 
buying, selling, feeding anil shijiping. He 
continued at this for foui' vears and in 1S84 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



199 



Iniilt a livery barn 32x4:0 feet, also a residence. 
One of tills firm, Josiaii Rogers, is a veterinary 
surgeon, and they break and train horses in 
connection with their livery business. They 
also own a farm in Union Creek precinct of 
eight hundred acres. The firm brought tiiree 
thousand dollars with them to the county. 

He of whom we write this notice; was born 
111 Racine County, Wisconsin. \\m\ .">. 1848. 
Ho is the son of Josiah and .M;iry liogers, 
natives of New York and Ireland respectively. 
The}' reared a family of ten children : Edward, 
Nellie, Julia M., xilexander, Josiah, Clinton, 
Ralph, one who died in infancy; Joseph and 
Benjamin. The two oldest above named were 
by jMrs. Roger's first husband — Mr. I'atrick 
Carr, but they were always recognized in the 
family the same as own brother and sister. 

Our subject lived in "Wisconsin until thirty- 
three years of age. The family have always 
worked together and still own the home farm 
in Wisconsin which they have rented since 
coming to Nebraska. 

Alexander was left fatherless when fourteen 
years of age. his father losing his life by acci- 
dent in the pineries by the glancing of an axe 
in the hands of a chopper. His axe hit him on 
the side of the neck, cut the jugular vein, caus- 
ing him to bleed to death. Both our subject 
and his brother (the other member of the firm) 
are bachelors ; their mother and sister living 
with them. 

Politically Mr. Rogers is a Republican and 
was county commissioner from 1885 to 1888. 

JOHN F. L. ROSENFIELD located on 
Section G, of Cuming township, Cuming 
County, in the spring of 1883, and bought 
a quarter section of land, upon which he 
now lives. It was partly improved at the time, 
and he has added a two-story house, 32x48 feet, 
with an addition 18x32 feet, also has a good 
barn, l^^x24 feet, and a greenhouse 24x100 feet, 
(lev(jl('d entirely to pansies. The first two 
yciirs he farmed his land in the usual way and 
then plaiiled out a mirsei'v, which now extends 



over ten acres. He carries different varieties 
of evergreens, apples, cherries and plums, also 
forty varieties of roses and hardy flowering 
plants of all descriptions. He has tested almost 
all varieties of grapes grown in North America, 
and handles only the most hardy varieties. 
Again he makes a specialty of early vegetables 
and small fruit, including strawberries and 
raspberries, and is a successful bee keeper, hav- 
ing about one hundred colonies of them. 

Our subject was born in Sweden, that most 
beautiful of all Northern European countries, 
where the landscape is ever a feast to the eye, 
August 20, 1855, the son of Lars and Hannah 
Rosentield, whose nine children were: Nels, 
.Vndrew, Mary (died at the age of 32), John F. 
L., Edwin, Johanna, Charles and two who died 
in infancy. The living children all reside in 
Chicago, except our subject, who lived in Swe- 
den until he was thirteen years of age, and 
then accompanied his parents to America 
They landed at Quebec and from there went to 
Chicago and remained fifteen years, where he 
worked at horticulture work until he came to 
Cuming County. His education was of the 
comm'on school type and quite limited at that. 
He attended business college one year in Chi- 
cago, which was a great benefit to him in after 
years. 

Mr. Rosentield was united in marriage Octo- 
ber 29, 1879, to Camelia Roos, the daughter of 
Carl and Clara Roos, natives of Sweden, whose 
ten children were as follows : Charles (deceased), 
Caroline, Annette (deceased), Cornelia and 
Cecilia (twins), the last named being deceased ; 
Camilla, (!arlino, Celinda (deceased), Clodomir, 
Cassandra, all born in Goodhue Count}', Min- 
nesota. 

He and his wife are the ])arents of seven 
children. horn in 1 he following oi'der: 
Camilla U., August 4, 1880; Eldore A. 
(deceased), born December 8, 1881 ; Elvarino 
A,, born November 29, 1883; Armand M. 
(deceased), born September 7, 1885 ; Myrtle R., 
born Fel)ruary 8, 1887; Karl C., born January 
1, 1SS9. and Stanlev C., born .lanuary 2<t, IS'.M. 



200 



NOKTIIEASTERN NEBKASKA. 



Politically, he of whom we write tliis notice 
thinks the Republican part}' is best calculated 
to enhance the interests of the rank and tile of 
American citizens. 

In conclusion, it may be added that uur sub- 
ject is never so happy and fully in his element 
as when working among his bees or training 
his beautiful flowers. He is passionately fond 
of pansies, which flower he calls the "sweetest 
and most innocent" of all flowers, save the I'ose 
when it is at its glory. This taste for flowers 
and the busy bees bespeaks of a I'efined and 
cultivated nature. 



JAMES RENNICK, of Section 1, township 
24, Humbug precinct, located on the farm 
he now occupies in the spring of 1S90. 
since which time he has been identified 
witli the interests of Stanton County. He and 
Edward T. purchased four hundred and eighty 
acres of wild land, upon which he erected a 
good class of buildings; also provided a system 
of water-works, set out an orchard and planted 
a grove, and now has two hundred and seventy- 
five acres under the plow, and one hundred 
acres enclosed by a good fence. 

Mr. Rennick was born in Ireland, December, 
18.^3, the son of George and Isabel Rennick, 
whoso live children were : -James. Edward T., 
Maggie J., George II. and Fi-ank. The three 
last named are deceased. Our subject re- 
mainetl in Ireland untd sixteen yecrs of age, 
then came to America, making his way from 
New York to Muscatine County, Iowa, where 
his father engaged in farming, and tiiere re- 
7uained until the fall of 1883, moved to 
AVayne Count\% Nebraska, and remained until 
lS!tO. He brought about three thousand dollars 
to Nebraska. He i-eceived a fair common 
school education. 

He was married August 2'.>, 1SS(>, to Rebecca, 
daughter of William and Ann ^^otg^.mery. na- 
tives of Ireland, whcjse si.\ children woro : ]\rin- 
nie, licbecca. (Jeorge. William, .linn' I), (dc- 
ceasi'd), and lio.Na. Mr. and Mrs. Kfiinick arc 



the parents of three children : Maggie J., born 
December 28, 1888: Mary A., born December 
21, 1890, and Edward S., born February 2, 
1892. 

Our suijject is a member of the Episcopal 
Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian. 

Political^, he of whom we write votes the 
Independent ticket. His parents are both 
living with him, aged sixty-four and sixty-eight 
years. 

THE REV. JAMES C. QUINN, PH.D., 
LL.D., D.D., of Fremont, Nebraska, 
was born near Belfast, Ireland. His 
father was Richard (Juinn,and his mother Jane 
(Cochrane) (^uinn. After receiving a good 
school and Jioademic education, he entered 
Queens College, Belfast, in 1865, and graduated 
in theologv, afterward from the General Assem- 
bly's College (Pres.) of the same city. As a 
student in arts, Mr. (Juinn devoted consider- 
able attention to mental and moral ])hilosopliy 
and natural science; and as a student in theol- 
ogy took prizes in Hebrew and Christian apol- 
ogetics. Since the spring of 187-t, Rev. Dr. 
Quinn had charge of a congregation in Canada, 
serving faithfully in St. James, N. B.; Sher- 
brook. Nova Scotia ; Bathurst, N. 1*.; and in 
Emer.5(jii, Manitoba ; also Minot, North Dakota, 
and Helena, Montana, in the Piesbylerian 
Church. 

He was married April In, 1872, to Anna 
Wilson, daughter of William Wilson, of lielfast, 
and niece of the late Rev. Dr. Alexander Wil- 
son of ]\[elville. Alamance County. North Car 
olina. 

Wherever Dr. Quinn resided, he, in addition 
to his regular ministerial work, always took a 
deep interest in the educational and agricultural 
interests of the community. He has also been 
a stanch and ciiiisistent advocateof total absti- 
nence. 

Having changed his views on the suliject of 
" church polity," the Rev. Dr. (Juinn apjiliod 
for admission to the I'rdtcstiint i''pisco|ial 
Chiii'i'h. and was (irdaiiicd deacon li\' the Ki'dil 



MORTMEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



201 



Uev. Eisliop Brewer, S. T. D., in St. Peter's 
Cliurcl), Helena. Montana, September 30, 189(i. 
Dr. (Juinn assumed cliarp^e as rector of St. 
Mark's Cluircli, Anaconda, Montana, November, 
1. 1890; was advanced to tbe priestbood by 
I'.isbop Brewer, at the annual convention in 
Itozeman, Montana, Sunday, June 28, 1891, 
and was called as rector to St. James Parisb, 
Fremont, Nebraska, his present charge, in De- 
cember, 1891, and entered upon the work Jan- 
uary 1, 1892. 

Wiiile residing in Helena, Montana, Dr. 
(Juinii was appointed non-resident professor of 
mental and moral philosophy, in the National 
University, Chicago, Illinois, which position he 
still holds. He was also chancellor for Mon- 
tana, for the National University, and had 
cliarge of the "University Extension '' work in 
liie State. 

While an active worker in all depaitments of 
f!hnrcii activities, Dr. (,)uinn has been a ililigent 
student of H0I3' Scriptures, and cognate litera- 
ture. His meetings for Bible study are very 
popular and helpful to tliose who attend. 

Dr. Quinn is an active member in the follow- 
ing societies : '^ The Christian Social Union of 
the United States;" "The American Academy 
of Political and Social Science ; " " The Amer. 
ican Association for the Advancement of 
Science." 

WILLIAM PHILLIPS, one of the enter- 
prising farmers of Maple township, 
whose farm is on Section 4, came to 
Dodge County in the winter of 1878. He first 
located in what is now Everett township, and 
rented land for one season and then bought 
eighty acres on Section 3, in Maple townshij), 
the same being wild land. Here he made some 
improvements and lived for three years, during 
which time he purchased the place he now 
occupies, consisting of two hundred and forty 
acres of partly improved land on which lie 
built a house, 32x32 feet. He also built a barn 
double cribs, granary, hog house, shedding foj- 
si.xty head of cattle ; also |)rovided a board 



well with wind-power for pumping jiurposes 
and set an orchard of two hundreil and seventy- 
live trees ; alsoa grove of three acres. Plis farm 
now comprises four hundred and eighty acres, 
four hundred being under the plow, as well as 
surroundcnl by a good fence. When one reflects 
that our subject only possessed thirtij-seven dol- 
lars in cash, three horses and farming imple- 
ments upon coming to this country and met 
with losses on account of high water for two 
seasons, they must be constrained to believe 
that he has l)een more than an ordinary busi- 
ness manager. 

Mr. Phillijis was born in Fairfield County, 
Ohio, May, 1855, the son of John M. and 
Sarah Phillips, natives of Ohio and Pennsyl- 
vania, whose fourteen children were as follows: 
Ezra, Mary, William, Catharine, Augusta E. 
(deceased), Olive, an infant (deceased), Louis, 
Evan, John, Josephine, Sherman, an infant 
(deceased), and David. 

Our subject remained in the Buckeye State 
until ten 3'ears of ago, when his parents re- 
moved to Illinois and engaged in farming, he 
remaining at home until of age. Then he 
leased land for two seasons, after which he re- 
moved to Dodge County, Nebraska. His edu- 
cation was of the common school order. He 
was united in marriage February, 1877, to 
Ellen Stumbaugh, daughter of Samuel and 
Mary J. Stumbaugh, of Ohio, whose only 
child was our subject's wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have a familv of six 
children, born in the following order : Maude, 
l\[arch 29, 1878; Daisy. April 21, 1881; Pvay, 
April 23,1885; Edna,"April 13, 1887; Pearl, 
October 8, 1889; and Ross, April 29, 1890. 

Politicall3',lie is a lle])ul)Iican. He is a member 
of the Odd Fellows' Oi'der, belonging to Centen- 
nial Lodge No. 59, at Fi'omout. 



WILIIKLM PIERE, of Section 9, Wisner 
township, Cuming County, was born 
in Luebecke, Germany, April Ui. 
1827. He came to America in 18fli'> and was 



202 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



emplo\-ed in a soda facton- at Omaha for two 
years, after wliich he went to Wisner and pur- 
chased a quarter section of land embraced in 
liis ])resent farm, paying two hundred dollars 
for the same. He at once commenced to im- 
prove this prairie land, meeting with tolerable 
fair success from the commencement. He, in 
common with other settlers, had many obsta- 
cles to overcome. Upon one occasion his cabin 
was completely snowed under and for two days 
he was unable to reach his stable. On another 
occasion his onl}' neighbor got out of matches 
and did not dare to allow his fire to go out for 
many day;>. As soon as the weather permitted 
they went to "West Point for supplies, but were 
unable to return to their families for several days, 
owning to deep snow anil severe cold weather. 
For two seasons ins entire crop was destro^'ed 
by grasshoppers, but he kept struggling on and 
today is the owner of four hundred acres of 
choice land, with good buildings and other im- 
provements. He devoted his attention ciiierty 
to grain raising. 

He was married November IT, ISOS, to 
Minna Misner, and by this union the following 
children were born: Augusta, Gustav, Otto, 
William, Agnes, Paulina, Herman and Minna. 

Politically our subject is a suj)porter of the 
Democratic party, and has held the office of 
constable for two years. 



WILLIAM J. PATTERSON, of Section 
2, township 24-, Humbug precinct, 
came to Stanton Countv in the spring 
of 188i, locating on one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, where he now lives, lie i)uili a 
story and one-half house, a small barn, a good 
granary, cribbmg, etc., planted a grove of throe 
thousand forest trees and one hundred fruit 
trees. He now has one hundred and ten acres 
under cultivation. In 1888 he lost his entire 
corn crop by hail. 

He was born in Ireland October, 18-18, and 
is the son of John "W. and Isabel Patter- 
son, natives of Ireland, whose two children 



were : Mary A. and our subject, "W. J. He 
remained on the Emerald Isle until seventeen 
years of age, then came to America and worked 
four years by the month near Muscatine, 
Iowa, after which he became a rentei- for 
thirteen years, at the end of which period 
he came to Nebraska. January, ISS-i, he was 
united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of 
Mr. and Mis. James Atwell, natives of Ireland, 
whose eight children were: Richard, Catha- 
rine, William (deceased), Jane, Robert, Eliza- 
beth, James and Alexander. Our subject and 
his wife are the parents of seven children: 
Maria J., Isabel, James E., "William J., George 
and Lizzie (twins), and Roxie. 

Both he and his wife are members of the 
Episcopalian (church, and politically he votes 
the Independent ticket. 



JOHN OSTERLOH, one of the successful 
fanners of Hooper township, Dodge 
County, whose pleasant home is situated 
on Section 8, came to the county in the 
autumn of 1858, and hence very naturally 
finds a place in the history of the Elkliorn 
Valley. The first four years he worked out iiv 
the year and then claimed a homestead of one 
hundred and fift}' acres, which he improved by 
turning over the virgin sod, building a house 
14x15 feet, with a kitchen attached, in which 
residence he lived for ten years, when he built 
a farm-house 16x28 feet, with a wing four- 
teen feet s(]uare. He also built a barn, granary 
and cribl)ing, and provided his place witii a 
good drive-well which furnishes a system of 
water-works with puic water ))umped by wind- 
power. A grove of three acres of artificial 
timber adorns his place, proviiling a cooling 
shaile in mid-summer, as well as a protection 
against the stormy blasts of winter. He has an 
orchard of one hundred and twenty-five trees. 
His farm now consists of two hundred and 
fifty acres, all surrounded by a good fence. 

Our worthy subject has the honor of being 
an ex soldier in the Civil War. lie enlisteil in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Company A Second Nebraska Cavalry, under 
Captain Reid, and was mustered into service 
at Omaha, and went to Fort Kandall on the 
iieadwaters of the Missouri. lie was in tlie 
service eleven months, but was fortunate 
enougli not to be in any engagements. Wijen 
lie came to the country his nearest market 
point was Omaha, and in order to obtain a 
gi-ist lie had to go forty miles to mil!, over 
un bridged streams. 

Mr. Osterloh liails from the Geman Empire, 
where he was born in August, lS3(i. His 
|);irents, Herman and Mnry Osterloii, were na- 
tives of Germany and reared a family of seven 
children : Catharine, Anna, Margaret (de- 
ceased). Lena (deceased), Henry, John and 
George. 

Jolin renuiined in iiis native land until he 
attained bis majority, when lie crossed the 
i)illowy waves of the Atlantic Ocean, inquest 
of the New "World, landing in New York 
harbor, coming direct from tliat city to Omaha, 
by the way of steam-boat. This was in 1858 
and he found but two stores in Omaha. He 
came to the country poor, having but tw'o dol- 
lars when he arrived in Nebraska. In 1859, 
during the Pawnee Indian War, lie was driven 
out by the Indians. His early advantages for 
an education were fair. 

Thus far in life our subject lias lived single. 
Politically he believes in the principles of the 
Kepublican paity, and in his religious belief he 
adheres to the Lutheran faith. 



ALBEPiT NEIMAN is a prosperous farmer 
of Elkliorn township, Cuming County, 
I'esiding on Section 28, "whose father 
located on a homestead in 186C when our sub- 
ject was eiglit years of age , lie having been 
i)orn in Canada, December 9, 1857. lie 
remained at home until he was twenty-fivg 
years of age and in October, 1883, went onto 
tiie land he now owns, his father having paid 
part down on the same and then gave it to 
liiin. He at once made suitaijle iniprovemcnts, 



including a good class of buildings, set out a 
small orchard and a three-acre grove. He now 
has one hundred and fifty acres under cultiva- 
tion, wiiile the remainder of iiis iialf section 
is in pasture and meadow land. He .added to 
his lirst tract of land until he now has three 
humlred and twenty aci'es. 

His parents, Wilhelm and Lovesie Neiman, 
were natives of Germany, came to America 
about 1840, landing on Canadian soil, and lived 
there fourteen 3'ears ui)on a farm and reared a 
family of nine children: Lauretta (deceased), 
Albert, our subject; Minnie, Bertha, Amelia, 
John, Nancv, Anna and Willie (deceased). 

Tlie parents of these chiidien are now living 
at West Point, Nebraska. 

He of w'hom we write this notice was mar- 
ried in 1883 to Lizzie Schroeder, to whom three 
children have been born: William, Ella and 
Edward. 

Mrs. Neiman's parents were born in Ger 
man}', came to America in 1809 and direct 
to Nebraska, and now live at West Point. 
They settled on a homestead in Dodge County 
where they lived fifteen years. They were the 
parents of three children: Lizzie, Henry and 
Matilda. 

Our subject and his family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch and in political 
matters he is a supporter of the Ite]iul)liean 
party. 

He paid five d(jllars per acre for his liist 
eighty acres of land and nine dollars for the 
second eighty. This land to-day is worth 
thirty-five dollars per acre. 



GUST A. NELSON, a farmer living on 
Section 14, of Garfield township, came 
to Cuming County in the spring of 1879, 
locating on his ]iresent place which he 
rented for one year, and then went to Burt 
County, where he bought eight}' acres of wild 
land, upon which he placed improvements and 
lived two yeaj's. He then sold and bought his 
present farm which at the lime was a (piartei 



204 



XORTHEASTERN NEB R ASK' A. 



section of wild land ; this was in 1882. He 
commenced improving first by erecting a dug- 
out, in wliicli he lived nine years, wiien he 
built his present commodious farm house and 
soon added a good barn, granary, double cribs 
with stock sheds and hog liouse. lie provided 
his jtlace with a good dug well, windmill and 
farm water-works, lie also adiled to tlie value 
of his place b}' planting an orchard of two hun- 
dred trees and a grove of two acres, together 
with small fruits of all kinds. When he came 
to this county, taking his own language for it, 
he was " worse off than nothing," in a financial 
sense, but had a wife and four children for 
which to live and labor. To acquaint the 
reader with some things concerning his earlier 
life it may be remarked that he was born in 
Sweden, April, 1841:, the son of Nels Erickson 
and Eva C. Erickson, natives of Sweden, 
whose seven children all took the name of Nel- 
son. They were named: HedwicL, Anders 
r., P>rita C, Gust A., Nels A., Eva S. and 
Carl W. Three of these children are living. 
Our subject lived in Sweden until twenty-tivo 
years of age, when he sailed for America, land- 
ing in New York harbor, and from there went 
to Henry County, Illinois, where he worked 
out by the month on a farm for two years, after 
which he went to Iowa, where he worked as a 
grader on the Chicago, Burlington tt Quincj' 
llailroad. We next find him in Lucas County, 
where he leased land and engaged in farming, 
which he followed for six years. He then 
Dought eighty acres of land, worked it two 
years, sold out and came to Nebraska. 

In his early life he did not have good school- 
ing opportunities, and came to America a 
poor man. November, 1808, marked a new 
era in this man's life, for it was during that 
month he was united in marriage to Johanna 
Max, the daughter of Ears P. and Stena G. 
Max, natives of Sweden, whose two children 
were Johanna and Caroline. 

Mr. Nelson and his wife are the parents of 
eleven children : Frank G., EnimaS., Alice (de- 
ceased), Charles, Augusta (deceased), Ililma, 



Ida, William, Edward, Sherman and Alva (de- 
ceased. The parents are members of the Metii- 
odist Episcopal Church, while politically our 
sul)ject attiliates with the Independent move- 
ment. He has assessed his townshi)! twice, 
been tax collector two yeai's and has lu»hl the 
office of school director ten years. 



JOHN McMILLEN. of Section ;i.-., Stanton 
precinct, Stanton County, is a native of 
Ontario, born in Dummer, Petersborougli 
County, February 1, 1812. He came to 
Stanton County, Nebraska, in March, 1870. He 
is the son of Robert and Sarah (Abernethy) 
Mc^Iillen, who were nativesof Antrem County, 
Ireland, coming from Belfast to America in 
1828. They settled in Petersborough County, 
Canada, where Mrs. McMillen died, January IS, 
18G5, her husband surviving her until Decem- 
ber 12, 1886, when he died at Stanton, 
Nebraska, aged eighty -six years, three months 
and ten days. He came to Stanton Count}' in 
1870, and ))urcliased the farm upon wliich our 
subject now lives, pa\'ing one hundred and ten 
dollars for sixty acres of the same. John 
spent his youth on a farm in Can.aila and 
until he became of age he worked and attended 
school alternately, following the ordinary 
routine of other Canadian boys. After he 
became of age, he followed lumbering in the 
pineries during the winters. The winters of 
18(!l-5 and 1865-0, he spent in the Michigan 
pine woods, and the following spring went to 
LaSalle Count}'. Illinois, where he spent one 
season. He also worked at brick-making, at 
Mill Point, Michigan. From May, 1806, he 
remained at home on the farm with his father. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert McMillen were the par- 
ents of seven children: Sarah J. (Mrs. W.J. 
Corrigan), Frank, Henry, Thomas, John, Wil- 
liam R., Susanna (Mrs. Stephens). 

Upon coming to Stanton Count}', our subject 
erected a frame house 12x10 feet, one-stoi-y 
high, hauling the lumber from Fremont, which 
was then tlif nearest niarlcet point. It took 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA ^KA . 



205 



tdiii' (lays to make atrip. lie now owns four 
liuiidred and eight acres of hind, over two hun- 
dred acres being under cultivation. He lias a 
line grove and orchard of twenty acres. Ik- 
folkiws mixed farming and is (luite success- 
ful. 

He was married May 24, 1 SSfi.to Bertha ifyen, 
the daughter of John and Lena Myen. Mrs. 
McMillen was born at Norenberg, Germany. 
She accompanied her parents to America, in 
1884, the family removing to Stanton in 1880. 
Mr. and Mrs. McMillen's two living children 
are Martha and Frank. Uj) to 1S90, our sub- 
ject voted with the Republican party, since 
which time he has supported the Peoj)le"s party, 
lie took out his naturalization papers, IMarch 
21, 1870, which was the next day after he 
arrived in Nebraska. He and his family attend 
the Methodist Episcopal Churcl>. When he 
llrst came to the county, for a number of years 
his crops were wholly or partially destroyed by 
the grasshoppers, but since their disappearance 
good crops has been the rule, which accounts 
in a measure for the prosperous condition of 
the farmers of Stanton County at this time. 

Among the relics in our suljject's possession 
is a copy of the Stanton Bvgle, Volume 1, Num- 
ber 3, ])ul)lished in October, 1873, wliicli was 
the first i)aper pul)lished in the county. 



FKEDEIIICK W. MELCHER, one of the 
enterprising business factors of West 
I'oint, now engaged in the farm inijile. 
nuMit business, is a nativeof Dodge County, Wis- 
consin, born January 29, 1852. He is the son of 
John Melcher, a native of the Province of Bran- 
denburg, (Tcrmany, who was born June 1, 1821. 
The grandfather's name was George Melcher, 
and he settled in Dodge County, Wisconsin, 
after coming to this count^3^ He took up a 
forty-acre tract of land in the big timber. He 
served in the trouble with France. 

John Melcher, father of our subject, married 
Ciiristana Stein, a nativeof the same plac-e in 
Germanv. John emigrated to AnuM'ica in 



1848, taking forty acres of heavy timber whicli 
he cleared up ( witli the assistance of iiis wife ) 
without a team. He built a log-cabin, without 
the use of a nail or.any sort of iron, and for a 
time lived without a floor. The roof was made 
of shakes, and all was primitive. They were 
very poor and had to do something for a liveli- 
hood, so he went to Kolling I'rairie, where a few 
settlers lived, leaving his wife in the cabin, 
which was only partly covereii. At that time 
the country was full of wild animals, and 
the howl of wolves made the night hideous. 
There she remained alone, while her husband 
was earni'ng something to live upon. The only 
money they had was ten cents, which Mr. 
Melcher had picked upon the streets of Mil- 
waukee. But times changed, and in 18t'>r> he 
had eighty acres of land and a qiuintity of 
stock. He sold out at a good figure, and with 
teams started for the prairie land of the west, 
and the subject of this sketch, Fretierick, walked 
all the way driving the stock. They left on 
the eighteenth of iSIay, and arrived on the 
twent3^-fourth of June, and settled on Kock 
Creek, Bismark townshij), where they took 
up a section of land. In about 1876 the father 
sold out and purchased land in the same town- 
ship, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. John 
Melcher are the parents of thirteen children, 
five of whom lived to be adults : August, mar- 
ried Maria Krueger (he died, leaving four 
children; he was the first postmaster of 
Bismark township); Henrietta, wife of Lewis 
Hotchkiss of Omaha; Earnest, of Wisner; 
Fred W., our subject; Bertha, at home. In 
politics Mr. Melcher votes with the Democratic 
part}', but is not a politician. 

Fred W. remained at home with his parents 
until he was twenty-four years of age. He 
was married in 1876, to Ida Ilaabe, by whom 
one child was born : Ida, born April 21,1878. 
Mrs. Melcher died September, 1879, caused 
by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. For 
his second wife Mr. Melcher married Louisa 
M. Fuerst, a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania. 
I!v this union four children were born : Arthur 



20C 



A'Of! THE A S TERN NEB A' A SKA 



O., October 1, 1882; Douglas, February 15. 
1884 ; Emma, Septe'raber 21, 1885 ; Francis, Jan. 
uarv 30, 1891. 

Politicalh', Mr. ]\[elcher is a supporter of the 
Democratic jiarty. He lias served as city 
treasurer ami a member of the council. 

lie belongs to tiie Knights of Pythias and 
A. O. U. \V. fraternities, having passed ail the 
chairs in the lodge. Mr. Melcher represented 
the display of agricultural products in 1891 
which was .sent East, as an advertising medium 
by tlie Nebraska Business Men's A.ssociation. 

GEORGE MlLTONBERGEll, propiietor 
of the livery, feed and sale stable at 
North Bend, came to Dodge County in 
187S, and located on a farm, the same being a 
part of Section 6, Cotterell township, where 
he bought a quarter section of wild land in 
1872. When he came here he was in company 
with his brother-in-law, William Mitchell, who 
bouo-ht eighty acres on the same section. A 
house was built on Mitcliell's place, in whicii 
thev all lived for three years, before our sub- 
ject built on his own land, which was in 1881. 
There he lived until the spring of 1889, when 
he traded for a cattle ranch of four hundred 
and eighty acres in Holt County, Nebraska. 
He never moved to the place, but still owns it. 
After making this trade he rented a dairy 
farm one mile north of North Bend, and oper- 
ated the same until the spring of 1891. when 
lie moved into town and engaged in the liveiy 
business, but still carried on the dairy. When 
on the farm he milked twenty cows, but does 
not now keep as many. He sold the dairy May 
10, 1892. 

Our subject was born in Warren County, 
Ohio, May 9, 1850, the son of William and 
Marv M. (Zehring) Miltonberger. The father 
is a native of Virginia and the mother of 
Pennsylvania, (ieorge remained at home with 
his parents on the farm until he was twenty- 
four years of age, after which he farmed one of 
his father's places for three years and then 
came to Dodj-e County. Nebraska. 



February 12, 1874, he was united in marriage 
in Warren County, Ohio, to Miss Jennie F. 
Mitchell,daughter of Thomas and Martha Mitch- 
ell. Jennie F. (Mitchell) Miltonberger was born 
in Butler County, Ohio, September 19, 1853. 

To our subject and his wife have been born 
five children : Walter, Martha C, William T.. 
Howard S. and baby. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miltonberger are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics 
he is identified with the Republican party, and 
says he will be as long as the Republican jiarty 
has the record it now has. 



DEMETRIUS MAYNARD, a resident of 
Section (I, Cuming township, Dodge 
County, will form the subject of the 
subjoined sketch. He was born in Essex 
County, New York, June 25, lS4(i, and when 
fourteen \'ears of age went with his mother to 
Fond (in Lac County, Wisconsin, where he lived 
until 1871, and then came to Omaha. He 
arrived in that city in the month of June, and 
worked on the railroad bridge across the Mis- 
souri River, as well as at grading the depot 
grounds. In April, 1872, he took his pre-emp- 
tion as a homesteader on the same land upon 
which he still lives, having seen the country 
develop from a prairie wilderness to a highly 
cultivated garden s]iot. Our subject is princi- 
pally engaged in stock raising, in whicli he is 
cjuite successful. 

Politicall}', he is an Independent with Dcmu- 
cratic sympathies, though he takes no active 
interest in the political world. 

Mr. Maynard is the son of Herman and Har- 
riet (Cline) Maynard. The father was Uhu in 
Essex County, New York, March 22, 1822, and 
was of English descent and a shoemaker by 
occupation. He went to A'eriuont in 1849, 
where he died November 4, 1851. He was 
united in marriage at Crown Point, New York. 
December 31, 1843, to Harriet Cline. who was 
born in Addison County, Vermont, Fei>ruaiy 
17, 1824, and accompanied hor parents t<> White- 




M% 




^<^!^'^iAA^j^jJl ^^<yM^ia^j£^^^ 



ArOHTff EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



209 



hall, Washington County, and afterward settled 
at Ci-o\vn Point. ISlie spent her youthful days 
witiiin three miles of Old Fort Ticonderoga. 
In 1S()0 she removed with her son to Fond 
(lu Lac, Wisconsin, and engaged in farming 
until she came to Nebraska in 1873, since which 
time she has been living with her son, the sub- 
ject of this sketch. She is the mother of two 
children, Demetrius and Elmer, who died when 
four months of age. 



C' ONIIAD SCirXEIDER, of the village 
of Snyder, came to Dodge County in 
February, 1880, and erected a mill 20 x 
'■VI feet, containing two run of burrs. Subse- 
(|uently he made additions to the mill and put 
in a roller system. He first lived in a small 
shanty on a homestead of Henry Fisher ; he 
lived there one year and then bought Mr. 
Fisher out; the village of Snyder being now 
located on the same tract. Mr. Schneider has 
three hundred and twenty acres in one tract, 
surrounding the village of Snyder. He rents 
most of the land. Our subject still owns the 
mill property before mentioned, also an eleva- 
tor with a fifteen thousand bushel capacity, 
which was built in 1886; a brick block 40.\00 
feet, which is owned by Schneider & Kamnitz, 
the latter operating a general store in the same. 
( )ur subject ships upon an average sixty cars 
of stock per year. He has had his elevator 
leased out for the past four years, but is now 
o|)erating it for himself, and during the month 
of May shipped eleven car-loads of ])i'0(luce; 
aiul from June 1 to the 14th had shipped lifty- 
one cars. He pays out about one hundred 
thousand dollars annually foi- grain and live- 
stock. 

Mr. Schneider was born in Hesse, Curhessen, 
May 3, 1845, the son of Henry and Dora 
(Schinrtz) Schneider. The father was a miller 
and fai'mer by occupation and followed that 
until his death in 1890. Our subject learned 
the trade of his father, and when twenty years 
of age came to Amei'ica, this beint; in ISfiO: 



coming without means. The first three vears 
he was in the country he worked out in Oiiio, 
and in March, 18C9, went to Kansas, and four 
months later came to Cuming Countv, Ne- 
bi-aska, where he took a homestead of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, about eight miles east of 
West Point; here he farmed one year, sold out. 
and bought another place of the same size on 
the Elkhorn River ; he remained there until 
ISSO, when he came to the present site of Snv- 
der. 

Our sul)ject was united in marriage January 
21, 1871, to Magdalena Maack, a native of 
Germany. By this marriage union six children 
have been born : Henry, who now operates the 
mill ; August, Charles, Emma, John and Dora. 

Politically, he of whom we write this sketch 
affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a 
member of the Masonic lodge at West I'oint, 
while in religious matters both he ami his family 
are members of the Lutlieran Church. 

Mr. Schneider is a man of much influence in 
the community in which he lives. He i>latted 
an addition to the village of Snyder, built the 
pioneer mill of that section of the country, has 
bought grain and live-stock, and in all his deal- 
ings with his fellow-men be has shown himself 
to be an honorable and s(]uare dealer. He is 
possessed of good business qualifications, and 
consequently has made a success financially of 
his various undertakings in Dodge Countv. 



CHARLES J. MAKKMAN, of Section 15, 
(4arfield township, came to Cuming 
(y'ounty in the spring of 1880. He first 
located on the farm he now occupies, which at 
the time was one hundred and sixty acres 
of wild land, upon which he placed substantial 
improvements, including a beautiful four-acre 
grove of artificial timber and an orchard of one 
hundred trees. His present faim consists of 
one hundred and ninety acres, one hundred of 
which is under the plow, while the balance is 
in ])asture and meadow land. 

Our subject was born in Sweden, .lanuary, 
1853, the son of Jonas 1'. and Atina ('. Mark- 



210 



NOk THE A S TERX NEBRA SKA . 



man, of Sweden, whose six children were: 
Charles J., Helen S., Hannah M., Frank (de- 
ceased), Oscar (deceased). Albert (deceased). 

Charles remained in Sweden until lire 
years of age, when he accompanied iiis parents 
to America. They finally settled in Mercer 
County, Illinois, his father working out on 
other men's land, which our subject did after 
he was old enough, until he came to Nebraska. 

He is a single man as yet, and in ])olitics 
votes with the Republican party. 



GEOllGE L. l.OOMIS. one of the leading 
attorneys of I'^remont, Dodge County, 
is a nativeof Chautauqua County, New 
York antl was born November 28, 1849. He 
resided on a farm in his native countv until 
he grew to manhood, receiving his educa- 
tion in the public schools. At the age of 
twentv-three years, he entered the law office 
of Barlow & Green, attorneys at Jamestown, 
New York, with whom he read law for a time, 
and attended the law school at Albany, from 
which he graduated in May, 1875. In August 
of the same year, he came to Iowa, and prac- 
ticed law until August, 1876, and then came to 
Fremont, Nebraska, where he has since fol- 
lowed his chosen profession. His practice has 
gradually increased, proving the ability he 
possesses as an attorney. 

Politically, Mr. Loomis affiliates with the 
Democratic party. He was city attorney for 
the years 1885-86, and in the autumn of 1886 
was elected to the office of county attorney 
and re elected in 1888, hohling the same four 
vears. He was also elected as a member 
of the city school board in April, 1891, for a 
term of three years. He was one of the organ- 
izers of the Commercial National Bank, of 
Fremont, and is one of tlie directors of the 
same. 

From the date of his ariival in Fremont, he 
has assisted largely in building up every enter- 
prise of that place, and it may be said that his 
success in life has been largelv self-made suc- 



cess, for when he first came to Nebraska he 
l)ossessed but small means, but through his 
prudence and a good business management he 
has surrounded himself with a comfortable 
competency. Among other property interests, 
he owns one-half of the Miller-Looiais business 
block on Main street, which was erected at a 
cost of twenty thousand dollars. That his 
tact and business qualifications have been ap- 
preciated by the people of Fremont, it only 
needs to be added in this connection that he 
has been a member of the fire depai'tment for 
fifteen years, and president t)f the same for 
more than half that period. Socialh' our sub- 
ject stands high, he being an honored member 
of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Centen- 
nial Lodge No. 59 ; Apollo Encampment No. 
22 ; Canton, Fremont No. 4. ; and Golden Rule 
Rebekah Lodge No. 59. He is a Past Grand, 
Past Chief Patriarch and Past Commander. 
He was elected Grand Warden of the Grand 
Lodge of Nebraska, in October, 1889 ; Deputy 
Grand Master of the State in October, 1890; 
Grand Master in 1891, and Grand Representa- 
tive to the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1892. 

Our subject was united in marriage July 21, 
1880, to Miss Alice M. Hodley, a native of 
Hillsdale County, Michigan. Their home has 
been blessed by the birth of four children : 
Bayard, born August 25, 1881; Leo, born Sep- 
tember 2(t, 1883; Floyd, born July 18,1886, 
and Zelii H., born February 10, 1891. Our sub- 
ject and his estimable wife are associated with 
the Congregational Church. 

To acquaint the reader with the ancestry of 
our subject, it may be stated tliat he is the son 
of Daniel and Hannah (Scofield) Loomis. The 
father was a farmer, locating in western New 
York when that part of the State was a wil- 
derness. He was also a Methodist minister, 
anil for nearly forty years preached in the same 
church which he had largel}' built.and of which 
he was the main supi)ort, and where he drew 
large congregations to the day of his death in 
1865. He was of English extraction, the family 
datinjr back manv generations. About two 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



luuulred years prior to the "War of the Revolu- 
tion and on down to tlie present dav their 
family history is quiteclear. The great grand- 
lather Loom is was in the Revolutionary War 
and the grandfather Loomis served in the 
War of 1812. The family first settled in Con- 
necticut, but subsequently the grandfather 
removed to New York. The Loomis family 
was a hearty, long-lived jieople, but have all 
passetl away, back of the generation of which 
our subject is a member. The family of his 
parents consisted of thirteen, seven of whom 
survive, our subject being the only one in the 
AVest, the remainder all residing in Chautau- 
(|ua County, New York. The maternal side 
of his famil\' finds its origin in the AVest 
of England, and the first to come to this 
country were Josiah, Thaddeus and Jonas, 
who came over about twent\' years prior to the 
Revolutionary War, and located at Stamford, 
Connecticut. Josiah, the gi'eat-grand father of 
our subject, was a soldier in the War of Inde- 
pendence, lie was a witness to General Put- 
nam's famous ride for life, and was present at 
the hanging of Maj. Andre. Jonas, a brother 
of Josiah, was killed at the battle of Monmouth. 
Josiah was a weaver b}-^ trade, a man of 
medium height and heavy build; he lived to a 
good old age, la\'ing down the burdens of life 
in 1823, in Saratoga County, New York. lie 
was married to his second wife, who was a 
direct ancestor of this line of the family, hei- 
maiden name being Mary Smith, the daughter 
of David Smith, of Pound Ridge, Connecticut. 
Josiah Scofieid and wife reareil a family of 
eight children: Henry, William, Josiah, Ezra, 
.Mary, Pliu'by, Sarah and Tamma. These all 
spent their lives in Connecticut and New York 
Stale. Josiah, the third child, grandfather of 
iiur subject, was born in the last named State, 
where he lived and died, upon a farm. His 
wife was Emma Schofield, spelled with an ''h," 
a native of York state. They reared a family 
of eleven children : Peter and PhfX'by, both 
living when last heard from and considerably 
upwards of eighty years of age ; Mary, who 



died at the age of eighty 3'ears ; Sarah, wlio 
dieil in 1890, aged eighty-seven ; Alanson. died 
about 1887, aged eight^'-two 3'ears : Arba, died 
about 1887, ^aged eighty j'ears ; llannaii, the 
mother of our subject, still living in Cliautauqua 
County, New York, aged seventy-nine \'ears. 
John, a resident of Rock County, Wisconsin, 
is seventy-six years of age ; AVilliam, died when 
sixty years old; David, died in the West while 
a 3'oung man ; and Charlotte, now living in 
Cliautauqua Countv, New York, aged seventv. 
The brothers and sisters of our subject's 
father were : Solomon, who died in Tomjikins 
County, New York, on a farm, when upwai'ds 
of eighty years of age; Edward, died near 
Baraboo, Wisconsin, at an advanced age ; 
Esther, wife of John Cook, died in 1800, nearlv 
ninety years of age, having lived with her 
liusband more than sixtv 3'ears; Relsy, wife 
of Pliilo Baker,wlio also lived with her husband 
more than sixt3' years and died in Chautautjua 
County, New York, at a veiy advanced age ; 
and also another sister who died in the 
same i)lace at the age of nearlv eight3'. 

RUDOLPH LEISY, a farmer of Cuming 
County, residing on Section 0, of Wis- 
ner township, was born in Baravia Julv 
29, 1842. He is a son of Abraiiam and Kath- 
erina (Rohr) Leis3', who came to Lee Countv, 
Iowa, in 1855. The father died there in 1880. 
Up to the time our subject was sixteen years of 
age he attended English and German schools, 
and about that time began working in a brew- 
ery in St. Louis. In ISfifi he budt a brewerv 
at Eddyville, Iowa, wliich he sold in 1872 and 
then took charge of a brewery at Keokuk, 
Iowa, belonging tf) the estate of his deceased 
brother, John Leisy. In 1882 he came to Wis- 
ner township and purchased his present farm, 
which is devoted more es|)ecially to stock rais- 
ing, ])rincipally tiie breeding of Durham cattle. 
Shire and Clydesdale horses, also Poland China 
hogs. 

lie was niarrird at I )es .Moines, loaa. ( )ct<i- 
bei' lo, lsi71, to Liz/.ie llargesheinn'r. Tlie\' 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



have ten living children : Mina, Oscar, Pau- 
lina, Eugen, Augusta, Dora, Robert, Setchen, 
Albert and Lydia. The sixth child, Ilenrv, 
died in infancy. 

Mr. Leisy in his political choice is in sympa- 
thy with the Democratic party. He was can- 
didate of that party in 1886 for county treas- 
urer. He is a member of the Mennonitte 
church, and for several years was a member of 
Concordia Singverein, of Keokuk, Iowa. 



HI RAM H. LADD, a farmer residing on 
Section 30, of Hooper township, may 
justly claim to be a pioneer of the Elk- 
horn A'alley, for he came to Dodge County, in 
1S56, during the month of August, when he 
first located on the farm he now occupies, 
claiming at the time a quarter section of wild 
land, upon which he built a log-house 12x16 
feet, the same being the first house erected in 
the Elkhorn Valley nortii of Fontanelle. He 
lived in this house for twelve years, when a 
much larger and more commodious one was 
built. He has one hundred and fifty acres under 
the plow, and a well imjn'oved farm in all par- 
ticulars. At an early day he ex|)erienced much 
trouble with the Indians, and he was detailed to 
take care of the families of men who enlisted 
in the Indian war. The first two years he lived 
in the country, the family were compelled to 
crack corn in a coffee mill. Upon one occasion 
he went to Glenwood, to mill with an ox team 
and was gone eighteen days on the trip. 

He of whom we write this sketch was born 
in Trumbull County, Ohio, January 14, 1822, 
the son of John and Anna Ladd, natives of New 
lliimpshire, whose seven children were: Clar- 
rissa, Hiram, Rhoda, Rebecca, Jennie, Rastus, 
Chester (deceased). 

Our subject lived in the Buckeye State until 
twenty-one years of age and then spent five 
years in West Virginia, and from there he went 
to La Salle County, i lliiiois. and spent six years, 
after which he came to Dodge County, 
Nel>r;iska. lie did not have a very good oppor- 



tunity to obtain an education, and came to 
Nebraska a poor man — hence owes Dodge 
County for what he possesses. 

Mr. Ladd was married, September, 1847, to 
Malinda Mansfield, daughter of William and 
Sophia Mansfield, natives of Scotland and Ken- 
tucky, respectively. By this marriage union 
seven children were born: Charles, Sidney, 
Frank, George, Enoch, John, Anna. 

He is of an inventive turn of mind, liaving 
invented an improvement in a harrow, for 
which he received a patent in 1886, and also 
has made ajiplication for a* patent on a car 
jack. 

Mr. Ladd has been a life-long opposer to the 
liquor traffic and hence an advocate of the 
Prohibition movement. He is not in sympathy, 
however, with the Independent partv move- 
ment, believing their ]iolicy as against the 
laboring classes. 



JOHN JACOB LAMMLE, of Section 32 
township 23, Stanton precinct, Stanton 
County, was born in the village of Winz- 
nau, Switzerland, June 8, 18-13. He was 
the son of Jacob and Barbara Laramie. He 
lived upon a farm until he came to America, 
having received a good common school educa- 
tion. In April, 1884, he came to Stanton 
County and bought three hundred and twenty 
acres of lantl in Union Ci'cek precinct. It was 
then wild land, but is now a well impi'oved farm. 
In 1891 he purchased a farm of four hundred 
and fifteen acres in Stanton precinct where he 
now resides and follows general farming for a 
livelihood. 

He was united in marriage October 9, 1869, 
to Catherina Myer, a native of Switzerland, by 
whom three children were born : Victor, Albert 
and Theodore. 

Our sul)ject and his I'amil}' are members of 
the Roman C^atholic Church. He is a member 
of the U. O. T. B. and is one of the most pro- 
gi'essive and successful agriculturists in 
Stanton Countv. 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



WILLIAM LOXEY, veterinary surgeon, 
residing at Stanton, Nebraska, may 
well be counted among the van-guard 
of pioneers who found their way to the 
Ellihorn Valley, in advance of railroad and 
civilization, and hence very naturally finds a 
l)lace in the biographical department of his 
county history. His name appears in numerous 
])lae(!S throughout the general chapters in con- 
nection with the various official capacities in 
which he has served the community. 

Mr. Loney was born in Sheffield townshi)), 
Tippecanoe Count}', Indiana, October 7, 1835. 
He is the son of Wyatt Loney, born in Guil- 
ford Count}', Xorth Carolina, March 5, 1807. 
The mother was Sarah Halladay, born in Ohio, 
May 24, 1817, of English descent. They were 
united in marriage in Tippecanoe County, In- 
diana, December 11, 1834. and were the par- 
ents of the following children : AVilliam, of this 
sketch ; John, who died February 11, 1804, with 
scarlet fever ; Weslej', who came to Stanton 
County in 1871, and is still a resident and- an 
ex-soldier of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, 
serving from 1863 until the close of the war. 
Xanc\', wife of George W. Patterson, a resi- 
dent of Stanton County. She had previously 
been married to Abel Stingle\', who died in 
Missouri; Rebecca, who married Josiah 
Xewburn (she died in Missouri, in 1881); 
Mariah, wife of Samuel Smith, of Lake City, 
Colorado ; Mai'garet, died in infancy ; C\'nthia 
Ann, died in mfancy, as liid two children 
unnamed. 

Februar\' 9, 1871, Mr. "Wyatt Loney settled 
in Stanton County, where Mrs. Loney, the 
mother of our subject, died, March 2d of the 
same year. Both of our subject's parents were 
consistent members of the Christian Church, 
of which they were f»r many \'ears prominent 
members. Wyatt Loney (" Grandpa Loney " 
as he is more familiarly known) is still living 
at the advanced age of eighty -five years. In 
early life he was a member of the Whig party, 
liut in 1856 joined the Democratic party, and 
has affiliated with them ever since. 



William Loney, the subject of our notice, 
received his education in the common schools, 
and was united in marriage in Boone County, 
Indiana, March 15, 1860, to Miss Sarah Pittin- 
ger, who was born November 7, 1838, the 
daughter of Enoch and Mary (Warren) Pittin- 
ger, both natives of Ohio. In 1S68, our subject 
left Indiana for the Wild West, coming over- 
land with teams, the trip consuming five weeks 
and four days. He first took a homestead in 
Cuming County, Nebraska, near Wisner, where 
he built a dugout and remained live years, 
moving in without a Hoor, as lumber couUl not 
be had. He broke eighty acres, which he 
farmed for six years, sold out and went to 
Stanton County, where he improved another 
farm, which was wild land with the exception 
of about five acres. Upon this tract he erected 
good buildings and set out an orchard. He 
remained on this place until March, 18VU, 
when he moved to the village of Stanton, and 
embarked in the hotel business for one year; 
since which time he has paid special attention 
to the practice of a veterinary surgeon. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and while living on his 
farm was elected as justice of the peace and 
county commissioner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Loney are the parents of nine 
children who lived to be adults: Pev. Charles 
A., an ordained minister of the Christian de- 
nomination, residing in Stanton County ; Sophia 
J., wife of Joseph Clydsdal, of Stanton: Eraer- 
etta and Lucretia (twins), the former the wife 
of W. F. Tannchill, of Madison County, Ne- 
braska, and the later the wife of George W. 
Lovett, of the same county ; Effa A., is a 
schoolteacher; Lillie M., wife of James Kin- 
nev. of Wayne, Nebraska; Mary A., at 
home, Flora B., at home, and James M.. at 
home. 

Our subject and his estimable lady are both 
devoted and consistent members of the Christ- 
ian Church, and bear the respect of the entire 
community in which they have spent so many 
\'ears of thcu' pilgrimage. 



XOR THEA S TEA'jV A'EBRA SA'A 



Mr. Loney was one of the charter members 
of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Stanton, has 
passed all llie chairs in that order, and has 
been a representative to the Grand Lodge. 



GEORGE KNOELL. a i^ominent citi- 
zen of Maple township, residing on 
Section 20, came to Dodge County in 
the spring of 1859, when he located in what is 
now Platte township. He was but a boy of 
sixteen years of age at the time and accom- 
panied his parents. His father rented a farm 
for a short time and then took a pre-emption 
upon which he erected a log-cabin; made im- 
provements and from time to time added to his 
land until he had eight hundred acres. Our 
subject and his brother remained at home and 
worked the farm. When George was thirty 
years of age he and his brotiier dividetl up the 
farm, he taking for his portion the quarter sec- 
tion upon which he now lives, which was partly 
improved at the time. Here he built a house 
16x26 feet, a barn 36x40 feet, a granary 10x40 
feet, double corn-crib 26x30 feet, and milk-house 
10x12 He also provided drive wells, wind- 
mill, water-tank and seven hundred feet of pipe. 
He provided his place with shade-trees and an 
orchard of fifty trees, besides small fruit and 
shrubbery. He passed through the hard times 
occasioned by the grasshop])ers, during which 
period he did not get enough wheat to pa}' foi' 
.cutting and stacking. He was also visited by 
a teirific hailstorm, whicli destroyed his grow- 
ing crop. His farm now consists of two hun- 
dred and forty acres, one-half of which is under 
the plow, whik' the iialance is in pasture and 
meadow land. 

George was born in Germany, July 29, 
1843, the son of Henry and Margaret Knoell, 
natives of Germany, and who had nine chil- 
dren. Our subject remained in Germany until 
he was three years of age, when his parents 
removed to America and settled in Wisconsin 
on a farm, upon which they remained until 
comjng to Nebraska. His early advantages 



for an education were quite limited. For a 
more extended sketch of the family the, reader 
is referred to the biography of C. Ivnoell. 

George was married October, 1874, to 
Catharine, daughter of Adolpli and Helen 
Groce, natives of Germany, whose ten children 
were: Anna, Mary, Catharine, Cena, two in- 
fants deceased, Herman, Ailolph, Lena and 
Henry. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eight children, born as follows. Adolph II., 
July 29, 1875; George A., March 24, 1877; 
Lucy H., August 21, 1879; Frank, April 1, 
1881 ; Herman, October 6, 1883 ; Thomas, 
June 11, 1885 ; GustafT, July 14, 1887,and Otto, 
November 23, 1SS9. 

Politicalh', Mr. Knoell attiliates with the lie- 
publican party. 

Great has been the change in Dodge County 
since our subject's parents moved from Wiscon- 
sin here. It will be remembered they came two 
years prior to the Civil War and in advance of 
all railroads and general improvements. Our 
subject's life has been spent mostly in Dodge 
County, where he has made a successful farmer 
and bears the respect of the community in 
which he lives. 



WILLIAM KNIEVEL, an enterprising 
farmer of Section 32, St. Charles 
township, Cuming County, came to 
this country from Gernuiny in 1866. He was 
born in Germany, September 19, 1858. He 
was eight years of age when he accompanied 
his motiier to New York. They came from 
that city direct to Cuming County, Nebraska, 
where the mother died about four weeks after 
her arrival, his father having died in German}'. 
He was the youngest son of Frank and Ger- 
trude (Goekan) Knievel, ami from the time his 
mother died he was with his bi'(jtlier, working 
on a farm and attending sciiool occasionally. 
In 1879 he purchased one liundi'ed and twenty 
acres of land in Monterey township, Cuming 
County, which lie farmed until August, 1S90, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASfCA. 



215 



aiul then bought his present ))lace. upon which 
is ;i stoiy and one-half frame iiouse, a good 
barn, an orchard and an artificial grove, with 
eighty-five acres under cultivation, wiiile the 
remainder is in pasture and hay land. 

Our subject was united in marriage in April, 
1884:, to Christena Stalp, to whom has been born 
three children : Bennett, Mary and Tliressa. 

Our subject and his family belong to the 
lioman Catholic Church, and in political mat- 
ters he is associated with the Democratic part\'. 

When Mr. Knievel commenced fanning in 
Nebraska, West Point was their nearest market 
place, and he relates many things endured by 
the pioneers during those never-to-be-forgotten 
grasshopper years, when the growing crops, 
that were waving in all their beauty, were in 
one short day laiii low by these little winged 
pests. 

Regarding our subject's wife's people it may 
be said the}' were born in Germany and came 
to America in 1SS2, and are at ]iresent residing 
in Monterey' township, Cuming County, Ne- 
braska. 



FRANK D. JANECEK, a resident farmer 
of Section 9, Montere}' township, came 
to Cuming County in 1S73. He was 
born in Bohemia in 1852 and came to America 
in May, 187u. He lived in Wisconsin seven 
months working on a farm, then spent three 
months in Iowa, after which he went to Ne- 
braska City, neai' which place he worked on a 
farm for two years, and then he bought his 
present place, which is a well improved tract 
of land, one hundred and twenty- five acres 
being under cultivation, while seventy-five is 
in pasture and hay land. He also owns forty 
acres in p]lkhorn township; eighty acres in 
iStanton County, and a (|Mailcr scctid)! in 
Russell County, Kansas, liis farm has a good 
orchard and three acres of shade trees. 

lie was united in marriage is 1SS2 to Sophia 
llampl. by whom four children were born; 
Erliart, Stephen, Beluse and Kaliksta. Onr 
suliject's parents caine to this count ry two years 



after he did and seven years later the father 
died. The mother now lives with our subject. 
In their family the children were: F. I)., 
Joseph, Mary, Agnes and Anna; all of whom 
are living in this country. 

Mrs. Janecek's parents were natives of 
Bohemia and came to America in 1873 and 
settled at West Point. Their twelve children 
were: Yilibalt, Albina, Klotilda, Raymond, 
Alexander, Christina, Sophia, \'arburge, Mary, 
Pautleon, Fanny and Frank. 

In his religious belief our subject is a Roman 
Catholic, as is his family, and in political mat- 
ters he affiliates with the Democratic party. 
During his early residence in this county his 
crops were completely destroyed by the grass- 
hoppers, and at various times he has lost many 
hundred hogs by cholera, but averaging his 
farm life up with others in his community, he 
has been quite successful and to-day is in posses- 
sion of a handsome propert\'. 



CHARLES P. JONES, of Butterfly pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, whose farm 
home, consisting of five hundred and 
sixty acres, is on Section 32, township 22, range 
2, will form the subject of this notice. He was 
born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 1, 1858, and 
when one year of age his parents moved to 
Monroe County, Iowa, where he grew to man- 
hood. In 1881 he moved to Stanton County, 
Nebraska, and purchased a half section of land' 
and erected a frame house 1-1x10 feet, in which 
he lived eight years, and then built a two-story 
residence 16x28 feet, with L 14xlG, also a good 
barn, cattle shed and granary. He also erected 
a windmill, to which he attached a feed-mill. 
He has an artificial grove of eight acres and a 
good orchard upon the |)lace. Three himdred 
and eight}' acres of his land are under cultiva- 
tion, while the remainder is in hay and pasture 
land. He has three miles of fencing about his 
place. 

]\[r. .lones was united in marriage in 188.". to 
Anna F. Clark, to whom has liccn born four 



216 



XORTHEASTERiV NEBRASKA. 



children : Arthur C, Walter R., Clark W. and 
Howard D. 

His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Richard 
Jones. The father died in Monroe County, 
Iowa, in 1878, and the motiier is now living in 
Norfolk, Nebraska. Their children were: John 

D. (deceased), Jennie M., Richard (deceased), 
Daniel P., Anna L. and Charles P. 

Mrsi Jones' parents were Ww and Mrs. 
Hirara W. Clark. The father was a native of 
Kentucky and the mother of Minnesota. The\' 
moved from Iowa to Nebraska in 1870. Tiie 
father died in Jasper County, Missouri, in 1891, 
anil the mother is living with our subject. 
They reared a family of six children : Anna F., 
Charles E., Addie S., Carrie (deceased), Cora 

E. and Margrett. 

Our subject votes the Republican ticket, 
belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modern 
AVoodmen of America Lodges, and has been a 
member of the school board in his district 
ever since it was organized, and has been mod- 
erator for nine years. 

Of his ancestry Mr. Jones knows but little, 
save that his father was a native of Wales, 
came to this countr}' and located in Ohio, and 
that his mother was born in Wales also, and ac- 
companied her parents to Ohio when she was 
ten vears of a<re. 



RASMUS HANSEN,residingon Section35, 
of Maple township, came to Dodge 
County in the autumn of 186G, when 
he went to woi'k in a saw-mill near Fremont. 
After eighteen months thus engagc<l he rented 
a farm for two years, at the end of that period 
took advantage of the homestead act, and 
secured for himself eighty acres of land, where 
heat once sot about making improvements. He 
set out a grove of two acres, and an orchard of 
fort}^ trees. After having lived on tliis ])lace 
for live years he sold out and bought one hun- 
dred and twenty acres near Fremont, which 
was partly improved. Here he i)uill a luMise 
U.\2(i f.'et, with a wing l-_'.xl4. lie also built 
stnblcs, ])liiiil('(l a grove, liveil there two \'ears. 



sold and moved with his family to Port- 
land, Oregon, where he lived about six months. 
But tiring of that much talked of country, they 
returned to Dodge County and rented land for 
two years, after which he rented eighty acres 
of wild land with the privilege of purchasing it. 
He broke forty acres of this ground and 
erected a house, but after two years sold his 
improvements and bought forty acres of rail- 
road land, which he improved and lived upon two 
years, when he sold out and bought the i)lace 
he now occupies, which was eighty acres of 
wild land. Here he built a house 14x28 feet, 
with a wing eighteen feet square ; also a bain 
and granary, and subsequenth' built corn cribs 
and cow stables. lie planted a two-acre grove 
and fifty fruit trees. He now has sixty acres 
under plow, the balance in pasture and all en- 
closed by a good fence. Upon coming to this 
county Mr. Hansen had onl}' three hundred 
dollars in money. 

He was born in Denmark, June 27, 1840, 
the son of Hans and Trena Johnson, natives of 
Denmark, who had seven children: Rasmus, 
Mary, Ole, Hans, James, Dorothy and Chris- 
tian. The father and mother both came to 
America and the father is now deceased. 

Our subject was just of age when he came to 
this country in the fall of 1861. He remained 
iu New York about seven months and worked 
for a gardener. We next find him in Daven- 
port, Iowa, near where he worked on a farm for 
one year, and went to Central City, Colorado, 
and worked in the mines two hundred and 
fifty feet underground. After seven weeks he 
left that place antl went to mining gold by the 
day in Montana, and was there one year. He 
then went to Salt Lake City, lUah, and there 
remaineilone winter. The following spring he 
hired out to drive a team back to ^[ontana, 
where he worked another 3'ear in the mines. 
We next find him on the Yellowstone river, 
where he maiiea fiat-boat and floated down the 
Missouri to Omaha. This was in 180(') and tiur- 
ing the Civil War, as well as Indian troul)l('s in 
the West. 



NOK rilEA S TERX XEBKA SKA. 



Mr. Hansen was married April, 1866,to Mar}' 
Clausen, daughter of Rasmus and Cliristena 
Clausen, whose three children were: Jolin. 
^lary and ("lara. 

Our subject and liis wile have six ciiildren : 
Kasnius, born Decenibei-, 1867; lians J., born 
.lanuary 10. 1870; Anna G., born August, 
1ST4; Catarine, born Mareii l<i. 1876; Julia, 
l)oi'n Marcli 24,1878; Andrew. Ijoi-n Septem- 
iier .'). 1883. 

Puiitically, Mr. Hansen votes with tlie lie- 
)iul)lican part\'. Eoth lie and liis wife are 
inembej's of the Lutheran (liureii. 



ANDIIEAV IIARYIE, SR., caine to Dodge 
County in November, 1870, and took a 
homestead of eighty acres, whicli he 
improved and lias lived on ever since. The 
same is located on Section 14 of Pleasant Val- 
ley township. At the time he took his place, 
there was a small frame house on the claim 
which had been built by the man who had 
originally taken the land. 

Our subject was born in Scotland, in 1813, 
the son of William and Janette (Miller) llarvie, 
both natives of Scotland. He remained at 
home with his parents until he grew to man- 
hood, and then went to farming for himself, as 
a renter. He was married in Scotland, Novem- 
ber 1, 1839, to Miss Margaret Kirkwood, born 
in Scotland in 1818, the daughter of Thomas 
and Janette (Crawford) Kirkwood, wiio were 
also natives of Scotland. Our subject and his 
wife were blessed with ten children, only three 
of whom still survive: Andrew, Margaret and 
James. 

.Margaret ( ivirkwdoil) llarvie died in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, in ISSti. liulli our suliject 
and his wife were members i if tin' Presbyterian 
Cliurch. Our subject is nnw making it liis 
licjiiie with his son, James. 

^Ir. llarvie in iiis political belief is a lleimb- 
lican and ever since his an-ival from his native 
country in 1869 has been Inyal to oiir (iDverii- 
ment. 



HENRY E. HEIMBAUGH, a merchant 
at Nickerson, came to Dodge County 
in April, 1889, and at first worked on 
a farm b}' the month, but after two years 
bougiit a stock of general merchandise, which 
he still continues to handle. 

He was born in Pennsylvania Alay 18,186S.tl)e 
son of Jonathan and Harriett Heimbaugh, who 
had a family of live children : Lizzie E., Frank- 
lin B., John E., James E. (all living in Pennsyl- 
vania), and Henry E., who is a single man and 
receivetl a good common school eilucation. In 
his religious conviction and jirofession he aflili- 
ates with the German Reform Church, and 
politically he votes the Re|)ublican ticket. 

Our subject was ajipointed postmaster at 
Nickerson in 1891, which business he attends 
to in connection with his general store, which 
consists of a well selected stock of dry goods, 
groceries, queensware, etc. 

He at first, after working on the farm for 
two years, bought a stock of general merchan- 
dise and o])ened sale on the twenty-third day of 
March, 1891, and on the second day of Septem- 
ber following he took in W. H. Rruner as 
partner, doing business under the firm name of 
Heimbaugh & Brnner. They dissolved partner- 
ship July 7, 1892, and sold the stock of goods, 
and on the 13th of August he bought another 
stock of general merchandise, consisting of diy 
goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hats and caps, 
notions and furnishing goods, patent medicines, 
hard>vare, queensware, crockery, etc., and 
opened another store at Nickerson, which is 
known throughout the count}' as the " Palace 
Store." 

GEORGE E. HERMAN, located at the 
little hamlet of Nickerson, Dodge 
County, has been a resident of this part 
of Nebraska since July :!, 1859. Ue accom- 
jianied his parents who first located on land 
which is now a part of the village plat of 
Nickerson. 

He was born in Wisconsin neai' Milwaukee, 
in March, 1857, and is the son of Jlichacl and 



218 



XOJ'iTNEASTSKN NEBRASKA 



Kosine Herman, natives of Germany and the 

parents of three children : George, Ilenr}' and 
Elizabeth, all living. Our subject has lived at his 
present location ever since he came to the county 
except one year and a half spent in Wisconsin 
and about the same len<rth of time in Pennsyl- 
vania. He has one farm located in Nickerson 
township which he rents. Besides his farm 
operations he has been running the Nickerson 
elevator, and handles lumber, coal and live 
stock. He has been following this business for 
the last seven years. 

Mr. Herman was united in marriage Septem- 
ber 6, 18S3, to Kannie G. Harris, liaughter of 
Thomas and Grace Harris, natives of Illinois, 
who were the jiarents of the following eight 
children: Maggie. Mary. Nannie, John, James, 
Annie, Nellie and Thomas. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with two children: Ada, born November 1, 
1885 ; and Grace, born August 7, 18S9. 



ANDREW K. HASSON, postmaster, grain 
and live stock dealer of Dodge, Ne- 
braska, was born in New York Cit}', 
March 2rlr, 1852. He was the son of Jacob C!. 
Ilasson and Isabel (Rodgers) Hasson who came 
from the North of Ireland but were of Scotch 
descent. They came to America in 18-i8, 
settled in New York City, where they remained 
seven years, an.! then moved to I'urcau County, 
Illinois, where he followed farming. We next 
find hiui six miles from Des Moines, Iowa, and 
in 1871 he came to Doiige County, Nebraska, 
where he took a homestead in what is now 
Pleasant Valley township. He took eighty 
acres of land to which he added forty more. 
He put up go:)d buildings and set an orchard 
out on the place. 

They were the p;irentsof six children : Jane, 
widow of Charles AVilkie (deceased) ; A. \\.., 
of wliom we write this sketch ; Robert C. a 
resident of Wakefield, Nebraska ; Sarah, wife 
of T. Harvey of Polk County, Iowa; Annie, 
wife of (', R. Townsciid, of Dodge County, 



Nebraska, and Tiiomas J., of Dodge County, 
Nebraska. In politics Mr. Hasson is a stanch 
supporter of tlie Ilepublican party. Mrs. 
Ilasson, our subject's mother, died in 1889. She 
was a consistent member of the Congregational 
Chui-ch. 

Andrew R., the sul)ject proper of this notice, 
is a self-educated man, only having attended 
the common district school. He came with 
his parents to the county in 1871 and assisted 
them in making their farm. The same fall he 
jjurchased eighty acres which comprises one- 
half of his present place, valued at thirty dollars 
)ier acre. He was united in marriage Novem* 
ber 13, 1880, at West Point, to Miss Eose Her- 
man, the daughter of Wensel Herman. 

By this union four children were Ijorn : 
Elsie, January 15, 1881; Chester A. A., Octo- 
ber 1, 1884; Gu}', January 9, 1888, and Earl, 
August 15, 1890. Mr. Hasson commenced at 
the lower round of the ladder and by his own 
industr}' has acquired a handsome property. In 
1887 he removed to Dodge, where he erected 
the first hotel. In 1S86 he was elected super- 
visor of his township and in 1887 justice of the 
peace, which office he held four years, during 
which time he was engaged in leal estate also. 
In 1888 he was a[>pointed postmaster at Dodge, 
which place he still holds. He is at ])resent 
handling grain and live stock, as oneof thefii'm 
of Ilatton & Ilasson. 

Politically our subject is a stanch suppoilcr 
of the Republican party. 



JOIIX II AUN, a farmer of Section 2, Cot- 
terell township, came to Dodge County 
December, 18G8, and located at Fremont, 
where he purchasetl some town lots and 
built a house in Kittles Addition. He worked 
there at the car|)enter's trade one year. In 
December, 1868, he took a homesteail where 
he now lives and gave one hundreil dollars per 
thousand for lumber which he hauled from 
Freinoiii, with which to build him a shanty. 
In the spring they canir out and broke ten 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



219 



acres, he paying fifty dollars to get ten acres 
broken. He then went back to Fremont and 
worked at his trade until fall, when he moved 
to iiis place to remain, and has been there ever 
since. Upon coming to tiiis place our subject 
hati no means anil had to go in debt for a yoke 
of oxen, which debt hung over him for six 
years. lie had two sieges of grasshopper years 
wliicii nearly swamped him. lie finally traded 
his oxen for a horse team when it was rumored 
around that his team had the glanders. So he 
iiad to get rid of that team and got one horse 
for the two and had to buy another, at one 
iiuiulred and twenty dollars; paid sixt\' dollars 
cash and had a few days to bori'ow the money 
in, so he walked to Fremont and had to make 
three trips there before he could tind a man 
that would loan him the money. 

In 1S74 lie bought eighty acres more land 
and in 1S90 erected his present residence, which 
is a tine farm house; said to be the best in the 
county. lie has a barn that was erected in 
1881, 30x50 feet. He now has in his home 
farm five hundred and sixt\' acres, all lying in 
the Maple Yalley. lie has two hundred and 
forty acres divided into two farms, with good 
houses and barns on eacii. These are operated 
b}- his two sons: Joseph P. and Franklin M. 
Mr. Haun generally feeds about fifty head of 
steers each winter. 

To learn something of his early life it should 
be said our subject was born in Germany, July 
31, 1837, the son of John and Opolonia (Engle) 
Haun. In 1883 our subject with iiis parents, 
three sisters and one brother came to America, 
and located in Michigan. They landed at 
Eagle River, on Lake Superior, and lived in 
llouton County. The father was a carpenter 
by trade, and after about ten years the mother, 
a l)i'other and two sisters went to Johnson 
County, low, I, the father having died in Iowa. 
The mother linally died in Michigan, and the 
nnnainder of the family live there. Our sub- 
ject went to work in a copper-mill in the 
Quinzy mine at Portage Lake, after he had been 
in Micliigan alxiut four vears, and worked as a 



mill-wright for four years at seventy-five 
dollars per month. He came direct from there 
to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

TV[r. Haun was united in marriage at Eagle 
Harbor, Michigan, May 20, 1SG4, to MissTlii'ese 
Armbruster, daugiiter of Martin and Catherine 
(Stiemley) Armbruster, both natives of Ger- 
many. Mrs. J^aun was born in Sheboygan, 
Wisconsin, October 20, 1847, and when she was 
ten years of age her parents moved to Mich- 
igan, where she remained until the date of her 
marriage. While in Wisconsin, her parents 
run a hotel. Her mother died there, after 
which her father took the family and went to 
Michigan. 

Mr. and Mrs. Haun are the |)arenls of eleven 
children: Joseph P., born March 18, 1S(>5 ; 
Frank M., born December 11, 18(!C; Amelia, 
born December 11, 18G8; Catharine, born 
February 11, 1871 ; Mary, born March 21, 1873 ; 
Anna, deceased ; Elizabeth, John W., Henrv A., 
George E., deceased, and Therese M. 

Mr. and Mrs. Haun are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and while our subject 
lived in Michigan he was a member of the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellov.-s, as was also 
his wife of the Rebecca denjree of that ortler. 



THOMAS H. HEYWOOD, a farmer resid- 
ing on Section 10, of Ridgely township, 
came to Dodge Count}' in the spring of 
1870, first locating on eighty acres of 
his present farm, which he claimed as a home- 
stead. T'liere were twenty acres broken and a 
shanty 12x14 feet upon the place when he 
entered it. He lived in this house four years, 
during which time he brolre out the rest of the 
eighty and built a small frame house, in which 
he lived eight years, when he built his ])resent 
commodious farm house, which is 18x28 feet, 
with a wing lGx20 feet. He also has an excel- 
lent barn, granary and corn-crib. The five- 
acre artificial grove, and the orchard of one 
hundred trees, are among the valuable improve- 
ments of his ]>lace, which now consists of two 



NOR THE A S TER1V NEBRA SKA . 



hundred and forty acres. He came to the 
county a pool' man and |iassed tlirougli many 
of the strugtfles coincident to pioneer life, 
inchidinii: tliose brouglit on by the grasshoppers, 
which were verily a burden to the Nebraska 
farmer from 1S70 to ISSo. 

Mr. Ileywood was born in Boone County. 
Illinois, October 15, 1S46, the son of Jonathan, 
and James Heywood, natives of England, 
whose twelve children were: Anna E. (deceased), 
Henry (deceased), Thomas H., Eliza, Zachariah, 
Martha J., Mary, Jonathan, Alice (deceased), 
Richard. George and James. 

Our subject remained in Illinois until twenty- 
four years of age, receiving a gootl common 
school education. 

He was united in marriage November, 1875, 
to Catharine, daughter of Nicholas Eies and 
wife, who had ten children: Catharine, Mary, 
William, Nicholas (deceased), John, Anna E., 
Jacob, Nicholas (deceased), Ella (deceased), 
Ida (deceased). 

Our subject and wife are the parents of nine 
children, born in the following order: Jona- 
than, September 7, 1876 ; Joseph, May 2, 1878; 
Arthur (deceased), November, 1879 ; Thomas, 
November 22, 1882; George B., September 25, 
1884; Edwin, October 14, 1887 ; Anna, August 
13, 1889; Catharine (deceased), November 2, 
1890; Nicholas, July 17, 1891. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic pai't\'. He has held many of the 
local offices in his township, including school 
trustee, road supervisor and school treasurer. 

Mrs. Heywood is a devout member of the 
Roman Catholic Ciiurch. 



PETER HART, an enterprising agricultur- 
ist living in Cuming County, whose farm 
honu! is on Section 12, township 21, 
range <i, or in what is known as Sherman civil 
township, was born in Wisconsin January, 
1803. His ]>arents finally removed to Iowa, 
remained a little more than two years and then 
came to Nebraska, that beiny in the spring of 



1868. The father took a homestead on Section 
13, where he subsequently died. Our sul)ject 
bought his farm from his brother, who located 
it as a homestead in 1869 and sold it in 18S1. 
It consists of one hundred and si.xty acres, upon 
which is a good story and one-half house, a 
barn, wind-mill, an orchard, and a grove of five 
acres. One hundred acres of this ])lace is 
under cultivation. He also owns eighty acres 
in Section 13, fifty acres of which are under 
cultivation, and a grove of five acres. At pres- 
ent our subject lives with his mother. His 
parents were born in Ireland, the father in 
1809 and the mother in 1819. Both came to 
America, met in New York, and were married 
about 1840. They had a family of six children, 
Peter being the youngest. The father. 
James Hart, died in the spring of 1870, one 
vear after he located his homestead. 

He endured many of the hardships co- 
incident to pioneer life in Nebraska. Fremont 
was his nearest market point, and he was 
obliged to open his farm with an ox team, with 
which he moved his family to the country. 

James and Ellen (Jorden) Hart, parents of 
our subject, reared the following children: 
Mary, John, William, Catharine, Ellen and 
Peter, all born in Wisconsin but Mary, the 
oldest ; she was born in New Yoi'k State. 

In conclusion it may be stated that our sub- 
ject is a supporter of the Democi-atic jjarty and 
belongs to the Roman Catholic Church. 

He stands high in the community in whicli 
he has lived so long and is counted one of 
Cuming ('ountv's worthv citizens. 



EMERSON J. HOWE, who resides on Sec- 
tion 11, Cotterell township, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1865. in 
company with Danea Dodge and family, and 
Albert Clapp and family. He now lives upon 
the farm that he bought at that time, consisting 
of eighty acres of wild land. He built a frame 
house, 18.\24 feet, to which he has since made 
ailditions. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



2ai 



Mr. Howe was born in Wiiidoni County, Ver 
mont, October, 1S32, the son of Dutlle\' and 
Polly (Jennison) Howe, both natives of Ver- 
mont. Emerson remained at home on tlie farm 
until he became of age and tiien learned the 
carpenter's trade, following the same for twelve 
years in Vermont and Massachusetts. At tiie 
end of that time he came West, and worked at 
his trade more or less for five years. lie was 
married in Vermont in 1850, to Miss Eleanora 
Dodge, daughter of Danea and Clarissa (Ilunt- 
le}') Dodge, botli natives of New Ilampsliire. 
Mrs. Howe was born in Cheshire County, New 
Hampshire. Our subject and his wife are the 
parents of nine children. 

Politically, our subject sup])orts tlie Inde- 
pendent movement. He is a member of no 
church, or secret society. He has been town- 
ship assessor for the last four years and road 
overseer a number of terms. 



JOHN P\ HEINE, of the lirm of Heine Bros., 
doing business at Hooper, Dodge County, 
came to the place in the summer of I8S2, 
first engaging in tlie liardware and 
machinery business. 

He was born in Germany in 1843, coming to 
America when he was but four years of age, 
accompanying his parents, who located in Read- 
ing, Pennsylvania. He remained at home until he 
was of age and then went to Philadelphia, 
where he worked at the trade of an iron 
moulder. He remained there until lie came to 
Nebraska. Of his parentage it ma\' be said 
that he is a son of Vincent and Fredrica Heine, 
both natives of Germany. They were the 
parents of four sons and two daughters : J. F., 
A. J., G. F., Carrie, F. F., and Fredrica. 

Our subject was united in marriage in 
October, 1807, to S. J. Bush, daughter of 
Matthew and Julia Bush, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania,whose six children were : Hezekiah, Mary, 
George, William, John, Sarah; Mary and Sarah 
are deceased. 



Mr. and Mrs. Heine are tiie i)arents of six 
children, five of whom are living: George W., 
Laura G., J. Howard, Ada I., Julia F., and 
Clara M. (deceased). 



WILLIAM C. HANSON, proprietor of 
the Fidelity Steam Laundry, of Fre. 
mont, was born January 5, 1855, in 
Denmark, where lie was educated in the iniblic 
schools and there remained until lie was four- 
teen years of age, when he shipped with a sail- 
ing-vessel as boy-on-board, and after reaching 
New York forsook the vessel which had 
brouglit him to tliis country, but followed the 
seas, including three years and four montiis in 
the United States Navy. In 1S7G he went to 
Vermont, remained a short time and learned 
tlie marble business, which occupation lie fol- 
lowed for several years. He was united in mar- 
riage in Chicago in 1881, to Miss Marie Cliri.s- 
tensen, a native of Denmark. From the date 
of his marriage until 1884 he was engaged in 
the marble business, but that year he removed 
to Fremont, Nebraska, where he followed tiie 
same business one year, but in 1885 embarked 
in the laundry business, which was opened on 
a veiy small scale by himself and wife. But by 
his diligence and good management he has 
built up a laundry business second to none in 
this part of the State. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hanson are the parents of two 
children: Carrie and Iver. Mr. Hanson in his 
political belief is a lirm supjiorterof the Ilepub- 
lican party. Of his social jiosition it mav be 
said he is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
Order, Triumph Lodge No. 32, and also of 
Damascus Uniform Rank Division No. 30. 

Mr. Hanson is another example of what hon- 
est industry may be rewarded with under the 
influence of American institutions. Coming to 
this country, as he did, holding the lowest rank 
on board ship, he has worked his way up into 
the possession of a good l)usiness, and is sur 
rounded by most of the home comforts whicii 
go toward making one's life pleasant. 



222 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



WUAAAM J. GREGG, a farmer of Cot- 
terell township, residingon Section 17, 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska, in 
the summer of 1867, and lived at North Bend 
with his uncle (M. S. Cotterell) for some time. 
lie followed farming summers and taught 
school winters. The first two winters after 
coming liei'e he attended sciiool at North Bend, 
after which he taught for ten wiliters in suc- 
cession, tiien did not teacii for a time, but later 
on resumed his winter teaching. Tie took a 
pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres on 
Section 8, of Cotterell township, in the spring 
of 18GS. There he built a frame house, 12x16 
feet, and paid five dollars per acre to have five 
acres of breaking done. He proved upon his 
pre emption in the spring of 1870, by paying 
two dollars and a half per acre. Before he 
proved up on his claim, he bought forty acres 
of railroad land on Section 17, adjoining it. 
After proving upon the pre-emption he moved 
his house on the forty acres and lived there until 
January, 1886, when he built a house up!)n the 
place he now lives upon, which is an eighty- 
acre tract he got from his brother George W., 
who accidentally shot himself, while shooting 
at a mark. He left his land to our subject 
who then bought forty acres in the same sec- 
tion, giving him three hundred and twenty 
acres in one body. Plis present residence was 
built in the fall of 1885, and is a story 
and a half building, twenty-six feet square. 
When our subject took his claim all was 
new and wild, he being one of the first to 
take land on the " Divide." A great deal of 
the land on Maple Creek had been taken by 
speculators, including all that had an\' timber 
on it. Sciiool district No. 13 was organized in 
1870, and in the w'inters of 1871-72-73 school 
was held (m Mr. Gregg's claim in his house, the 
first sciiool being taught by Sidney Wanzer^ an 
old soldier wlio had lost one leg in the Civil 
"War. Our siiiiject taught the school the win- 
ters of 1872-73. 

Mr. Gregg was born in Cleveland, Oiiio, 
Februarv 2!t, 1848, the son of llenrv M. and 



Amanda (Cotterell) Gregg, both natives of 
New York. When our subject was fourteen 
years old his father died, and he remained with 
his mother until her deatii, which occurred 
April 22, 1866. She had been married again, 
however, to Henrv W. Hart, of Cleveland, Oiiio. 
One year after the death of our subject's 
mother, he came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 
His early education was received at the district 
school. After he had taught live terms of 
school and in the si)ring of lS7i, he went to 
Peru, and attended the State Normal the great- 
er part of one year. 

He was united in marriage at N(;rth Bciui, 
Nebraska, February 29, 1876, to Miss Minnie 
McVicker, daughter of Robert and ifaggie 
(McKee) McVicker. Minnie was born in Car- 
roll County, Ohio, August 0, 1859, and received 
her education mostly in the common schools, 
completing it at the Normal school at Peru, 
Nebraska. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
one child : Gertrude E., born January 1, 1880. 
Mrs. Gregg is a member of the Mapleville 
Methodist Episcopal Church. In [loliticsour 
subject is an Independent. He is secretary of 
the Dodge County Farmers Alliance, having 
held that position ever since the organiz;ition 
of that society in April, 1890. Prior to tiie 
Independent movement, he affiliated with the 
Republican iiartv. 

In Mr. Gregg's mother's family there were 
four sons and two daughters. His eldest sister, 
Mrs. Sarah J. (Gregg) (Jampbell, and his 
younger brother, Geo. W. Gregg, are both dead. 
His half brothers and sister are all living : Her- 
bert G. Hart, at Cleveland, O., and John R. 
Hart and Mis. Rose L. (Hart) Purdum, at 
Hailey, Idalio. 

CASPER (lUTT, of Section 28, Pebble 
township. Dodge Count}', was born in 
Swil/.t'iland .lune 12, 1839, and emi- 
grated to America in the spring of 1864. He 
worked at whatever he could find to do in 
Ohio, for a time, including lalwr aiiout a paper 



NORTHEASTER!^ NEBRASKA. 



223 



and saw mill. ][e then came to Ahiniakee 
County, Iowa, and worked three years, two 
yeais in a brewery and one yeai' at the carpen- 
ter's trade. "While living in Iowa he took out 
his naturalization papers. lie then came to 
I'ebhle township, and in the fall of ISOO filed 
or. a homestead on Section 28, upon which he 
lived until he proved uj) in 1S74-. lie has a 
good story and one-half house, substantial out- 
buildings and a well cultivated farm. 

Our subject was united in marriage, Novem- 
ber 9, ISSO, to Meda Voss, who was a widow. 
i!y this marriage union there has been no issue, 
but they have an adopted boy living with them 
named Charley. 

Politically he votes tlie Democratic ticket. 
Of our subject's father and mother it may be 
said that they were both natives of Switzerland 
and both died in their native country. His 
wife's ))arents also died in the old country when 
she was a small child. 

During our subject's career he has always 
been a hard worker, industrious and saving. lie 
worked for about fifteen years at the carpen- 
ter business, and had saved up about five hun- 
dred dollars when he came to Dodge Countv. 



JOHN W. GOFF, vice-president of the 
"Western Trust and Security Company, 
of Fremont, Dodge County, is a native 
of the Empire State, born in Oneida 
County, New York, March 4, 18-13. He was 
the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Sturdevant) 
(iofl', natives of Connecticut and New York 
respectively, both now deceased. Tlu^y were 
of Scotch extraction. Our subject was of a 
family of eight children, and was rearetl and 
educated in his native State, living upon a farm. 
He attended the public and academic schools. 
At the age of nineteen and in the month of 
August, 1862, he enlisted in Company G One 
Hundred and Forty-sixth New York Volunteer 
Infantry, wore the loyal blue three years, 
and was discharged in July, lSt>5, May 5, 
18(j4, at the battle of the Wilderness (that 



memorable ligiil) he was taken prisoner of war, 
and spent almost one year in that world-famed 
aiul indescribable pair of prison |iens — Ander- 
sonville and Florence. It was his iU-fortune 
to see and experience the awful horrors of 
prison life, the like of which the pages of his- 
tory. l)oth ancient and modern, have no equal 
for inhuman and severe treatment. And now 
nearly thirty years afier those cruel actions 
one's blood boils at the thought of the thou- 
sands upon thousands of pale, emaciated, 
slowh' dying Union soldiers, who starved and 
died of terrible diseases within those two 
stockades. Our subject participated in many 
of the principal battles of the Civil War, in- 
cluding Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Mme 
Hun, Gettysburg and Wilderness, aside from 
all the skirmishing incident to army life. 
AVhile being removed from Andersonville to 
Florence he made his escape and for five weeks 
was trying to reach the Union lines, traveling 
under the curtain of night. During this time 
he was arrested by ])lanters several times, but 
as often made his esCape until re-caplureil and 
confined in jail at Marion Court House, South 
Carolina, fi'om which place he was removed to 
Florence. He retui'ned to his old home after 
his honorable discharge in 1865, and remained 
there until the spring of 1869. Soon after 
leaving the service he took a commercial course 
at Bryant & Stratton's Business College at 
Utica, New York, after which he commenced 
teaching (or rather before he had finished his 
course) in the same institution and continued 
that at Utica and Syracuse until 1869, he being 
in the book-keeping and arithmetical depart- 
ment. In the spring of 1869 he came to Fre- 
mont, Nebi'aska, which he has since made 
his home. He first took a position as book- 
keeper in the banking house of E. II. Ilogers 
& Co., with which concern he was associated 
until after it became the First National Bank, 
when he took charge of tiie books in the luin. 
ber firm of Nye, Colson & Co., with whom he 
was connected until the spring of 1880, when he 
associated himself with L. D. Kichanls as book- 



224 



XOJ^THEA STERN NEBRASh'A. 



keeper. One j'ear later the firm of Richards 
& Keene was formed as real estate dealers and 
bankers, and he was made book-keeper and 
teller until 1880. In January of that year the 
firm of Richards, Keene <k Co. was organized, 
with L. D. liichards. L. M. Keene, J. W. Goff 
and J. F. Hanson, which is the present firm, 
carrying on a general real estate business. In 
June, 1888, they incorporated the Security 
Savings Bank, of which our subject is vice- 
])resident. 

Mr. (toff was married in December, 1874, to 
Miss Myi'a Gilley, daughter of Samuel B. and 
Hannah Gilley. Mrs. Goff was born in Han- 
cock County, Maine, in November, 18-12. By 
this union two daughters have been born : 
Erma and Daisy L. Mrs. Goff is an active 
worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union as well as otiier church and benevolent 
work. 

Politicall}' our subject is a supporter of the 
Re})uljlican party. For sevei'al years he was 
city assessor and also cit}' clerk. He is a mem- 
ber of the Soldiers Relief Commission. The 
reader hardly needs to be informed that Mr. 
Goff is a member of the Grand Army of tiie 
Republic. He belongs to McPherson Post No. 
■1 ; and also K. of II. No. 859. His residence 
is located at -135 East Fiftii Street. He pos- 
sesses a farm containing a quarter section of 
land in Platte County, Nebraska, and wild land 
in other portions of the State. In conclusion 
let it be said that whether in the role of a sol- 
dier, a student, a practical business man, or in 
his home circle, Mr. Goff has ever been true 
and loyal. 

WILLARD 11. FOWLER, secretary and 
treasurer of the Securit\' Savings 
Bank, and of tiie Western Trust ami 
Security Company at Fremont, is a native of 
riatte County, Nebraska; born November 23, 
1861. He is the son of Samuel II, and Ann J. 
(Humphrey) Fowler; the former died in 1870, 
aged I'orly-five years. The motiier is living at 
Fremont. Samuel H. Fowler, a native of West- 



field, Massachusetts, had been a resident of 
Fremont tiiree years, prior to his death, and 
operated the new Fremont House, also known 
as the Fowler House. On the fathers side, 
the family dates i)ack to a member of the 
Fowler family who came to America, in Ki;!?, 
and on the maternal side the mother was born 
in Connecticut and of English extraction. Our 
subject was one of a family of three surviving 
members: Mrs. Jennie M. Munger, wife of W. 
II. Munger; Frank H., and our subject Wiliard 
II. Mr. Fowler was reared in Nebraska and here 
received his education in the public schools at 
Fremont. At the age of fifteen, he entered the 
bank of Wilson kX Hopkins (now the Fremont 
National) as office boy, and was with the bank 
through its different changes, until it became 
the Fremont National Bank. He was head 
bookkeeper when he resigned in 1884, on 
account of failing health, after a service of 
eight years, in the one institution. He tiien 
took a trip South, being absent about a year, 
and was private secretary of E.x-Governor 
Furnase, at the Cotton Centennial Exposition 
at New Orleans, and in May, 1885, returned to 
Fremont. In September of that year he accepteil 
his ]iresent position which he fills with credit 
to himself and entire satisfaction of the 
patrons of the concerns with which he is 
associated. 

Politically, Mr. Fowler is a Republican ; he 
is disbursing agent for the new ^60,000 post- 
office being built at Fremont, has been a mem- 
ber of the school board three years, as its vice- 
president. He had the pleasure of presenting 
the diplomas to the graduating class of 1891, 
consisting of eighteen members. He has been 
a notary public since 1883. Socially, he is a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, Centennial Lodge No. 59, and Apollo 
Encampment No. 22, and also a member of The 
Home Circle Orchestra. 

Mr. Fowler was united in marriage February 
1, 1888, to Miss Clara Wdloughby, of Chicago, 
Illinois. They are the parents of one child : 
Ruth, boi'ii June 19, 1889. 



NORTHEASTERN NEJSRASA'A. 



22? 



Wliatever position Mr. Fowler lias been 
called upon to fill thus far in life, he has occu- 
])ied it with ability and manliness, couiniemlable 
to business and social circles. 



7ILLITS IIATTON, 



lumber, o^i'ain 



Y Y and live stock dealer, of the*village of 

Dodge, Dodge County, Nebraska, 

will form the subject of this biograpjiical notice. 

The Uatton family has had an existence for a 
long- period of time,and by its different branches 
has become ])retty widely dispersed. 

In the time of Queen Elizabeth, of England, 
it was among the more noted of the gentry or 
baronial class, and obtained the favor of that 
e.xacting sovengn. Prior to her time the family 
had gained considerable distinction, but it was 
in her reign that members of it obtained the 
royal favor. Sir Christopher Hatton was her 
lord chancellor, and distinguished not only for 
his legal qualifications and personal appearance, 
but also as the first individual who was not of 
the military or classical type that had held that 
iiii|)ortant office, and his royal mistress, in 
testimonv of his service, presented him with a 
si)lendi(l barony, at which this most im- 
perious queen was entertained in the most 
costly manner. P'rivolous and unreasonable as 
was this queen regarding her personal attend- 
ants, she discharged in the selection of officers 
of her administration a correctness of judgment 
that maiie her reign one of the most remarkable 
in history. 

Sir Christoplun- Uatton had several brothers 
who resided in or near London, and from some 
of them one of the noted streets was named 
" Ihitton Garden." A nephew of his (Thomas 
Hatton) emigrated to Maryland in IfiSO, and 
was one of the first provincial council and 
deputy of Lord Baltimore. Thomas Hatton 
was twice commissioned as chancellor of the 
province, and once appointed ilei)uty governor, 
losing his life in a contest with insurireiits 
against the projirietory government. He ob- 
tained four thousand acres of land on llniUing 



Creek, in St. Mary's County. The Honorable 
Thomas Hatton was followed to Maryland by 
the widow and children of a deceased brother — 
William. Of these children some were resi- 
dents of Kent County, ]\[aryland, in 1884. In the 
contest of Charles L for the crown many lives 
were sacrificed, anil dispersion of relatives to 
various parts ensued. In these the family of 
Christopher Hatton were included, and the fam- 
ily record was lost for fifty years. We find that 
Joseph Hatton was a^'oungman residing in the 
North of Ireland, and engaged in the weaving 
of linen in 1720 and that he married Susanna 
Hudson, also of English lineage. The trade was 
under great depression, and for some years they 
endured great povert\', subsisting principally 
upon potatoes and oatmeal. They were noted 
for being consistent members of the Society of 
Friends, Susanna being an esteemed minister 
who had traveled extensively, and was remark- 
able for having four sets of twins and having 
nine children born in ten years. She was the 
daughter of John and Margaret Hudson, and her 
father died when slie was twelve years of a^e, 
her mother being left with a small family of chil- 
dren, of which she was the oldest. She was 
put in the service of Ruth Courtley, a some- 
what consjiicuous minister with the Friends, 
but who is now only known from her connec- 
tions with her afterward more renowned protege. 
It is supposed by some that Henry Hudson, the 
great navigator, whose name is connected with 
one of the largest bays in America, as well as 
with the charming river of New York State, 
w'as a descendant of this family. 

The children of Josejih and Susanna Hatton 
were : John and Thomas, Joseph and Mary, 
liobert ami Edward, Jacob and Iluth and 
Susanna. Of these, Jacob, liuth and Mary died 
in infancy. Joseph, Thomas, Robert and 
Susanna accompanied their mother to America. 
The children of Robert and Ann Hatton were : 
Elizabeth, who married John Rennington ; 
Susanna, died in infancy ; Rachel, died in 
lS-17 ; Jervis, died at the age of nineteen years ; 
George, born October 28, \1W, and died October 



S28 



NORTHEASTERS' NEHRASk'A. 



8, 1872. Mary, died young; Edward, born 
1793, died December 25, 1883. 

Kobert Ilatton, son of George and Margaret 
llatton, married Susanna Evans. May 31, 1837. 
Susanna Evans was born March 30, 1815, and 
was a daughter of Edmund and Elizabetii Evans, 
of North Acton, Devonshire, England. Tiie 
children of Robert and Susannah E. llatton 
were: Joseph, born March L'3, 1838 ; Elizabeth, 
born October 2, 1839 ; Sarah, born July 9, 181-1 ; 
Margaret, born February 22, 1843 ; Eliza, born 
January 25, 1847 ; Hubert, born June 4, 1851 '■> 
Wiliits, born April 25, 1854; Lorenze, D. M., 
born April, 1857 ; Edmund E., born October 
25, 1859; Joseph, married Almira McQuartely, 
bv whom three children were born ; Evans 
Keece E., and Seth Clarence ; Willets married 
Alzora A. Ilogers, and three children were born 
to them : Loraine J., Orange O., and Authella 
I. Kobert married Josephine O. Fountain, and 
their cliildren were: Robert M., Hugh W.i 
Lorenzo D. M., married Henrietta A. Ilanna, 
bv whom one child was born : Mable Grace. 

Willits Hatton, the subject proper of this 
notice, was l)orn in Warren County, Ohio, April 
25, 1854, the son of Robert and Susanna (Evans) 
llatton, of English descent. She was born in 
P.altimore, Maryland, in 1814, and died in 1890. 
They were married in 1837, and lived together 
as man and wife for fifty -thi-ee years. Rev. 
George Hatton, grandfather of our subject^ 
was reared in the Quaker faith, and for many 
years a circuit rider through the wilds of Ohio 
and Indiana, and was a man of more than 
ordinary ability. The sister of George Hatton, 
Eliza, married a man by the name of Penning- 
ton, who Icept the first hotel in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and was within nine days of one hundi-ed 
years old when he died. 

Willits Hatton was reai'ed in AVarren and 
Clark Counties, of Ohio. He graduated from 
the Danville (Illinois) Mercantile College in 
1875, and from there went to eastern Maryland, 
where he embarked in the lum!)er business, 
and in 1877 lie married Miss Alzora A. 
Rogers, of Homer, Illinois, the daughter of 



Isaiah Rogers, who was born in Ohio and who 
was an early pioneer of Indiana. Alzora A. was 
born August 2, 1858. In 1879 they removed 
to Decatur County, Kansas, where he took a 
claim before the organization of the county, 
and while there was appointed postmaster of 
Long Branch, holding the same one year and 
one-half. • In 1881 he settled in Cell Creek, 
(now Arlington, Washington County), Neb., 
where he was made manager of a larjje lumber 
business. In 1S8C he started a hardware store 
at Leigh, Nebraska, and the-same year came to 
Dodge, where he is engaged in the lundjer 
business. In April, 1892, he engaged in the 
grain, livestock and coal business. He istreas] 
urer of the Dodge Loan and Real Estate 
Exchange. 

Their home has been blessed by the atlvent 
of four children: Loraine J., born May 14. 
1879 ; Orange O., born April 22, 1881 ; Authella 
I., born Octobers, 1883, died October 9, 1885; 
and Zeola Y., born ]\[ay 8, 1888. Politically, 
he alfiliates with the Republican party, believing 
this party advocates the best ])rinciples for a 
majority of the American citizens. Both he 
and his wife are exemplary members of the 
ConjrreKational Church. 



EDWARD FLANAGAN, of Section 8, 
Pebble Creek township, Dodge County, 
came from Titusville, Pennsylvania, 
May 6, 1871, to Omaha, and the following year 
burned brick there. His father took the jdace 
our subject now occupies as a homestead. He 
is the son of Bernard and Mary P'lanagan. The 
father died September 14, 1888, and the mother 
December 23, 1892. The father was born in 
Kings County, Ireland, and emigrated to this 
country in the autumn of 18i>4, coming direct 
from New York to Omaha, where the famil}' 
lived one year. 

Our subject was born in Kings County, Ire- 
land, March 27, 1855. 

He was united in mai-riage July 4, 1883, to 
Maggie Gamble, who died in about thire 



XOJfTHEA STERN NEBRASKA. 



months, cif typhoid fever, and for his second 
wife he married Miss Elhi Commons, daugiiter 
of Slorris Commons, wlio lives in Waverly, 
Xew Yorlc. 

Mrs. Fhinagan's mother's name l)efoie mar- 
riage was Mary Crowley. 

Four chiltlren have been born to <uir subject 
and his wife: Mamie E.. AVilliamCx. (deceased), 
John E., and Catharine \l. 

Politically, Mr. Flanagan is a supporter of 
the Democratic party. 

Upon coming to Dodge County he had no 
means and was compelled to go out to work 
for others in order to. get mone\' with which 
to improve his place. But he has lived to be 
surrounded with the comforts of life, and is now 
enjoying the fruits of his labors. 



ARCHIBALD H. ELSON (deceased) was 
born in Ohio, November 22, 1820, and in 
( 1838 accompanied his jiarents to Peoria 

Count}', Illinois, where, November 9, 1S51, he 
married Miss Melissa Fry, daughter of Benja- 
min and Sarah (Shafer) Fry, both natives of 
Pennsylvania. Melisa (Fry) Elson was born in 
Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 30, 
1819, and with her parents removetl to Peoria 
County, Illinois, in 1839. After she and her 
husband were united they lived in Peoria 
County up to the fall of 1868, and then moved 
to Dodge County, Nebraska, and took a home- 
stead on the bottom-land of Cotlerell township. 
It was so extremely wet in that locality, at that 
time, that they only remained there eighteen 
months, and took a homestead on Section 8, 
where the}' made substantial improvements. 
It was upon this farm that Mr. Elson died, Jan- 
uare 28, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Elson were the 
parents of seven children : Hortencius, Will- 
iam S. (deceased), Demarious II., Lorissa A., 
Sarah E. (deceased), Benjamin F. (deceased) 
and Alice N. 

Since the dealli of her husbaiul, Mrs. Elsen 
found it too lonely upon the farm in the absence 
of her companion, with whom she had jour- 



nied for many j'ears, consequently she disposed 
of her farm and bought property in North Bend. 
She is an exemplary member of tiie Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

Thus, one by one, the first settlers of Dodge 
County are called from the scenes of earth, 
and the lands which they improved are to be 
cultivated bv strangers' hands. 



JOHN ECKROAT, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 21, of Ridgeley township, came to 
Dodge County in the fall of 1809 in com- 
pany with his parents, who at first lo- 
cated in Pleasant Valley township, ivliere they 
took a homestead of eighty aci'es, which the 
father improved, our subject living at home 
until he became of age, when he bought eighty 
acres of his own and went to buying hogs and 
cattle. He added to this land until he had one 
hundred and sixty acres, upon which he made 
good improvements an<l held the same for 
three years, when he sold and bought the place 
he now occui)ies, which consists of two hundred 
and forty acres, which at the time he purchased 
it was wild land. He put good buildings upon 
the place, dug a well, planted two acres of a 
grove and an orchard of sixty-five trees. He 
now has one hundred and sixty-live acres 
under the plow, while the renuiinder is in pas- 
ture and meailow land. He has seen many 
ciianges in the Elldiorn Valley since he became 
a resident. He experienced loss anil liardsliip 
during the grasshopper period and had his 
crops materially injured by corn worms. 

He of whom we write this biographical 
notice was born in Stark County, Ohio, De- 
cember, 1857, the son of Jacob and Barbara 
Eckroat, of Germany, whose seven children 
were: Lewis, Daniel (deceased), John, Mary 
E., Jacob, Caroline and Peter. 

Our subject remained in the Buckeye Slate 
until he was eight years of age. when his 
parents removed to Illinois and lived tlirei- 
and one-half years and tiicn mnvcd to Ne- 
braska. 



230 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



February, 1882, marked a new era in this 
man's life, for it was during this month that he 
was united in marriage to Mary Baechler, the 
daugiiter of Henry and Elizabeth Jjaecide'r, 
natives of Germany, whose three ciiiidren 
were AViliiam, Samuel and Mary, all of whom 
are living at tliis date. Our subject and his 
wife are the jiarents of five children: Franklin, 
born November 21, 1SS2; Mary, born Novem- 
ber 2, 18S4; Charles, born February 12, 1887; 
Anna, born January 10, 1889; Lillian, born 
March 27, 1891. 

X[r. and Mrs. Eckroat are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and politically he 
votes with tlie Democratic party. 

He has been to the Pacific Coast twice : sold 
out ant! moved his family, remained six months 
and returned to Nebraska. 



JOHN EMANUEL, whose farm home is sit- 
uated on Section 28, of Pleasant Valley 
township, and who is the postmaster and 
proprietor of a store at Pleasant A^alley, 
was numbered among the settlers who found 
their way to Dodge County in 1869. In the 
autumn of that year he moved to an eighty -acre 
homestead, which is a ])art of his present farm, 
and there built a small frame house, boarded np 
and down. During that season he broke thir- 
ty-five acres of his land and continued to live 
in the same old house, with a few additions, 
until the fall of 1891, when he erected a fine 
two-stor}' frame iiouse, 18x28 feet, with an L 
lt!x20, a kitchen and good cellar under the 
whole building. He has added to his original 
tract of land until he has two hundred and 
forty acres. In 1888 he erected a large barri and 
otiier substantial out-buildings. In 1872 a post- 
oHice was established in tlu; i\ra|)le Valley, and 
after numei'ous changes from one farm house 
to another, our subject took the office and 
moved tlie little building, which had been 
built by contribution, anil kept the post-oltice 
in the same on his land, he having held it since 
1885. 



Ml'. Emanuel was born in Huettersdorf, near 
Saarlouis in the Rhine, Province of Germany. 
February 13, 1847, the son of Nicholas and 
Anna M. (Wilhelm) Emanuel, both natives of 
Germany. The father died when our subject 
was nine 3'ears of age, and he being the oldest 
of four sons, tiie responsibility of the family 
naturally rested on him. He remained at home 
with his mother until 1867, and then came to 
America and accepted a position as baggage- 
master at Geneseo, Henry County, Illinois, 
which place he held two years ; but believing 
that the great West afforded better opportuni- 
ties for a young miui, he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, bringing two hundred dol- 
lars with him. He came with an uncle nameil 
Peter Emanuel, who look a homestead, and 
they both farmed together for a number of 
j'ears. AVhen they divided, our subject bought 
a yoke of oxen, which served him as a team 
for three years. May 24, 1883, his uncle Peter 
died and his wife has since made her home with 
our subject. 

Mr. Emanuel was united in marriage in 
Henry County, Illinois, August 31, 1868, to 
Miss Caroline Emanuel, who was also a native 
of Gei-many, born February 27. 1850. They 
are the parents of fifteen children, named 
and born at follows : Mary A., November 3, 
1869; Maggie T.. November 28,1870; Barbara 
P^ April 29, 1872 (deceased); Ella K, Octo- 
ber 28, 1873; Anna II., May 9, 1875; John 
N., July 3, 1877; Joseph W., January 22, 
1879; an infant girl, August 8, 1880 (de- 
ceased) ; Catharine M., November 25, 1881 ; 
Nicholas T., December 5, 1883; Peter 11., 
March 6, 1885; Francis J., December 5, 1886; 
Leo, July 14, 1888 (deceased); Mathew C, No- 
vember 23, 1888; and Charles A., May 3, 1891. 

Mary A., the first born,, entered the St. Fi-an. 
cis Order at St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha, in 
1S83. Her sister, Ella K., belongs to the same 
oidei', but t!ie lemainder of the children are at 
home. Our subject and his wife, together with 
the family, are members of the Roman Catho- 
lic Church. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Politicall}', Mr. Emanuel votes with the 
Democratic party. He has been justice of tlie 
peace for the last ten years, and has assessed 
tlie township in which he lives and served on 
the county board from ISSfi to 1S90, and was 
very active and instrumental in securing a new 
court-house for the county. He has been on 
the township board ever since it was organ- 
ized. He has been an active worker in tlie 
Democratic ranks, and bad been a member of 
tlie Grange since it was introduced into tlie 
State, he being master of the Pleasant 'N'alley 
Grange and deputy county organizer, and has 
been for four years. When our subject was 
only seventeen 3'ears old a tire broke out in the 
village in wliich he and his mother lived. The 
roofs of the liouses there were thatched, and 
inside of five minutes from tlie time the lire 
was discovered, thirty-three buildings were 
destroyed and it was with great difficulty that 
the inmates escaped alive. Our subject was 
badly burned on the face and hands in trying 
to get his mother out of the burning building, 
and lie still bears the marks upon his face to 
tins (lay. His mother was also badly burned, 
but through his efforts she made her escape. 
The good mother came to America in 1S7.'5. and 
spent the remainder of her years with our sub- 
ject and finally died in 1876. 



HEXRV D. DEILEY, cashier of the First 
National IJank at Wisner, came to 
Cuming County in May, 1876. He 
was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Decem- 
ber 13, 1851, and is the son of Kichard Deily, a 
native of North Hampton County, Pennsylva- 
nia, who was born about 1825 and of German de- 
scent. Our subject's mother, Eli/a A. (Albright) 
Deily, was born in Lehigh County, Pennsylva- 
nia, her parents being among the early settlers 
on the Lehigh River. She was born in 1832, 
and reared a family of eight children : IIeni-y 
D.. of wlio/u wf write this sketch; Emaline, 
willow of Charles Deck, of Trenton, New Jer. 
sey ; Clara J., of Trenton, New Jersey ; Jacob 



R., law student at Philadelphia ; Lizzie M., 
Trenton, New Jersey ; Addie E., wife of Frank 
Weichel, of Trenton, New Jersey. Our subject's 
father died in 18S9. He was a Republican 
in politics and held several local ottices in his 
time. 

Henry D. was educated in the schools of 
Allentown, Pennsylvania, anil graduated at 
Blackinan's Business College. In 1876 he 
came to Omaha, Nebraska, arriving March 11, 
and-in May walked to, West Point, being short 
of money. Upon his arrival there, he had three 
and one-half dollars. The second day after his 
arrival he went to work for Charles H. Frey 
in the sheriff's office. He was then employed 
in the construction of the mill race and later in 
thecountv clerk's office. Soon after a vacancy 
occurred and he was appointed deputy, serving 
five years, and in the meantime read law with 
Thomas M. Franse and was admitted to the 
bar at the fall term of court in 1878, and prac- 
ticed law in com])any with William Stuefer, 
president of tiie AVest Point National Rank. 
In March, 1883, he was made cashier of the 
bank operated by McNish tt Graham, of Wis- 
ner, and is now connected with the First 
National Rank which succeeded it, he being 
both a stockholder and cashier. He is also 
connected with the Wisner Town Lot Company. 
He has a half section of land, one-half of which 
is in Stanton and the remainder in Cuming 
County. He is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity and is one of the trustworthy citizens 
of Wisner. 

In 1878 he was united in marriage at West 
Point, during the month of September, to ^fiss 
Maggie J. Neligh, the daughter of David 
Neligh, one of the pioneers of Cuming (yjunty. 
They have two children : Adelaide E., born 
March 25, 1882 and Richard II.. born January 
26. 1890. 

Mr. Deily. as has been stated, came to 
the county without means, but in place of 
drifting along with time, with no aim in life, 
he pushed on to the front, and by judicious 
management has accumulated a good property, 



238 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



including a fine residence in Wisner, 26x30 feet 
and two stories high, which was built in 1884 
at a cost of eig'hteen huiulred dollars. 



JOHN GEORGE DOFFIX, of Section 3, 
Logan township, Cuming County, is a 
native of Germany, born September S, 
18(34, and accompanied his parents to 
America in 1872. They landed at Quebec and 
from there came direct to Nebrasica. His 
father took a homestead and our subject lived 
on a quarter section of land, purchased from 
his father August 15, 1887, upon which are 
good improvements, ninety-five acres being 
under cultivation antl the I'emainder in pasture 
and meadow land. Our sul)ject's parents were 
Jacob and Maggie (Ridingspiece) Doltin, who 
were the parents of two children : our suijject 
and Anna. The father is still living on his 
homestead of eighty acres, which he filed upon 
at West Point, when the land office was at that 
place. Before coming to America, he served 
six yeai's in the German Army, and upon com- 
ing to this country had no means, but by indus- 
try and good management, he has accumulated 
a property valued at fifteen thousand tlollars. 
The family belong to the German Lutheran 
Church. The father votes with the Democratic 
party, while our subject is a Republican. 



LOUIS DERN, a furniture dealer and un- 
dertaker at the village of Stanton, Ne- 
braska, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, 
(termany, January 21, 1868. He is the son of 
Phillij) and Eliza (Raiser) Dern. I]e was reared 
and educated in his native country and spent 
his youth as most German boys do. His father 
is a miller by trade, and our subject assisted 
him. In 1886 he came to America and located 
at Hooper, Nebraska, where he was engaged 
with his uncle as engineer until he went out of 
i«isiness, after which he worked for his suc- 
sessor up to April, 18!)2. aiul llien came to Stan- 
inn and |)Uiclia»u(l llif rurniturr l>Msinoss he is 



now conducting. His main building is 28x60 
feet, with an addition of 24x60 feet. He car- 
ries a six thousand dollar stock of goods and is 
prepared to do undertaking in the best manner 
known. 

Mr. Dern was united in marriage Octol)er 
21, 1S91, to Emma Buchholz, daughter of 
Charles Buchholz of Hoo[ier. 

Politically, our subject attiliates with the 
Democratic party. He is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias order, belonging to Long- 
fellow Lodge No. 8'.'. 



WILLIAM H. DIVINE, a farmer living 
on Section 5, of Cotterell township, 
came to Dodge County in the spring 
of 1879, and located on the farm he now occu- 
pies; at the time buying two hundred acres of 
wild land upon which he built a storv and one- 
half frame house, 10x24 feet. The next year 
he built an addition 16x24 feet, and February 
27, 1890, his house was destroyed by fire and 
nearly everything within it also. He then 
built the house in which he now lives. It is a 
frame structure, two stories high, 24x30 feet, 
with an L 1(1x24 feet. He has good barns, 
granary and shedding, and can house one hun- 
dred tons of hay. six thousand bushels of grain, 
seventy -five head of cattle and thirty head of 
horses. His present farm consists of two hun- 
dred and sevent3'-six acres of the finest land to 
be found in the Maple Valley. He generally 
keejis just what stock he can keep undei' 
shelter, believing that that pays in the long 
run. 

Mr. Divine was born in Dutchess County, 
New York, December 2, 1829, the son of Peter 
and Verlina (Barnes) Divine, both natives of 
the Empire State. The father died when our 
subject was nine years of age, ami he lived 
with an uncle five years, and then struck out 
for himself. He remaineil in that county, how- 
ever, until he was twenty-one years of age and 
learned the blacksmithing trade. He then 
iiKjvcd to ('aviiga (Vmutv, New Yorlc, where 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



233 



lie farmed for two years and then went to 
Tioga County, Pennsylvania, and farmed there 
four years. We next find him in Stephenson 
County, Illinois, where lie bought an improved 
farm, and lived nntil the spring of 1879, when 
ho sold and came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

He was married in Cayuga County, New 
Yoik. January 15, 1852, to JMiss Eliza A. Curtis, 
(laughter of Edward and Eliza A. (Yosburgh) 
Cui'tis, both of wliom were born in the Eastei-n 
Slates. Eliza A. was borji in Cayuga County, 
February 0, 1825, and there remained until the 
date of her marriage. Our subject and wife 
arc the parents of two chiklren : Charles A., 
born November 5. 1852, in Ca^'uga County, 
Ne V York, and a baby girl who died in in- 
fancy. 

Charles married Orra Stevens, and they live 
with our subject and are the parents of si.K 
children: William A., Edward O., Clauduis L., 
Charles E., Martha E. and James C. 

Mrs. Divine's parents both died in Dodge 
County, the mother January 18, 1886, at the 
age of ninety years, antl the father died Feb- 
iniary 14, 1889, at the age of ninety-two years. 
They were both buried in Maple Grove ceme- 
tery. The mother was a member of the Meth- 
odist Church, and while the father was not a 
member of any church he was a Christian man 
and beloved liy all who knew him. 

Our subject and his wife belong to the Meth- 
odist Church, and in politics he affiliates with 
the Independent party. In the fall of 1891 he 
was elected to the office of justice of the ])eace. 



El)\V.\i;i) DODENDOUF, one of the 
early settlers of Cuming County, lo- 
cated in September, 1877. He was born 
in Lehigii County, renns\'lvania. February 13, 
Is.'Jl. John Dodendorf was his grandfather 
and George E. Dodendorf was his father. They 
were Pennsylvania German people, and he 
(John) was the first barber in Easton, Pennsyl- 
vania. His parents were George E. and Lydia 
(Burger) Dodendorf, the former of Lehigh and 



the latter of Monroe County, Pennsylvania. 
They reared a family of twelve children, all but 
two of whom lived to be adults: Edward, of 
this sketch: Keubin, died in Pennsylvania; 
Amelia, widow of Paul Franse, now a resident 
of North Hampton County, Pennsylvania; 
Nathan, died in Pennsylvania; Mary A., wife 
of James Bomer, of North Hampton County, 
Pennsylvania; Eliza, wife of Freman Heffilin- 
ger, of Carbon County, Pennsylvania; Katie, 
wife of L. Getz, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; 
Owen, of Scranton, Pennsylvania; Lydia T., 
wife of Tillman Stout, Carbon County, Penn- 
sylvania ; John, of the same place; Jane, de- 
ceased in Pennsylvania; Matilda, died in in- 
fancy ; one unnamed who died in infancy. 
Four years after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Edwai'd Dodendorf they moved to Monroe 
County, Pennsylv.inia, where the\' reared their 
famil}'^. They were members of the German 
Reform Church, (ieorge E. Dodendorf died 
in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, in 1SS5, and 
his wife died June, 1891, at the age of seventy- 
eight years. Our subject received only a lim- 
ited education in the district schools and when 
eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to 
learn the carpenter and mill-wright trade. 
Being handy with tools, he remained but a 
short time, when he left and went to work at 
the mill-wright business, and was soiin after 
placed in charge of a gang of men. He was 
married in 185-1 to iliss Katie Ann Serfoss, a 
daughter of Jacob and Eliza Serfoss, of Mon- 
roe County, Pennsylvania. They are the par- 
ents of ten children : Henry D., Alfred (de- 
ceased), Mahlon (deceased), Marietta, James 
F., Elizabeth J., Oliver O., Levi AV., Albin A., 
Sibila (deceased). 

Politically, Mr. Dodeiuhjrf is a Pcpul)lican. 
He cast his first vole for James Buchanan. In 
religious matters our subject and his wife 
belong to tiie English Lutheran Church. 

He enlisted in Company H One Hundred 
and Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
mustered in at Philadelphia October, 1S02; 
was ordered to Suffolk. Yiri^inia ; from there 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



marched to Newburn, North Carolina; from 
there he went to Hilton Head and Bufort, 
South Carolina, engaging in such duties, 
skirmishes, etc., as his part of the array 
met. He was mustered out August, 1863. He 
is now a member of D. S. Crawford Post No. 
197, G. A. R., is quite feeble and draws a pen- 
sion from the Government. 



DR. CHARLES CADWALLADER, one 
uf the business factors of the village of 
Bancroft, Cuming County, has been a 
resident of the place since August, 1882, when he 
located and engaged in the ])ractice of medicine, 
which he followed five years, and then engaged 
in the drug business, but continues to practice 
his chosen profession. 

He of whom we write was Ijorn in Wales, in 
the Britisii Provinces, March, ISiS, tlie son of 
Charles and Sarah Cadwallader, whose six 
children were: John, Sarah (deceased), Anna 
(deceased), Evan (deceased), Charles and Eliza- 
beth (deceased). 

He lived in Wales until three years of age, 
when his parents emigrateil to America. P^rom 
New York they started for Ohio, but his father 
was taken sick at Buffalo and died, leaving liis 
wife and three children in a strange land and 
alone. The father was buried at Buffalo, and 
our subject then went by stage to Licking 
County, Ohio, and remained until eighteen 
years of age, working at any thing honorable 
he could find to do. He depended on his now 
resources for an education. He studied medi- 
cine under Dr. Benjamin Pratt and remained in 
Ohio until ho came to Lyons, Burt County, 
Nebraska, where he remained eight years and 
then came to Bancroft. 

Tiie doctor was united in marriage, April, 
1874, to Dorothy Baker, whose parents had 
eleven children : Parsons (deceased), Lorenzo 
(deceased), Almena (deceased),Dorothy, tiie first 
(deceased), Ellen (deceased), Dorothy, Lydia, 
Anna, Martha, Jessie and Theodore. 

Our subject and his wife have no children. 



Politically, Mr. Cadwallader is a supporter 

of tiie Prohibition party. 



JOSEPH CROSS (deceased) came to Dodge 
County in the autumn of 1870, and lo- 
cated in Fremont until the springof 1S71' 
when he rented a farm in what is now 
L'nion township. He contested and won the 
claim on which his wife now lives on Section 
28, of Pleasant A'alle}' township. He home- 
steaded this about 1872, improved it and lived 
there until his death, August 15, 1891. 

Through Mrs. Cross' money, they now possess 
three hundi'ed and si.xty acres of line lanil. 

He of whom we write (the late Mr. Cross) 
was born in Wiltshire, England, June 1, 1833. 
His father was a well-to-do farmer,' and our 
subject remained at home until he grew to 
manhood, when he went to farming on his own 
account. In 1870 he came to America, remain- 
ed a short time in Racine, Wisconsin, and then 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. His 
wife, Elizabeth (Reeves) Cross, was born in 
Wiltshire, England, in 1S33, and came to Amer- 
ica with her "mother in 18G7. locating at Minne- 
apolis, Minnesota ; remained five months and 
went to Thompsonville, Racine County, Wiscon- 
sin, and from there to this county. She is the 
mother of five sons, two of whom are the sons 
of Mr. Cross, and three b\' jier former husband, 
Mr. Hay ward. Those of her first marriage are 
William, Harry V. and Nelson; while those 
of Mr. Cross are Joseph and Jabez. The oldest 
son is in Montana; Harry is a traveling man 
for a Chicago house; Nelson Hay ward, Joseph 
and Jabez Cross are at home with their mother. 
Mrs. Cross' mother, Martha Gunning, came 
to Dodge County with her and died on the 
homestead in August, 1878, at the age of sixty- 
seven years. 

STEDMAN P. BEEBE, one of the repre- 
sentative farmei'S of Cotterell township, 
and whose farm is located on Section 12 
will form the subject of this notice. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



235 



He was born in Outagamie County, Wiscon- 
sin, December 25, 1854, and accompanied liis 
l)irents to Dodge County, Nebraska, in Septem- 
i)er, 185G. His ])arents were Henry V. and 
Levinia J. (Hager) Beebe. Tlie fatlier was a 
native of ISTew York and the mother of Ver- 
mont. The first twenty-five years of our sub- 
ject's life were spent at home with his parents, 
but at the age of twenty-two he commenced to 
farm for himself. In the spring of 1880 he 
rented a farm in Maple township and farmed 
there until the spring of 1SS3, and then rented 
a farm in Platte township, farmed two years, 
and while there purchased the eighty acres 
above referred to. In ISSS he erected a frame 
liouse 14x22 feet one and one-half stories high 
with an addition fourteen feet square. He also 
built a barn of good proportions and made 
other improvements about the premises. The 
first year he was on the place he broke twenty- 
five acres and now has sixty under cultivation. 

Mr. Beebe was married in Dodge Count}', 
Nebraska, September 12, 1888, to Miss Elis J. 
Hager, daughter of Eli and Anna C. (Swan- 
Hager. Her father was a native of Vermont 
and her mother was born in Illinois. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beebe are the parents of one 
child: Prentice E., born July 3, 1889. 

Cur subject received his education at the 
common schools of Nebraska. Mi'S Beebe, 
after attending the public schools, finished her 
education at the Fremont Normal, commencing 
October, 188i, and leaving August, 1885. She 
received the first receipt for tuition that Pro- 
fessor Jones issued. 

Politically, Mr. Beebe supports the Ilepubli) 
can party. He is a member of the Masonic 
Order, belonging to Fremont Lodge No. 15, A. 
F. ifc A. M., and is also a member of Centennial 
Lodge No. 59, of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, at Fremont. 

VANGILDERBANGHART, a farmer of 
Section 28, Ridgeley townsiiip, caine to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1868 and 
located where he now lives. At first he took a 



homestead of eighty acres, which he improved, 
first building a dug out and doing some break- 
ing. After ten years he built his present resi- 
dence, which is 18.\24 feet. He also built a 
good class of out-buildings, ])roviJed a well with 
a wind-mill; also a blacksmith shop, for repair 
work. Other improvements consisted of a 
grove of several acres, which he planted out 
and an orchard of one hundred and fifts^ trees. 
He now has two hundred and forty acres of 
land, two hundred and ten of which is under 
the plow. He also has three rows of walnut 
trees, one hundred and sixty rods long. "When 
he came to the county, his nearest market 
place was Fremont, and he experienced great 
hardship during the grasshopper years, losing 
nearly his entire crop for four years. 

He of wliom we write was born in Oliio, 
December, 1835, the son of Henry and Mary A. 
Banghart, natives of New Jersey, whose four 
children were: Vangilder, Isaac, Mary J. and 
Henrv. Our subject remained in the Bucke3'e 
State until thirty years of age, and then came 
to Nebraska. When he arrived, he was in debt 
five dollars, for money which he borrowed at 
Omaha. In 1801, he enlisted as a member of 
Company I Twentieth Ohio Volunteers, was 
mustered in under Captin Cable and was in 
West Virginia. He was discharged from three 
months service and re-enlisted in Company G 
Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He belonged to 
theFourteenth Army Corps and was in the Army 
of the Cumberland. He was in the Union 
service three years and five months, and partic- 
ipated in the engagements at Iven Mountain, 
West Liberty, Perryville, Stone River, Chicka- 
inauga, Mission Ridge, and did not receive a 
scratch in any of these hard struggles. At one 
time bullets passed through his clothing and 
cut his hair. lie was mustered out of service 
at Columbus, Ohio, after faithfully performing 
the duties of a Union soldier. 

He was married March, 1865, to Catharine 
A., daughter of Jacob and Nancy Roat, 
natives of Pennsylvania and New Jei'sey, 
respectively. Our subject and his wife are the 



236 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



parents of ten children : Thomas, Ida, William 
T., Lillie, Anna, Jesse (deceased), Frank, 
(deceased), John L., Nellie and Roy G. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically 
he votes tiie Independent ticket. 



CIIAUXCEY WEEKS HYATT, edilt.r and 
founder of the I'lail, published at Fre- 
mont, is the seventh son of Deacon 
James Duncan Hyatt. His mother's name be- 
fore marriage being Manerva Meade. Our sub- 
ject was born near Carmel, Futnam County, 
New York, February 28, 1S38. He is one of a 
familv of fifteen chiklren, all but one of whom 
reached maturity, anil all survived as late as 
1890 ; the youngest being forty-five years of 
age. The father was a farmer and owned 
several hundred acres of rough land, situated in 
Putnam County, some of it so rocky as to re- 
(juire the famous steel-nosed sheep, of song and 
story, to get the grass. On the farm young 
Chauncey toiled in the summer time, and at- 
tended school during the winter, until he was 
fourteen years of age, when he took a course in 
the liaymond Institute, which completed his 
school education. When sixteen years of age, his 
father removed all of the family who wei'e not 
married to Wisconsin, locating in Sheboygan 
County. Here the subject of this notice labored 
and taught school, until the spring of 1859, 
when he became of age, and went out from 
home to try the realities of life for himself, 
locating in Monroe County, Missouri, where he 
e.xpected to make his fortune; but instead, re- 
ceived the ague and shook for eighteen months. 
At that time the secession pot was boiling in 
Missouri, and Monroe County was a hot bed. 
In fact some of the worst guerrilla chiefs of 
the great struggle were Monroe Country men. 
Here was the rock on which Chauncey split; he 
could not keep his mouth closed on politics, and 
aftoi' the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for 
president, it was made so hot for him that he 
found it (|uite convenient to leave that countrj', 



when the midnight stars were twinkling and 
the moon was very low. I3ut when the bom- 
bardment of Fort Sumter shook the Nation, he 
took the first opportunity to enlist, thinking to 
teach tiiose border ruffians of Missouri on what 
rests a rebel's pride. A company was organ- 
ized in Sheboygan, with E. B. Cray, as captain, 
and he left a term of school about half com- 
pleted to cast his lot with the Nation's defend, 
ers. They were soon ordered to join the Fourth 
Regiment and to go into rendezvous at Racine 
for drill. The Fourth Regiment did not arrive at 
the front in time for the great battle of Bull 
Run. but tlicy were near enough to hear the 
cannon on that terrible day. They passed 
through Baltimore among the lirst Regiments, 
aftei" the Massachusetts boys had been mobbed- 
The duty of the Fourth regiment during that 
summer was to guard the railway from Relay 
House to Anapolis Junction. The country was 
infested by a nest of bushwhackers, and they 
took delight in picking off the guards. Our sub- 
ject was selected as a victim, while guarding the 
great a(pieduct, but the shot cut wool, instead of 
flesh ! From Relay House our subject went 
with his Regiment down the Maryland coast, 
to protect the elections, where the instructions 
by General Lockwood were, that the soldier 
detected in foraging as much as a turnip, should 
be sent back to Fort Mcllenry in irons. Shortly 
after the Regiment was ordered to join Butlers 
forces for New Orleans. When rounding Cape 
Ilatteras, three thousand men were bunked one 
above another, and all became deathly sick and 
every aisle of the great slii]), was strewn with 
sea-sick men, and the ell'ects of their sea-sick- 
ness. It was several days before there were 
well men enough to clean up. To add to the 
terrible state of affairs, the water which had 
been poorly prepared before the journey, had 
come to stink so that the only way to ])rei>aro 
it for drink was to mix it freely with vinogai'. 
Several months were spent on Ship Island, a 
little sand-bar, one-half of a mile wide and seven 
miles long, between the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi River and Mobile Bay, where, during the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



winter, General Butler accumulated about fif- 
teen thousand men for tlietiurposeof attacking 
Xew Orleans; and finall_r that city was reluc- 
tantly given up to the wearers of tiie Blue. Tlie 
Fourth Wisconsin was the first to enter the 
Crescent City, and was quartered in t.he New 
custom house, in theapartment occupied by the 
postotlice. The boys had great sport witii tlie 
lettci's. Wiien first in New Orleans the people, 
especially the women, were intensel3' bitter, 
talcing every possible means to insult the sold- 
iers, even emptying their slops from the second 
story of their houses, on their heads. This how- 
ever was stopped by General Butler's famous 
order. ]\[r. Hyatt was with his Regiment 
through all that campaign, in the bombardment 
a'ul siege of Yicksbsurg, the burning of Port 
Hudson, and until after the battle of Baton 
Rouge when on account of malaria and other 
disorders, he was discharged nearly dead. He 
returned to his home and as soon as he regained 
his strength he re-enlisted and was made first 
sergeant of Company D.. Thirth-eighth Wiscon- 
sin, and was with that Regiment as a member 
of the Ninth Army Corps, from the battle of 
(yold Harbor to the final capture of General 
Lee. lie was in command of his company most 
of the time, as the commissioned oflicers were 
on the sick list. As sergeant, he was detailed 
ti) command the flanking column of the First 
Hrigade, First Division, in the celebrated recon- 
noitre on the Weldon road, receiving one slight 
scratch and two holes through his clothes, from 
a Rebel sharp-shooter. 

January, 18(55, he received a commission as 
second lieutenant, and in Ajiril was promoted to 
first lieutenant, and would have been made caj)- 
tuin long before that if the Company could have 
had their choice. In the grand final charge) 
,\|)ril 2, 18')."), when the lines in front of Betens. 
burg were brolcen. Lieutenant Ilyattcommanded 
liiscompan3',and always contends that Company 
I) was the first to enter Fort Mahone. When 
he jumped from the parapet into the fort, he 
scaled the heads of half a dozen Rebels with 
fixed bayonets. This gallant soldier was never 



absent from his company in an\' engagement, 
but was always with them, cheering, comfort- 
ing and assisting them, and when the War was 
over the\' purchased him a magnificent sword, 
costing over one luindred dollars. When in 
camp at Washington, D. C, it was presented to 
him through Lieutenant Colonel Pier, who con- 
gratulated the lieutenant, that while other offi- 
cers had received of their Company's respect 
before they had associated with them in camp, 
and led them in the field, it was his great pleas- 
ure to receive such tokens after the acquaintance 
had been ]ierfect, and his true merit as a leader, 
had been put to their fullest test. Upon this 
occasion Lieutenant Hyatt was taken completelv 
by surprise, and his response was choked in his 
throat. He had not a man that would not have 
stood with him to the death, and he has great 
satisfaction in knowing that lie has returned- 
much of that great kindness and trust by assist- 
ing a full score of them to pensions from the 
Government. The ties formed between his 
soldiers and himself were tenacious as life, and 
whenever he meets one of them, it is like meet- 
ing a brother. Before the War closed, and while 
the forces were preparing for the last great 
struggle. Lieutenant Hyatt received a leave of 
absence for the express purpose of going home 
to marry, and on February 10, 1865, he was 
united with Jliss Mary J. Keith of Chicago. 
Reverend Doctor Parks of Racine College per- 
forming the ceremony. The bride was a close 
connection of the great ijanker, George Smith, 
of London, England, who was one of the first 
settlers of Ciiicago. She was a niece of Cap. 
tain James Smith, of the Chicago Light Artil- 
lery, who was a large share holder in the 
" Emma" mine, and whose estate yet embraces 
the leading hotel of Salt Lake, and much val- 
uable property about that city as well as in 
Chicago. 

After the Civil War our subject gi-avitated 
between Chicago and Sheboygan, until Novem 
bcr when he concluded to go to Iowa, and settled 
at Badger Ilill, Tama County, a town which he 
named and of which he was the first postmaster. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



In 1S66 he was elected county surveyor of Tama 
County, and served one term and part of an. 
other, when he resigned to i-emove to a large 
farm he had been opening in Grundv Count}') 
where he remained a farmer, on a large scale 
until 1878, when lie sold out his personal prop' 
ert\' and removed to Dodge County, Nebrask;i, 
locating on a farm north of North Bend, just in 
time to catch the grasshopper plague. Aftei' a 
a warfare of two years witii tiiem. he removed 
to North Bend and engaged in the real estate 
and insurance business. He ran for school 
superintendent and was defeated by thirty votes. 
But at the next election was elected county 
surveyor, serving from 1880 to 1885. He was 
appointed postmaster at North Bend, under 
President Hayes, when the office was of the 
fourth class. But during his administration it 
became a Government office which he held under 
President Arthur, for four years ; but he had 
taken the liberty in his paper to severely criticise 
certain senators who had threatened to oppose 
his confirmation, but he was confirmed never- 
theless. When Cleveland was elected president, 
he was pronounced an offensive partisan, and 
" pernicioush' active " and was bounced without 
ceremony. Mr. Hyatt glories in the fact that 
he was the very ^/'.s< man , bounced for " olfen. 
sive partisanship," within the histor}' of the 
country. The case commanded national atten- 
tion and received free comment by the press 
throughout the Nation, and even the Engiisii 
papers commented upon it. A little story 
printed in tiie Flail, concerning the bo\' and 
girl and the green apple, was made the basis of 
the charges. 

In 1881 he succeeded II. T. ^liliard as edit(ji' 
of the North Bend Bulletin and in 1882 estab- 
lished tiie Flail, at North Bend, and in 
1888 removed it to Fremont since which 
time his life lias been as an open book. 
As a writer, IVIr. Hyatt is strong, forceful 
and logical. While some writers seem 
to alight upon a subject, he gets down under- 
neath it. His words are few, but the}' are all 
e.\[)rcssions. AVastes no energy in fancy flights. 



but confines his attention to living issues. A 
thing that he believes to be right, he defends 
like a knight, but what he consiilers wrong he 
sti'ikes like a tliunder clap. In a question of 
right and wrong, he knows no person, or party, 
and his own affiliations often get the severest 
criticisms. He is always found on the side of 
the weak and oppressed, and in liis defense he 
would strike a king as quickly as a clown. As 
an editor, he is cautious, never making a dam- 
aging assertion until he is prepared to prove it. 
In censuring public officers, he has been most 
unsparing, but while great threats of libel suits 
have been made, none have ever been instituted, 
because the editor had carefully selected his 
grounds. Owing to an exposure made in his 
paper, a certain man la'd in wait for him while 
he went from his residence to his office. The 
same resulted in the man's incarceration in the 
penitentiary. 

Mr. Hyatt is a prominent member of tlic 
Grand Army of the Republic and a friend of 
the soldier. 



LARS PETERSON, of Logan township. 
Dodge County, homesteaded a part of 
Section 28 in 1864. The first season he 
broke seven acres of ground and built a dug- 
out 10x14 feet, eight feet high in the middle 
and six at the corners. This pioneer abode 
served our subject for live years, when he built 
a log-house 16x18 feet. The logs he cut on the 
creek, while the nails and hardware he got 
at Omaha. From time to time he added to iiis 
original homestead until he has three hundred 
and twenty -five acres of well cultivated land. 
His buiUiings are of first-class design, and all 
shows him to be a man of thrift and order. 

Mr. Peterson was born in Sweden, June 24, 
1841. He is the son of Peter and Justin Dahl, 
who was of the following family of children : 
Lars, Peter, Anna, Andrew, Eiick, Tena and 
two deceased. 

He of whom we write was united in marriage 
in 1864, to Anna Anderson, the daughter of A. 
Anderson. Bv tliis union t(Mi childreti were 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



born as follows: Carrie, February 5, ISCC; 
Petei', September 22, 1867 ; Annie, February 
19, 1870; Willie, April 5, 1872; Mary, March 
15, 187-t; Turcy, March 4, 187G ; Andrew, Sep- 
tember 4, 1877 ; Clara, October 3, 1879 ; Elmer, 
April 2(!, 1884; Roy, December 15, 1880; ]>il- 
lio, December 19, 188&. 

Our subject's oldest son accidentally shot him- 
self April 13, 1885, while hunting- and lived 
but a few hours. 

AViiiU; our subject is now suiToiiiided with a 
comfortable home he can look back over the 
days wiien he had only ten dollars, and that 
went for flour at Fremont, where he worked 
by tlieday. 

In his political choice our subject is a Repub- 
lican, and in religious matters both he and his 
wife are Lutherans. 



WILLIAM H. HAW LEY, a representa- 
tive farmer of Elkhorn township, 
residing on Section 16, came to- 
Dodge County in the spring of 1871 and first 
located at Fremont, at which time it con- 
tained only twelve hundred inhabitants. He 
engaged in contracting and building, and 
erected some of the best buildings in Fremont, 
lie followed this kind of work until 1880, when 
he bought his present farm consisting of two 
hundred and forty acres which at the time was 
wild land. He at once went to work improving 
his ])lace by tiie erection of a farm-house, 14x22 
feet, with a wing 16.x30 ; set out an orchard of 
tifcy trees and planted a grove of four acres, 
and has seven hundred catalphas growing. Our 
subject was born in England, January 3, 1842, 
the son of William and Hannah llawley, who 
had the following nine children : Robert, Jane, 
Elijah, William H., Samuel, John, Abraham, 
Thomas (deceased) and James (deceased). 
Those who survive, all reside in England except 
our subject,he having come to this country when 
he was twenty-one years of age. He landed at 
(Juebec where he worked at the carpenter trade 
(svhicii he learned in England) for three vears. 



We next find tiiat he went to Bary where he 
lived two 3'ears and from there went to Pater- 
son, New Jersey, engaging at his trade for one 
year. He then spent six years in Wilmington, 
Delaware, coming from that place to Fremont, 
Nebraska. In 1863 he hired out to a firm to 
go to Chattanooga,Tennessee, to work at making- 
camp chairs and drawing tables, remained at it 
until 1865, during which time he was in the 
hospital two months. 

He was united in marriage, June, 1805, to 
Anna Leather, the daughter of John and 
Hannah Leather, of England, who had three 
children: James, Hannah (deceased) and Alice. 
By this marriage five children were born to our 
subject : John, March 31, 1866 ; Annie, Novem- 
ber 27, 1868; Fannie, November 27, 1808; 
Frank, 1871 ; Willie (deceased) , infant 
(deceased). The mother of these children died 
in 1874, and for his second wife married in 
October, 1877, Alma Thompson, daughter of 
James R. and Mary Thompson, natives of 
Pennsylvania, whose five children were: Alice, 
Alma, Jame-s, David and Susan (deceased). 

By his second marriage our subject had 
seven children, born as follows: Charles 
deceased), born November 17, 1878; Willie 
(deceasedj, born February 10, 1880; Robert 
(deceased), born August II, 1882; James II., 
January 21, 1884; Frederick, December 12, 
18S6; Jessie, March 7,1888, and Raymond, 
March 26, 1891. 

Politically our subject is identified with the 
Republican jiarty. 

JOIHN H. DAHL, a farmer of Section 18, 
Everett township, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 1872, first locating on 
Majjle Creek, on Section 12, of Cotterell 
township, where he took a homestead of eighty 
acres. He built a small frame house, 16x18 
feet, in which he lived for eight years and then 
built a house, 18x24 feet, with a wing, 16x20 
feet ; also two barns and a granary, together 
with cribbing, and provided his place with a 



240 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



bored well, with a wind-power attachment. He 
planted a grove of three acres, and an orcliard 
of seventy trees, also grapes and small fruit of 
all kinds. As he prospered, he added to his land 
until lie had four lumdred and forty acres, two 
Inindred and forty of which was under cultiva- 
tion, llestill owns this place. In 18S8,he l)Ought 
liie farm where he now resides, whicli consists 
of two hundred and sixty acres, with very valu- 
able improvements ui)on it. When he came to 
tiie county he brought twelve hundred dollars 
with him. Ilis nearest market place was Fre- 
mont, and he lost heavily through the grass- 
hopper years and saw many hardships, lie 
crossed the streams at an early day at the peril 
of his life, there being but few bridges in the 
country. 

Our subject was boi'n in Ciermany, July, 
1845, the son of Martin and Catharine Dahl, 
natives of Geruiany, who had a family of seven 
children, born in the following order: Anna 
(deceased), John II., Lizzie, Wypka (deceased.) 
Augustus (deceased), Dora and Henry. 

Our subject remained in Germany until 
twenty years of age, when he sailed for Amer- 
ica, landins at New York, and from there went 
to Stevenson County, Illinois, in company with 
his parents. He woi'ked out by the day and 
month in Illinois for two years, when he bought 
a farm and tilled the same until he came to 
Nebraska. The early advantages forobtaining 
an education were fair. He was married in 
April, 180)5, to Catharine Ilargans, daughter of 
Hans and Anna Ilargans, natives of Germany, 
who reared si.\ children. 

He married for his second wife Dora Will, 
whose parents were natives of Germany. The 
date of his marriage was November 29, 187:!. 
Her father's family consisted of live children : 
John, Dora, Catharine, Julia and William. I5y 
his lirst marriage three children were born : 
Etta, Louis and Laura. 

By Dahl's second marriage ten clnUlren 
have been born : John, Augusta, Catharine, 
Frank, (4ertie. Lilly, Henry, Leander, Osea, 
Anna. 



HON. DANIEL F. BOMAR, County 
Judge of Antelope Count}', residing at 
Neligh, was born near Galesburg. 
Illinois, May 10, 1851 ; his ])arents were Ilenr}' 
C. and Emily (Woolley) Bomar. Henry C. 
Bomar was a farmer, born in Vii-ginia, of 
English ancestiy. He tlied at Glenwood, Iowa, 
May 13, 1884. Mrs. Emily Bomar was born 
in Indiana and now lives at Glenwood, Iowa. 
When Daniel was eleven 3'ears of age the 
family moved to W\\\% county, Iowa, where he 
attended the public schools. He workeil on a 
farm and at twent\'-three 3'ears of age began 
to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1885 he 
came to Creighton, Nebraska, and i)re-empted a 
farm, and also worked at his trade. In IS'.tO 
he came to Neligh, and clerked in the office of 
the county judge, and in the fall of ISOl was 
elected to that oilice. his term not yet iiaving 
expired. 

rolitically,he isa supporter of People's party, 
and is a member of the Christian Church. He 
belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and Mudern 
Woodmen of America. 

He of whom wc write this biogi'aphical 
notice was united in marriage November 28. 
1870, to Rachel, daughter of 'M. M. and 
Rebecca Case, now of Creighton, Nebraska. 
Mrs. Bomar is a native of Indiana. Their 
children are : Elmer Clyde, born October 8, 
1877 ; Margie V., bornOctoi)er Yl. Issi ; Sadie 
E., born October 20, 1884. 

Judge Bomar takes an active iuid leading 
interest in all educational and religious work. 
He was recently elected president of a district 
board, appointed to organize churches, and 
provide for Evangelistic work, in Antelope and 
tlnv(> adjoining counties. 



GKOUGK r.oVKK. who has been a resi- 
dent of Cuming County since 1807 and 
now resides at West Point, was born in 
Lohrbach Baden, Germany, May 31, 1824, and 
when twenly-two years of age landed in New 
York llarljorand from there went to Rome, 



NORTHEASTEKN NEBKASk'A. 



941 



New York, and there spent about three years as 
fireman on a Mississippi steam-boat. 

lie was married August 9,1853, to Catharine 
Barbara Scheying'. wlio was born in Wurtem- 
berg, Germany, May 19, 1833. In the spring 
of 1S54 lie moved to Door County, "Wisconsin, 
where he purchased eighty acres in the heavy 
timber. He was one of the earliest settlers of 
that county, his wife being the first German 
lady to inhabit that part of the country. Our 
subject was a poor man and had to cut wood 
for a living, while his good wife assisted him in 
piling the wood. There in the great forests 
oar subject built a log-cabin and remained for 
about twelve years. In 1862 he enlisted in 
Company I of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, serving his country in the 
Union Armv, and participated in the engage- 
ments at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout 
Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca and Twin 
Mountain, where he lost one finger. He was 
sent to Nashville, Louisville, and AVashington, 
where his regiment was mounted, and sent to 
I'hillipsburg, and from thence to Coffeyville. 
lie had an eventful army life, made a gooil 
soldier and was honorably discharged at Har- 
risburg July 3, 1S65, after which he returned 
to Wisconsin and erected a brewer\'. In 1867, 
when he took his homestead in Cuming County, 
Nebi'aska, he settled in a Catholic settlement, 
and when the people found that he was a 
1'i'ote.stant thej' would have nothing to do with 
liini, and would not even sell him grain. 

( »ui- subject and his wife have two sons: 
I'nmk Lewis, of "West Point, and George "W., 
of Washington, residing near Spokane Falls, 
wliere he has served as dejiuty shci-jff. 

Our subject and his wife have seen many 
hardships in Nebraslca, but have lived to see the 
wild transformed into the highly developed and 
piiipeity tui'ued into prosperity. He owns 
four hundred and eighty acres o^ land, one-half 
of which is under cultivation. 

In religious matters he belongs to the Evan- 
gelical Church, and is a member of the Order 
of Odd Fellows. 



Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. 

CHKI^TIAN NEUMAN ranks among 
the pioneers of the Elkhorn Valley, re- 
siding at Stanton, and hence very nat- 
urally finds a place in this connection. He was 
born April 4, 1830, in Prussia, Gei-many, where 
he received his education up to the time he was 
seventeen years of nge, and during that year 
he came to the United States with his parents. 
Christian and Dora (Andrus) Neuman, and set- 
tled in Dodge County, Wisconsin, in the heavv 
timber land, whei'e the father cleared a farm 
of eighty acres. He first built a log-house 
and lived as best they could, for they were 
poor people, he having but eighteen dollars in 
his pocket when he arrived in Wisconsin, and 
one half of that amount he pi id for a cow and 
the remaining nine dollars for a barrel of flour. 
He had to borrow one hundred dollars to make 
the first payment on his place. He remained 
there for twenty years and then sold out. 
There were but two children in the familv : 
Christian and Henrietta; the last named marry- 
ing a man by the name of August Roesoler. 
Our subject's mother died in 1876, the father 
surviving until F(>bruary, 1S91. They were 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

The subject of this notice was married in 
Dodge County, Wisconsin, in 1859, to Mary 
Fuelner, a native of Prussia. In the summer 
of 186-1: he came with an o.\ team to Cuming 
County, Nebi-aska, and took a homestead on 
Rock Creek, there being about one-half dozen 
families in the neighborhood at the time. His 
first work was to build a dug-out l(ix]4 feet, 
going four feet uiuler the ground. It was cov- 
ered with willow poles, hay and tlirt. There 
was no lumber in the country, therefore he 
lived without any tlooi-. There was but one 
wiiulow and an airhole. His bedstead was 
nuule of timber cut at the grove. The follow- 
ing spring our subject built a log-cabin 12.\16 
feet, and the following yeai' commenced a mill- 
dam on Rock Creek, upon which stream he 



342 



NOR THE A S TERN. NEBRA SKA . 



erected a saw-mill, and later a grist-mill. His 
one hundred and sixty acre homestead he broke 
up and made of it a valuable farm, upon which 
he lived for eighteen j'ears, when lie sold the 
property and moved to Stanton August 11, 
1882. At the lime of his settlement in the 
Ellvhorn Valley buffalo. anteloi)e and elk were 
verv plentiful. lie remembers of seeing a 
large drove of elk driven down by the Indians, 
who slaughtered hundreds of them. His first 
market place was Omaha, and a trip with his 
ox team consumed five days' time, lie usually 
camped out nights. Many a night he left his 
family alone when there were plenty of Indians 
skulking about. At one time there were a band 
of Indians broke into a dug out, stealing several 
articles. They followed them to West Point, 
got a ham they had taken and they left a pony 
for chimages. They reclaimed it b}' paying 
twent\'-five dollars. At another time eight 
luindred Indians came down. Mrs. Neuman 
was alone and almost frightened to death, but 
no harm befell her. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neuman are the parents of 
eight children now living: William C, a drug- 
gist at Stanton, born November 17, 1860; 
Minnie, born October 29, 1S61, single ; Herman, 
born October 23, 1803, a farmer, who was born 
in Dodge County. Wisconsin ; Emil. born 
October 30, 1364, now a hardware dealer; 
Mary, born February 3, 1866, single; Martha, 
born May 2-1, 1867, wife of Paul Schultze, a 
farmer; Louisa, born July 17, 1868, wife of 
Gust Fechner, a hardware dealer; Pauline, 
born January 13, 1875, single. 

Politically, our subject afliliates with the 
Democratic ]Jart\', and was school director for 
twelve years, showing the interest he look in 
educational matters. 

Both he and his estimable wife were the first 
to hel|) organize a Lutheran Ohurch at Pock 
Creek. 

At the time oui- suljjcct came to the Klkhorn 
Valley the country was unsettled and wild. Its 
brightness could not have been dreamed of, 
much less realized, lie has lived to see school 



houses and churches break the otherwise 
prairie-likc monotony, and the country po))U- 
lated with a contented and prosperous people. 
He has lived to see countless manufacturies 
spring up all over Nebraska, while railroads 
cross and recross each other, penetrating every 
nook and corner; and telegraph and telejihone 
wires can scarce be numbered. Surely the eye 
of wonder is upon us, and to be an eye witness 
of these great changes is an honor; but to be 
more than an eye witness — to be a participant, 
is not accorded to all, but among the number 
mav be recorded the name of Christian 
Neuman. 

CHARLES BAKEIl, a farmer of Section 
36, Hooper township, came to Dodge 
County, in August, 18G0. lie first 
located near Nickerson, where he "squatted " on 
a piece of land and remained one season. He 
came to the country in company with his 
parents. lie then moved to Maple Creek and 
rented land for one year, his father having 
died in the meantime. They continued to squat 
on Jands for ten years, thinking the lands never 
would be taken. Our subject lived with his 
parents until he became of age. His mother 
look a homestead, and he got a yoke of steers 
and went to farming on his own account. He 
did the breaking and l)uilt a log-house 12x16 
feet, in which he lived for five years. When 
but a bo}' of eight years of age, he had two 
fingers cut off, and his thumb injured in a 
sorghum mill, which partially crippled him for 
life. He made good improvements on his place 
including a frame house 14x22 feet. He set a 
grove and orchard of two hundred trees, and 
as he jirospered, bought more land, until 
he now has two hundred and eighty acres, one 
hundred and fifty of which is under the j>low, 
while the balance is in pasture and meadow- 
land. When our subject first came to Nebraska, 
he experienced many hardships, having to 
grind corn in a coffee mill in order to subsist 
al all. He was here through the terrible grass- 
hojipcr plague, and was also here when live 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



243 



hundred Indians camped within one-half mile 
from his iiouse. 

Mr. Baker was born in ^fai'quelte County. 
AVisconsin, February 26, 1S53, the son of Levi 
and Euth Baker, natives of Maine. Tlieir 
cliiidren were: Hachel, Hiram (deceased), Levi, 
Henry (deceased), Andrew, Eniil\' (deceased), 
Betsy, Matilda (deceased) and Charles. 

Our subject remained in the Badger State 
until lie was seven years of age, when he came 
to Dodge County, Nebraska. His advantages 
for obtaining an education were poor. 

He was unitetl in marriage August, 1S84, 
to Ella Hart, whose parents were natives f)f 
Vermont ant! Hlinois respectively. By this 
marriage union one child has been born : lluth 
B., March 7, 1886. 

Our subject is a member of the Faimer's 
Alliance, and politically believes in the Inde- 
pendent movement. 



JAMES CRUICKSnANK,a fanner located 
on section 31, of Ridgely township, came 
to Dodge CountjMn the spring of 1869, 
when he located on the farm he now oc- 
cupies, consisting of one hundred and si.xty 
aci'es of wild land at that time. He made val- 
uable improvements upon the place, at first 
building a frame bouse, 16x2-1: feet, in which he 
lived five years. He then built an upright, 
18x28 feet, also provided the ]ilace with a barn, 
cattle shedding and cribbing, and dug a well 
over which he erected a wind mill. He also 
planted a beautiful grove, covering five acres, 
and planted an orchard of two hundred trees. 
His farm now consists of two hundred and sixty 
acres of land, two huiulred acres of which are 
under the plow. 

Our subject was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, 
January, 18-i5, the son of George and Kebecca 
(.'ruickshank, natives of Scotland, whose four 
children were: James M., Ann, George S. and 
Thomas. Our subject lived in Scotland until 
he was eleven \'ears of age, when his parents 
moved to Canada and remained until 1861. 



When he was eighteen years of age he went to 
Michigan and worked in a saw mill by the 
month for three years, tiien spent spent two 
vears in the salt works, went liack to Canada 
and remained until the spring of 1868, when he 
came to Omaha, Nebraska, and engaged at 
railroading. He went into the Black Hills on 
the first passenger that ever ran into that 
locality. AH that our subject possesses he 
earned by his own exertions. His advantages 
for education were not first-class. He was 
married January 1, 1S7(>, to Mary Davidson, 
daughter of John and Mary Davidson, of Scot- 
land, who had a family of eleven children: 
John, Jane, William, Elizabeth, Thomas, James, 
JMargaret, (deceased), Isabel, Mary, Christopher 
and Agnes. 

He and his wife are the parents of eight 
children: George C, Agnes B., John D., 
Ilebecca, Ora (deceased), Margaret (deceased), 
Arthur and Harmon H. 

Politically, our subject votes an Independent 
ticket. 

CHARLES BAYER, of Hooper, came to 
Dodge County, in the spring of 1873. 
At first he v/orkedout in Logan Yalley, 
by the month. After following this for about 
two years, he worked in Hoojier, for thi'ee 
years and then engaged in a pottery business, 
and has followed it ever since. He makes all 
kinds of flower pots, and light vases : getting 
his clay from his own land. His ])ottery l)uild- 
ing is 20x32 feet, while his kiln room is 20x40 
feet. Indeed here is a man who came to the 
Elkhorn Valle}', absolutely poor; upon arriv- 
ing he did not have '"five cents to his name." 
He offered to pawn his watch, (an old affair) 
for his dinner, which was refused him by the 
party to whom he apjilied. 

Mr. Bayer, was born in Cicrmany, August 5, 
1853, the son of Phillip and Margaret Bayer, 
wiiose four children were: IMary (deceased), 
Charles, Christena and George. 

Our subject remained in CJermany until he 
was seventeen vears of age anti then came to 



244 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



America. lie remained in New York three 
years, working- at iiis trade, and also on a farm, 
until he came to Nebraska, his early educa- 
tional advantages were good, for he relates 
that he attended the common school for eight 
years in "succession. In the month of Ma}', 
1877, lie was united in marriage to Gustena 
Edelman, whose father and mother were Jacob 
and Carrie Edelman, of Germany, who had ten 
cliildren. The five who still survive are: 
Edward, Gustena, Ludwic, Carrie and Edwin. 
Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
six children, born in the following order : 
Frederick 'William, December S, 1878; Charles 
Jr., September 27, 1880 ; Albert, October 14, 
1882; Carrie, June 5, 1885; Edward, October 
29, 1888 ; Louis, January 15, 1S90. The family 
belong to the Lutheran Church, while our sub- 
ject affiliates with the Democratic party. 



CAUL T. SEELY, editor of the Madison 
County Chronicle, published at Madison, 
was born in Belvidere, Boone Count\', 
Illinois, February 7, 1852. He is the son of 
DeAVilt C. and "Eliza Jane (Lifts) Seely, of 
Scotch-German descent. The former was born 
in Pennsylvania, and the latter in Orange 
County, New York; the former in 1827 and the 
latter in 1832. The young people came west, 
and were united in marriage February 1, 
1851, at Belvidere. They were the parents of 
five children: Carl T.,ol' this sketch ; Minnie L., 
wife of Joseph Leach, of Running Water, South 
Dakota; Verna, died in infancy; Albert II., a 
railroad man; Ora F., wife of William A. Bus- 
well, a jeweler of Sioux city, Iowa. 

In 1859, the family moved to Lake City, 
Minnesota, remained two years, returned to 
Belvidere and the following year removed to 
Waterloo, Iowa. Ten years later, in 1870, to 
South Sioux City, Nebraska, where they still 
live. Mr. Seel\' the senior, was a whig, in early 
life, but upon the organization of the IJepubli- 
can party, joined that. In religious matters, 
he is a ]irolestaiit, l)Ul does not favor any par- 



ticular denomination. Mrs. Seel)- died May 13, 
1865. She was a member of the Methodist 
Epicopal Church. 

The subject of this notice was educated in the 
high schools at Waterloo, Iowa, and in the 
autumn of 18C9, came to Nebraska City, 
Nebraska, where he spent the winter and the 
following; spring went to Sioux City, and com- 
1 menced to learn the printer's trade on the Sioux 
City Journal. He worked on various news- 
papers for three years, and in 1874 went to 
Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was employed on 
the State Journal nine months. He went from 
tliere to Omaha, working three years on the 
Dail\' ReimbUcan, one half of that time being 
foreman of the news room. 
\ He was married June 7, 1S75, at Platts- 
mouth, Nebraska, to Miss Cynthia C. Mitciieli, 
daughter of ]\fr. and Mrs. Thomas ]\Iitchell, of 
Ohio. At one time he was employed on the 
Crawford iloimiy Bulletin, aX Denison, Iowa, 
and from there went to West Point, Cuming 
County, Nebraska, where he had charge of the 
local department and foremanship of the office, 
the West Point Repuhlican. When tliat ]>laMt 
was moved to Neligh, he accompanied it; 
remained a year and one-half, and in the spring 
of 1880, i-emoved to Madison, where he was 
I made foreman of the present newspaper. In 
I 1887, he established the Madison County 
I Democrat, in company with L. 1>. Bohannon. 
Six months later, he purchased his partner's 
interest, but after about one year, not being at all 
in symi)athy with the democratic party, he sold 
out, and August 1, 1888, he purchased the 
Madison County Chronicle, which he now owns 
and controls. 

Politically, he is a Kepublican. having cast 
his lirst vote for General U. S. Grant for presi- 
dent. He is one of the Charter members of the 
Knights of Pythias Lodge, at Madison, and has 
filled all the chairs in that order. He is a mem- 
ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
hoUling the highest office of that body, as well 
as having ])assed through several chairs in the 
, IndciKMident Order ol' Odd Fellows Lodge. 





/yiyOiyL^^^t^TL^ 



-e/2^ 



NOP TTIEA STERN NEBRA SKA . 



Mr. and Mrs. Seeh' are the parents of three 
living- children : Yerna N., born Mav 22, 1S7G ; 
J'aulT., born August IS, 1S82, and ThomasC. 
Ijorn September 11, ISSO. 



HOX. CIIAIILES FEICllTINGER. a 
farnu'r residing on Section 22, Pleasant 
\'alley township, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 18(58, and took a lionieslead of 
eiglity acres, upon which lie built a soil house, 
1ilk12 feet (at the time called a " Nebraska 
brick house"). Our subjucl liveti in tliis sod 
house until 1873, when he Iniilt a IraniL' house, 
li'xl-1 fVct. ilis means were (piite limiled and 
ho had to budd according to his means. He 
lived in that building until 1884, when lie built 
his [)resent frame residence, and the same yeai' 
Iniilt a good barn, and has cattle shediling to 
accommodate about eighty head of cattle. 
Ilis farm now consists of two hundred and 
forty acres. Our subject was one of the lirst 
settlers in Pleasant Valley township. The first 
two years he was here he had no team and 
then hislirst team was oxen. His nearest trad- 
ing post and i)ost-office was North Dend, a 
distance of fourteen miles. With his faithl'id 
oxen, which he kept live years.he broke pi'airie 
]Mil in his crops, harvested and weul tomai'kct. 
It took two days to make a tri[) to Fremont, 
which to the ordinary young num of to-day 
woidd seem slow locomotion. AhouL 1872 the 
grasshoppers made their appearance and were 
here more or less until lS7(i, and our subject 
biiiely made a living during tiiis period. 

In 1871 a school district was oi'ganized, which 
was about eight miles square. A school liouse 
was built on Maple Creek about five miles from 
Mr. Feichtinger's home. The first teacher, 
was Miss Angeline Miller, who had only two 
scholars. At that time thei'e were no groves 
north of Ma]ile Creek, but now they dot the 
piairie landscape on every hand. 

.Mr. Feichtinger was born in iJavaria, Gei*- 
inany, December 1, 18-J6, the son of Charles 
and Saraphine (Ilirschpontei) Feiciitinger, both 



natives of Germany. When our subject \Yas 
twelve years old he was apprenticed to learn 
the jewelrv trade, at whicii he worked for four 
years before he got wages, and then commenced 
at two dollars a week, including board. lie 
followed his trade until he was twent\' years 
of age, during which time he went to England, 
where he spent eighteen months at his trade in 
London, and then returnetl to Germany, where 
he was drafted into the military service and 
served one year. Januar\', 18G8, he sailed for 
Amei'ica and stopi)ed a short time in Ciiicago 
and St. Louis before coming to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. 

Our subject was married in Dodge County 
February 27, 1878, to Miss Mary Imsicke, 
daughter of IJenart and Mary (Wilpers) Imsicke 
natives of Germany. Siie was born in (Juincy, 
111., Sept. 24, 1857, and came with her parents 
to Dodge County, Nebraska, in 18C9, and settled 
in Webster townshij). Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of seven children, born as 
follows: Anna, December 25, 1878; Addie, 
born July 8, 1880; Frank, born August 2, 
1882; William, born August 18, 1884 ; Maggie, 
born January 2, 1888 ; Matilda, born August 
25, 1890; Leo E., born September 20, 1802. 

Ife and his family are members of the 
lloman Catholic Chui'ch, and he has been a 
mendjcr of the Grange since 1871. In politics 
he is an Iude|)('ndent. lie has held the otlice 
of justice ofllie ])oace one term, and was hon- 
ored with the office of state representative at 
the annual election of 1890. 

He was the oldest child of his father's family 
of seven children — four boys anil three girls. 
The parents never came to this country. Tiic 
father died in Germany in lS7t>, aged fort}'- 
eight v'ears. The mother was born in 1830, 
and is still living in Germany. 

Mrs. Feichtinger is the third child in a fami- 
ly of fifteen, seven sons and eight daughters. 
Her parents are botii living in Dodge County 
at this time. 

Mr. Feichtinger's poilrait very naturally liuds 
a ])lace in this volume. 



248 



SOUTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ALEXANDER H. CIIAMBERS, one of 
the highly respected citizens of Gar- 
field township, located on Section 10, 
came to Cuming County in the spring of 1869> 
when he located on his present farm, which he 
claimed as a homestead, lie built a sod house 
14x20 feet, in which he lived for eiglit years 
and then built a frame house 16x24: feet, which 
served for four years, at which time he built a 
10x24 feet two-story upright, lie also pro- 
vided ample stabling, granaries and a well. 
Water is pumpetl b\' wind-power, which sup- 
plies a good system of waterworks. He planted 
a grove of <>leven acies and set out an orchard 
of fifty trees. His farm now contains three 
hundred and sixty acres of land, two hundred 
and sixty acres of which are under the plow. 
It was his ill-fortune to be a resident of the 
county during the grasshopper years, and in 
June, 1875, he had one hundred acres of wheat 
destroyed by hail storm, also twenty acres of 
corn and ten acres of oats. In order to pay his 
hired man he was obliged to sell one of his 
horses, and then went to work for others to 
support his family. 

Mr. Chambers was boi'n in Cattaraugus 
County, New York, in August, 1842, the son 
of AVilliam and Maria Chambers, both natives 
of the Keystone State and the parents of ten 
children naaied as follows : one died in infancy ; 
Sallie, Margaret (deceased), James, Peter, 
Alexander, Mary, Martha, William and Maria. 
When our subject was six months old his par- 
ents moved to Warren County, Illinois, and two 
years later moved to McHenry County, where 
our subject remained until he i-eached his ma- 
joi-ity. At the age of eighteen j'ears and in 
1861, he enlisted in Compan}^ A., 36th Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Baldwin. 
He was mustered into service at Aurora, Illi- 
nois, and was sent to St. Louis and was under 
General Seigel and at the battle of Pea Ilidge 
and Corinth, ]\Iississippi, and from there went 
to Kentucky. He was taken sick and sent to 
Louisville, and from there came home on 
account of disability, receiving his discharge 



at Chicago after a service of two years. The. 
next four years he farmed his mother's place, 
then si)ent three years in Texas and New Mex- 
ico and then came to Cuming County, Ne- 
braska. His early advantages for obtaining an 
education were not good. 

He was united in marriage November 1, 
18S1, to Margaret Robertson, daughter of 
Angus and Elizabeth Robertson, natives of 
Scotland, whose nine children were: Ann, 
Robert, Alexander, Jenettc, Margaret. John, 
William, JIary and Peter. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
seven children : James, born November 11>, 
1882 ; I\Iaria, December 28, 1883 ; Mary, March 
4, 18S4; Lillie, July 15, 1880; Alexander, Sep- 
tember 2, 1888; Alice. May 24, 1890, and 
Frank, September 8, 1891. 

He of whom we write this notice belongs to 
Masonic Lodge No. 328, at Iluntly, Illinois. 

Politically, he is identilied with the Repub- 
lican pai'ty and is now serving his second term 
as supervisor of the (!ounty. 



EMIEL HELLER, clerk of the district 
court of Cuming County, has been a 
resident of eastern Nebraska since June, 
1805, consequently may well be termed an 
early setttler, though he was but a mere lad 
when his parents removed to Nebraska. He 
was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, Sep- 
tember 15, 1858, and is the son of W. E. F. 
Heller, who was born in Germany. His moth- 
er's name was Maria E. Daberkow of the same 
place. They emigrated to this country in 1851 
and located in New York, and from there went 
to Wisconsin. Upon coming to Cuming 
County, in 1805, the father claimed land in 
Bismarck township. He homesteaded a quar- 
ter section and jiurcliased another quarter. At 
that time Omaha was their nearest trading 
post, and it reijuired a week to make the trip. 
The family lived in a dug-out and log-cabin 
until such time as they could do bettei', when a 
gooil frame house was erected. In our subjects' 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



249 



father's famil}' there are four sons: Gustav A., 
county surveyor of Cuming County ; Anton, a 
farmer on the old lioniestead ; Eniiel, the sub- 
ject of thissketcli ; Frank, a practicing attorney 
of Oniaiia. 

"W. E. F. Heller was a stanch supporter of 
the Democratic party, and iiad held several 
local offices in the county, including commis- 
sioner, which otlice he held several years. lie 
was appointed United States (Jensus enumera- 
tor in 1870, and was for many years assessor. 
He was well posted and furnished his children 
with a good education. He passed from the 
scenes of this life April 3, 1S88. Mrs. Heller 
died Ai)ril, 1S74. They were members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

The subject of this notice was eilucated in 
the district schools, and remained on a farm 
until eighteen 3'ears of age, when he clerked 
for Clendenning Bros, two years, after which 
he clerked for his brother eight years. In 1887 
he w'as elected cleik of the district court, tak- 
ing the office in January, 1888. He was re- 
elected in 1891 He was a representative at 
the State Convention several times, and was 
Deputy United States Kevenue collector at 
Omaha in 18S7. 

Mr. lleller was married in Cuming County in 
1883, to Miss Christena "Wiesner, the daughter 
of John Wiesner, a native of Wisconsin. By 
this union two children have been born : Leo- 
pold A., born January 8, 1887, and K03' E., 
born Januar}' 30, 1889. 

^Ir. Heller is a member of the Onler of the 
.Modern Woodmen of America. 



HEXRY AEOHER, of the firm of Archer 
i^ Company, the '-Fremont Bottling 
Works," will form the subject of this 
notice. He is a native of Staffordshire, Eng- 
land, where he was born in 1842, the son of 
Henry and Ellen (Barber) Archer, both of 
whom are deceased, and buried at Fort Dodge, 
Iowa. The father was a farmer after coming 
to America in 1852, but while in England was 



engaged in the manufacture of threshing ma- 
chines, and was tlie first man to manufacture a 
steam thresher wliich could be successfully 
operated. He built the first of these threshers 
in 1S3C, and followed threshing, operating his 
own machine, for many years. Upon coming 
to America they came direct to Iowa, first 
settling in Jones County ; remained three years 
and moved near Dubuque and remained until 
the spring of 180)2, when they movetl to Hum- 
boldt County, Iowa, where our subject's par- 
ents died. Our subject remaine<l w-ith his 
parents until the time of their death and fol- 
lowed farm life. In lS7-i he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, locating at Fremont, which 
has since been his home. In 1891 he erected a 
handsome two-stor}' brick business block on the 
corner of First and Main street. He is now 
accounted one of the live business men of the 
city, ever taking an active part in its welfare. 

Politically he is closely identified with the 
Democratic part}', and has been elected as 
member of the city council, and is now serving 
his fourth year. He is president of the Con- 
tinuous Brick Kiln,' of Fremont, and is one of 
the directors of the Commercial National Bank. 
He had the honor to be the first man to sign a 
petition for paving the streets of Fremont, and 
was the means of bonding the city for the 
erection of a city ball. He was a member of 
the building committee during its location and 
erection. He also supported and was one of 
the hardworkers for the erection of the mag- 
nificent Temple of Justice — the present court 
house of Dodge County. He has stood shoulder 
to shoulder with the class of men who have 
made Fremont what it is. Our subject was a 
soldier in the State service of Iowa for sixteen 
months during the Indian outbreak, occasioned 
by the Sioux warriors in 1802-'03. 

Miss Julia Shay became our subject's wife 
October 1, 1874. Their family consists of two 
children : Mary, aged sixteen and Henry, aged 
fourteen. 

The Bottling Works, with whicli our subject 
is connected, were established in 1871 and are 



250 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



now doing an extensive business in tlie manu- 
facture of soda water, birch beer. i)0]>. ginger 
ale, etc. 

AA'TON liAUMAN, proprietor of a livery 
barn on Fiftii Street, Fremont, is a 
native of the North of Germany, born 
May 2, 1S40. He was reared and spent tlie 
first twenty-five years of his life in the land 
of his nativity, being educated in the I'uh 
lie schools of the German Empire, while 
living on u tarin. In 1805, seeing visions of 
the New World, he came to America, locating 
for a short time in Ciiicago, after which he 
spent five years in Council Bluffs, Iowa, during 
which period, he was engaged in the hotel 
business. It was in 1870, that he locMted in 
Fremont, operating the farmers hotel, ami in 
1S72, engaged in the grain business, oper- 
ating a large elevator and warehouse. He fol- 
lowed grain buying and sliipping until 1885, 
when he disposed of that business and engaged 
in the mercantile business, which he followed 
until 1890, when thi-ough a disastrous fire, his 
entire stock was distroyed, in all amounting to 
about seven thousand dollars, which was a total 
loss to him. September 15, 1S9I, he purchased 
the livery business of J. Smith , where lie now 
carries a line stock, including twenty horses, 
with the necessary equipments, which go with 
them, toward making up a first class liver}', 
lie also runs in connection with his regular 
livery a boai'ding stable. 

Mr. Bauman was married in the monlh of 
December, 1871, and has a family of five 
living children: Arthur, Henry, Maggie, Wil- 
liam and Edwin. The family attend the Pres- 
byterian church. Mr. Baunuin belongs to 
Centennial Lodge, No. 59, of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. 

Notwithstanding the many years of hard 
toil executed by our subject in one hour, it was 
swept away by the fire fiend, he lost none of 
his former energy and business tact however, 
but at once set about,to retrieve his lost fortune, 
and today is in the enjoyment of a good busi- 



ness and has the respect of the community, who 
knows him to be a valuable man to society 
and business enterprises. 



JOSEPH L. BAKEPv, lumber and grain 
dealer at West Point, came to Cuming 
County in January, 1880. lie was born 
in Dennis, Barnstable County, Massachu- 
setts, October 11, 1854. 

His father was Joseph K. Baker, born in the 
same place in 1828. He remained there for 
many years, and operated a fishing Meet, doing 
an extensive business. He twice represented 
his district in the General Assembly, and was 
on the Governor's council for eight years. 
Politically, he was a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party. At one time he was a state 
railroad commissioner, and upon the building 
of the Iloosac tunnel, he was chairman of the 
Board. He was a great admirer and friend of 
Governors Gaston, liice and A. A. Camp- 
bell. He was married in Barnstable County to 
llannaii F. Small, the daughter of Arunah 
Small. By this union there were four children : 
Samuel S., a confectionary manufacturer of 
Boston ; Ella F., wife of ,Iohn B. Taylor, of 
Beemer, Nebraska ; Joseph L, subject of our 
sketch; Lillie D., clerk in the State House at 
Boston. Mr. Baker, Sr., died Se]iteinber, 
1887. 

The subject of this notice was educated at 
Friend College, Providence, Khode Island, and 
Dean Academy, Franklin, ]\[a.ssachusetts. 
When seventeen years of age he embarked in 
the coal-oil and lumber trade in Boston, contin- 
uing six 3'ears. In 1881 he turned his face 
westward and located at Scribner, Dodge 
Count}', Nebraska, where lie embarked in the 
lumber, grain and coal business. In 18SG re- 
moved to West Point and v/as one of the 
organizers of the Nebraska State Biink at that 
place, of which he is still vice-])residcnt. In 
1883, he was one of the organizers of the Scrib- 
ner State Bank, also the Dodge State Bank, 
which was oro-anized in 1885. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



251 



roliticallv Mr. Baker is a Eepublican. 

lie was married in Massacinisetts in 1882, to 
i\Iiss Lucy T. Ilutcliinson, the graiul-daugliler 
of the old reliable Thatcher family, a genuine 
New Englander. They are the parents of 
three chi!(h-en : Kicliard L.. Oliver T. and 
Ciiester A. One child died in infancy. I\fr. 
JJaker is an honoi'eil member of the Masonic 
Fi'ateinity. 

EDWARD C. BUTiXS. present postmas- 
ter of Scribner and an old settler of the 
vicinit}', was born in Ontario County, 
New York, November 13, 1838. He is t!ie son 
of John F. Burns who was born in Philadelphia, 
and when grown to nianhooil, went to J'helps- 
town. Ontai'io County, where he married 
Eunice Xoyes, who was bnrn in Concoi'd, New 
llampsliire. The father was an edged tool 
maker, which he followed until ids death. (Jur 
subject accompanied his parents to Kalamazoo 
Count}', Michigan, where he remained until he 
was ten years of age, and then tiiey removed 
to Cold water, where the father died in Janu- 
ary, 1850. The family consisted of five chil- 
dren, two of whom are now living. Tiie mother 
went to Fremont, Indiana, where our subject 
learned tlie blacksmith trade and remained until 
he was eighteen years of age. In 1861 he 
enhsted in Company B., Fourth Michigan 
Infantry at Adiian, serving as a wearer of the 
loyal blue for four years. He went to Virginia 
and served in the P'ifth Army Corps, particijiat- 
ing at Fairfax Station, Bull Run, and was on 
the Peninsula; was at Yorktown, Hanover 
Court House, Laynes Mill, Savage Station and 
Malvern Hill, under General ^IcClellan, Ho 
was at the second battle of Bull Run, but was 
not engaged there. He was taken prisoner on 
the Peninsula and paroled after being in prison 
twenty-two days. He was at thebattle of Gettys- 
burg in Juh' 1850, and was captuied November 
28, at Mine Run, Virginia, and held as a prisoner 
at Libby, four months, when he was sent to 
Andersonville, March 24-, 18f;-f, and kept in that 
most horrible of all places, until November 20, 



of the same year, when he was paroled and 
mustei'ed out February 7, 1865, by the reason 
of the expiration of his term of service. 

October 15, 1865, he was united in marriage 
to I\[elissa E. Getter, born in Medina County, 
Ohio, July 24, 1838, in the spring of 1869, our 
subject and his family removed to Nebraska, 
locating on Section 28, of (,'uming township, 
Dodge County, wheie they lived ant! farmed, 
remaining there until 1888, during wiiicli year 
they moved to Scribner, to take advantage of 
the good sciiools of that place. In 1888, he 
was assistant cashier of the bardv at Dodge, 
and in 1889 wasappointed postmaster at Scrib- 
ner. Mr. Burns is a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party, and has served six years as 
County Commissioner, he is a member of the 
Masonic Order and of D. A. Woodbury Grand 
Army Post of wliich he is Commander; lie is 
the present secretarv of Scsriijner Lodge, A. F. 
ct A. M. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of seven 
sons and three daughters named as follows, in 
the order in which they were born ; Fi'ank O., 
John E., Robert L., Berge E., MaiT E., Mark 
G., Sarah A., Willis P., Elnora M. and Jesse C. 

Mr. Burns has in his possession an order 
signed b\' the famous ( infamous ) Captain "Wirz, 
of Andersonville Prison notoriety, which reads 
as follows: 

" Headquarters Confederate States Military 
Prison. 

Camp Sumi-tkk, Gkok(;i.\, Sei)tembei' 2, 18ti4. 

E. C. Burns has permission, until further 
orders, to go to dispensatory and I'eturn to 
Hospital. This is good from 8 o'clock a. m. 
to 6 o'clock p. m. 

[Signed] II. Wirz. 

Captain Covunaiuliinj Prison. 

Our subjects life has been one more than 
ordinarily eventful, considering his army i-ec- 
ord. and his pioneering in Nebraska. And 
those who may come after him will look with 
no small degree of pride upon the true manhood 
and loyalty manifested by the man whose name 
heads this sketch. 



253 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



HIRAM YAIL, who came to Stanton 
County, Nebraska, July 3, IS (50, was 
born in Middlesex County, Canada, 
April 10, 1829, the son of Stcplien Vail, born 
in England and emigrated to Canada witii liis 
parents at an early day, lie was married in 
Middlesex County. Canada, to Miss Catharine 
.l(jnes, who was born in tlie United States and 
was the daughter of William Jones, a soldier in 
the War of 1S12. Their family consisted of 
seven children, all of whom lived to be adults: 
(4eorgeN.. who came to Stanton County in the 
spring of 1809, where he died the same year; 
'William, lived and died in Canada ; Sarah, wife 
of Abraham I'atrick, now residing in Ontario, 
Canada ; Margaret, who married Nathaniel 
r.each ; l«etsy, married 11. Mills and died in 
Canada; Hannah, married Israel Weaver a 
resident of Canada, Mr. and Mrs. \'ail both 
died in Canada, and were life-long mcmljcrs of 
the Baptist Church. 

Our subject received his eilucation in the 
district school, and was united in marriage in 
1850 to Sarah Morrell. daughter of George and 
Sarah (Jackson) Morrell, wiiose brothers and 
sisters were : Isabel, Elizabeth, William Henry, 
John 11. anil one who died in infancy. Mr. 
and Mrs. Morrell died in Canada. 

AVlien our subject came to Stanton County 
in 1809, iiis nearest market idace was Fi'emont. 
In March, ISC9, he purchased six hundred and 
forty acres of land, a portion of which he sold 
and purchased a (piarter section on Section 3, 
for the purpose of sending his cliildren to 
school. He lirst built a frame house l()x24: 
feet, iiauling the lumber from Fremont. When 
he came, thei'c were thirty acres of breaking on 
his ])lace, but now his place is well improved 
throughout, and shows the effect of many 
years hard work. 

Mr. and Mrs. \'ail were liie [)arciUs of seven 
children: Henry A., born June 23, 1852; Ir- 
ving II., born September 22, 1853 ; Sarah C, 
born March 1, 1850 and married George 
Graves, and subsequently died in Oakdale, Ne- 
braska, October 5, 1888; Emily, born March I 



2, 1858, died June 5, 18C3 ; Emma E., born 
April 5.186-1; Helen B , born November 15, 
1865 ; Frederick II., born October 21, 1867. 

Politically, Mr. Vail is identified with the He- 
publican party, and keeps well posted concern- 
ing the events of his State and Nation. 

In religious matters, both our subject and 
his wife hold to the Baptist faith, but at pres- 
ent affiliate with the Congregational Church. 

Mr. ^'ail removed to the village of Stanton in 
1891. Since our subject became a resident of 
the Itlkhorn Valley he has witnessed great 
changes, for he has seen the desert-like land 
blossom even like the rose, and wliere a third 
of a century ago stood the Indian wigwam, to- 
day may be seen the church and the school- 
house towers pointing skyward, with the evi- 
dence of thi'ift, prosperity and happiness found 
on everv hand. 



ANDREW r.OWMAN, of Logan town- 
ship, came to Dodge County, in lsG5^ 
in company with hismothei', who home- 
steaded eighty acres, and he went to improving 
the same. A log house fourteen feet square 
was built, which however diil not serve very 
long, as it burned, after which he and his 
mother had to live in a sod house, 12x14 feet, 
for about one year, when the water drove them 
out, after which a frame house was provided. 
As years went b}', our subject purchased more 
land, and became better situated financiall}'. 

Concerning his earlier life it may be said 
that our subject was born in Sweden in 18-19, 
his parents were Andrew and Carrie LJowman, 
whose five children were: Martin, Mary, Carrie, 
Anna and Andrew. 

Our subjects father died in Sweden in 18-17, 
and in 1S64, he accompanied his mother to 
this country. They came from New York, to 
Omaha, where he worked on the railroad about 
one year. His mother look a homestead, 
and had to pay every cent she had to secure it. 
They had to live in any way, until times 
brightened up. They did not always have 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



353 



enough to eat, or enougli to wear, in order to 
be comfortal)le. Tn 1S78 this self-sacrificing 
woman, laid down tlio burdens of life, aged 
sixty-five yeai's. 

Our subject was united in mai'riage in ISTo, 
to Miss Margaret Hanson, the (hiughtcr of 
Hans and Carrie Hanson, whose four children 
were Anna, Margaret, Andrew and Oliver, 

To our subject and his wife were born live 
children in the following order: Andrew, 
August 14, 1S74: Tura, January IT, 1876; 
Albert, September 1-1,1879; Sadie, April 1, 
1SS3 ; Arthur, December 18, 1890. 

Politically, the man of whom we write tliis 
notice, is a supporter of the Republican party, 
and in church matters is a Lutheran. 



J A:\rES II. lUiAYTOX, editor and propri- 
etor of the Bancroft Independent-, came to 
Cuming County in August 1889 and 
established his paper, which is Independ- 
ent in politics. 

Mr. Brayton was born in Livingston County, 
Xcw York, June, 1845, the son of Wales and 
Mary C. Brayton, also natives of the Empire 
State, whose live children were: Etta (deceas- 
ed), Elizabeth. Charles (deceased), James H_ 
and Edward. 

Our subject remained in New York until 
eight years of age, when he accomjianied his 
jiarents to Hudson, Wisconsin, where he 
worked in a ]irinting office, and has followetl 
the business from that time to this. In 1803 
lie enlisted in (^omjiany G. of the Fourth Wis- 
consin Cavaliy, and was mustered into service 
at Hudson, and from there was sent to Baton 
llouge, Louisana, and was under Generals 
Candy, Herronand Baile}'. He was in engage- 
ments on the Red River, near Morganzi Bend, 
and was with the Arm}' until the close of the 
Civil War, receiving his discharge at Madison, 
Wisconsin. While in the service he . was 
struck below the knee by a spent ball, and was 
m the hos]iital near P>aton Rouge witii the 
small pox. 



Our subject was married March, 1882, to 
Delia, daughter of John Widderman and wife, 
natives of New Yoi'k who had a family of 
eight children. 

Our subject and his wife have no childi-en. 

Politically, he is a Republican. He belongs 
to the Modern Woodmen of America, and his 
wife is an acceptable member of the ilethodist 
Episcopal Church. 



ISAACPANGIIART, a farmer of Section 
28, Ridgeley tou-nship, has been a resident 
of Dodge County since the spring of 18C8. 
He first located on Section 28, on eigiity acres 
of wild land, with no neighbors for several 
miles in either direction. He built a sod house, 
and lived alone for two years, in that, and then 
erected a frame building, in which he lived six 
years, at the end of which time he rented his 
place and moved to Scribner, where he bought 
grain and sold lumber for two years, after 
which he returned to his place, remained until 
1882, when he sold and went to Saline County, 
where he purchased a farm and I'emained six 
years. He then sold and came back to Dodge 
County, ])urchasing the farm he now occupies. 
Mr. Banghart was born in Jefferson County, 
Ohio, May 20, 1837, and was of a family of six 
children. His father died when he was four or 
five 3'ears of age, when he went to live with his 
grand-parents, with whom he remained until he 
was thirteen years of age, when he commenced 
lifes battle for himself. He went into a woolen 
factory, and learned the trade from bottom to 
to]i. When nineteen years of age he went to 
Stubenville, Jefferson County, and went to 
work in the railroad machine shop, and run on 
the road as an engineer, which work he fol- 
lowed until 1862, when he enlisted in Company 
G, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, under (!aptain 
Holmes. He was under General Sheridan, in 
McCooks corps and was in the engagements at 
Perryville, Nashville, Chattanooga, Cliicka- 
maugua, Mission Ridge, Buzzard Gap, Resacca, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, etc. At tlie 



254 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



crossing of the Cliatahooclie River, he was 
wounded by a gun siiot. tlirough the right elbow 
joint, and was sent to the field hospital, where 
his arm was amputated, two inciies above the 
elbow. He was sent to Nashville, where he 
received a furlough of one month, and was 
then sent to the hospital at Cincinnati, where he 
was discharged after a service of two and one 
half years. lie then went to Defiance County, 
Ohio, from which locality, he came to 
Nebraska. 

He has been twice married, antl is the futlu'r 
of three children, two of whom are living. 

lie is a member of the Odd Fellows P^rater- 
nity, belonging to North Bend Lodge No IGl. 
He is also a member of the Grand Army of the 
Republic and Farmers Alliance. In hi.si)olitics 
he votes the Independent ticket. 



JOllX 1;A AS, a farmer of Section lu, Sher- 
man township, Cuming County, was 
born m Huron County, Canada, Decem- 
ber 11, 1S55, and came to the United 
States in 1870. He lived in Canada until 
fourteen years of age and came direct to Cum- 
ing County. He worked out for others until 
twenty-three years of age when he bought one 
hundred and twenty acres of school land on 
S3cti(jn 3G, township 22, range 5, where he lived 
nine years. Previous to this he had rented land 
two years in Cuming County. He finally sold the 
])lace on section 30 in 1800 and bought on sec- 
tion 10, wliere he has one hundred and si.xty 
acres of choice land, one hundred and twenty 
five acres of which is under cultivation. 

He of whom we write this notice was mar- 
ried in November, 1880, to Amelia Graunke, 
by whom seven children have been born : 
T'hillip, Edward, Kmma, Agnes, Harvey, Wes- 
ley and John. 

Our subject belongs to the Evangelical 
Church and in jjolitics is a supporter of the 
Re|)ubiican party. 

Mr. Raas' father and mother were Ijoin in 
Gcrmanv and came to Canatla in I8.">lr, remained 



there sixteen years and then located on a 
homestead in Stanton County, Nebraska. The 
father is deceased and the mother is still living 
in A\^est Point. 

Our subject's wife was born in Huron County. 
Canada, May C, 1800. 



DR. AVILLIAM L. I50AVMAN. the oldest 
practicing piiysician in Stanton County, 
Neljraska, has been a I'esident since 
Octi'ber, ISiiS, and hence very naturally finds 
a ])lace in the biographical record of the county, 
in which he has lived so long. 

Dr. Bowman was born in Ross County, Ohio, 
Se])teniber 11. 1825. His grandfather was 
John Bowman, a native of Germany. lie 
married Sarah Dawson. They settled in Mary- 
land and subsequently in Brownsville, Pennsyl- 
vania. By this union six children were born: 
Benjamin, the father of our subject ; Thomas, 
Eli, Daniel, Margaret and Mary. In about 
1700 John Bowman moved to Ross County, 
Ohio, where he died in- about lS3-t, aged a little 
over ninety years. Mrs. Bowman died in tiie 
same county at an advanced age. 

Benjamin, the father of our subject, was 
born in Pennsylvania and married Sarah Loney, 
in Ross County, Ohio, a native of North Car- 
olina. They were the parents of live sons: 
Eli, died in Stanton County, Nebraska. He 
married Hannah Warren, wlio is still a resident 
of the county ; Daniel, a resident of Clinton 
County, Indiana; Edward, of Stanton, Ne- 
braska; Bradley, of Lafayette, Indiana, and 
William L., of whom we write this notice. 
Benjamin was a soldier in the war of 1812, and 
died about 1832. 

Mrs. Bowman then married Archil)al(l Wiiite, 
and she died in Tijtpecanoe County. Indiana, in 
18-16. 

Dr. Bowman was bereft of his father when 
he was six years of age — just when a father's 
consul and protection is of the most value to a 
son. He remained with his mother and at- 
tended the common school. In about 1835 lie 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



255 



went with the family to Tippecanoe, Indiana, 
wiiere lie worked upon a farm for iiis uncle. 
In 1849 he went to Boone Count}', Indiana, 
wliere he entered tlie office of Dr. J. 11. Boyd. 
In the spi'ing of 1S53 he commenced the prac- 
tice of medicine in Clinton County, Indiana. 

lie was united in marriage April 17, 1856, to 
Miss Mary A. Wiley, a daughter of Robert and 
Mary A. Wiley, a native of Boone County. He 
continued the practice of medicine in that lo- 
cality until isiiS, and in the autumn (if that 
year came to Stanton County, Nebraska, and 
took a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres located on Section 12, Township 24, Ilange 
1, east. At that time the county was wild and 
undeveloped, but he commenced with right 
good will to improve his quarter section, at the 
same time practicing his profession among the 
|)ii)n('ers. In 1877 he removed to the village 
of Stanton, built an office, and commenced to 
|)ractice medicine there. He has now been 
practicing the healing art for forty-eight years. 
At the time of his coming to Nebraska there 
was no Stanton. All the town and the ]K)pula- 
t ion of the entire valley has gi'own up since he 
(irst came. His ride extended over a large 
scope of territory, and he was called for many 
miles around to set bones and pcrl'oiiu otiier 
surgical operations. 

In earh' life the doctor was a Wliig. and cast 
his first vote for Zacariah Taylor, and upon the 
organization of tlie Republican party joined 
tiiat, he being opposed to tlie extension of slav- 
ery in the territories. He was honored twice 
by being elected as judge of Stanton County. 
He was a candidate for the constitutional con- 
vention, also for the legislature and state sen- 
ate, but, being in a lieavy Democratic district, 
was defeated. 

Dr. Bowman and wife are the parents of ten 
living children : Florette, wife of W'Uiam 
Wamscott, of Stanton ; Dr. Luther W., a prac- 
ticing ph\'sician in Sheridan Ci>unty, Nebraska; 
Frank M„ a farmer of Stanton County ; Andrew 
.]., a mason by trade; William S.. a pharmacist 
at Hay Springs; Minnie M.. wife of A. I'ierce, 



of Janesville, Iowa ; Anna, single and at home ; 
M. Cheever, of Boyd County, Nel)raska ; Ari- 
zona \". and Fannie P. 

Our subject belongs to the Masonic frater- 
nity, and in religious matters he and his wife 
are members of the United Brethren Churcii. 

Dr. Bowman has, through a long course of 
years in the j)ractice of his profession, endeared 
himself to many liundred families within the 
limits of his and adjoining counties. He has 
administered relief at the bedside of many 
hundreds of the pioneers of tiie Elkhorn Valley, 
and all accord him the honor of being, not 
only an honest, but a successful physician and 
surgeon, whose council is highly prized in med- 
ical fraternities as well as among those who 
are in distress themselves. 

He is at present, and has been for over thirty 
years, an elder in tlie church of the United 
Brethren in Christ. For several years he was 
the only minister in Stanton County, and upon 
him devolved the duty of conducting the funeral 
services connected with burial of the dead. 



FL. BURBANK, M. D., located at 
Hooper, Dodge County ; (irst made his 
appearance in tliat locality in IS'.M. 

Dr. Burbank was born in Bitliss, Turkey in 
Asia, December 25, IStil. He is the son of 
Lysamler T. and Sarah S. Burbank, natives of 
New Iiam])shire and New York respectively. 
The father was a missionary to Turkey for ten 
years and was in the Armenian country. He 
comes of a long line of New England ancestry, 
possessed of much ingenuity and historic note. 
The first "patent pail" ever turned in the 
United States was fashioned in the shop of our 
subject's grandfather. 

Our subject remained in Asia, with his par- 
ents, until he was nine years of age, when he 
came back with them to this country. Tiiey 
sojourned in A'irginia, for ten years and then 
came to Nebraska. His early advantages for 
an education were rpiite limited, owing to the 
moving about of his parents, etc. In 1872 he 



2i6 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



went to the Iowa College at Grinnell one j'ear, 
and also spent one year in the schools at York, 
Pennsylvania. We next hear of him as taking 
up a claim in Custer County, Nebraska, 
when he put on the garb of frontiersman, 
built him a sod house and remained four years, 
going through all the sacrifices and hardships 
of a homesteader's life. He finally sold his 
persona! jiroperty and went to school at the 
Omaha Medical College for two years, grad- 
uating from the same and receiving his diploma 
in 1889. In his parents' family there were 
eight children, named as follows: Frederick 
L., Harry (deceased), Frank Y., Mary S. Han- 
nah C, Duriiin (deceased), Abialiam K. and 
Agnes J. 

Our subject was united in marriage Novem- 
ber 19, 1885, to Lucy G., daughter of Eli and 
Ann Montgomery, natives of North Carolina 
and Pennsylvania respectively. Their seven 
children were as follows: Elizabeth (deceased), 
Yiola (deceased), Minervia, Yashti, James, 
Mary, and Lucy G. 

To our subject and his wife have been born 
two children : Rachel E., September 16, ISSG, 
and Catharine M., Mary 12, lS9o. 

Dr. Burbank is a member of the State Med- 
ical Association, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen, and in his religious belief is a Pres- 
bvterian. He votes the Democratic ticket. 



JOHN L. BROWN, a farmer residing on 
section 10, of Pleasant Yalley township, 
came to Dodge County in June, 1809, 
and pre-em|>ted one hundred and sixty 
acres of land and after living on the same one 
year, proved upon it and took a homestead of 
eighty acres where he now lives. Here he 
erected a frame house, 1-1x18 feet and one story 
high, in which he lived with a few additions, 
which he subsequently made, until the autumn 
of 1888, -when he built his present residence, 
which is 1()X3() feet and two stories high. In 
1891, he erected a good barn, 24x50 feet, and 
has numerous other outbuildings for the hous- 



ing of grain, stock and machinery. His farm 
contains an orchard of one hundred ai>ple trees. 
Of the two hundred and eighty acres in his 
])rcsent farm, one hundred and fifty is under 
cultivation, with seventy acres of timotiiy and 
clover. 

When Mr. Brown came to the counti-y there 
were but very few inhabitants in his township, 
but quite a number made their advent, during 
the winter of 1870-71, and they organixed a 
school district, with the first term of school 
taught in Mr. Brown's house in the sum- 
mer of 1871, by Miss Hattie Cook. 

Mr. Brown was born in Staffordshire, Eng- 
land, February 11, 1848, the son of John and 
Eliza Sherett Brown. The father was a keeper 
of the Waterloo Inn. They were the parents 
of ten children, two of whom are living : John 
L., and William P. 

John came to America with his parents in 
1853 ; the}' located in Johnson County, Iowa 
On a farm near Iowa City, where the father 
died August 23, 1861, and is buried in the 
cemetery at Iowa City. He was about lifty. 
three years of age. The mother died in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, October 29. 1869. After 
our subject's father's death, he worked out 
two years in what is known as the (^)uaker 
settlement; then followed farming in Johnson 
County on rented land, his mother keeping 
house for the boys, until the famil}' moved to 
Dodge Couut\'. The good mother came along 
to Nebraska, arriving October 4, and died on 
the 29th, of the same month. 

He was united in marriage to Emily 11. Mar- 
shall, March 8, 187'i. Siie was the daughter of 
Daniel and Mary E (Howard) Marshall. The 
father was a native of New Hampshire and the 
mother of Maine. They were the parents of 
four daughters and one son. The father had 
been married before to Elizabetii C.Dennett, 
by whicii marriage he had three children. 

Our subject and his wife had seven children : 
Charles L., born February 22, 1877 ; xVnnie E., 
born September 3, 1879 ; John M., born October 
14, ISSI ; Mary F.. born .lanuarv 28. 1884; 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



William T., born April 26, 1886 ; Carroll A., 
born October 17, ISSS ; Harry H. (deceased), 
born Fei)riuirv -1^, ISOl. and died September 
30, lSv)l. 

Perhaps the saddest day of our subject's life 
was March 4, 1801, upon which day liis com- 
jiaiiion Emily 11. Brown, passed from the scenes 
of this life and was buried in the Glencoe cem- 
etery, in Pleasant Valley township. 

^fr. T'rown is a member of the (Trange, and 
alsii (if the Farmers Alliance, having' been a 
Kcpublican until recently. In educational 
matters lie has always been prominent and 
has l)een school director for ten years and for 
the past three years has held theoHice of school 
treasurer. 



ISAAC 11. RROWN, of Section 5, Nicker 
son township, came to Dodge County in 
April, 1881, and first located on the farm 
ho now occupies, the same being 130 acres of 
partly improved land. He added other sub- 
stantial improvements which now give him a 
comfortable home. 

Mr. Prown was born in Huntington County, 
rciiusylvania, in April, 1822, the son of Ashael 
11. and Isabel Brown, of Pennsylvania, who 
were the jiarents of eleven children, including 
Xancy E., Isaac II., Ellen. Jennie, Temperance, 
IJelle and Daniel. Our subject remained in 
Pennsylvania until he was twenty-two years of 
age, and then came to Jefferson County, Iowa. 
Tliis was in 184:4, two years before Iowa was 
admitted into the Union. lie ran a blacksmith 
and wagon shop at Fairlield, Iowa, for fourteen 
years. He also owned and o))erated a coal 
mine in Iowa. 

He was united in marriage in January, 1844, 
to Sarah E. Fee, daughter of George and Mary 
Fee, of Irisii nativity, and the parents of eleven 
children, named as follows: Jackson, William, 
Uachel, Sarah E., Prudence, Lydia and Mollie 
(twins), John, Washington, Fannie and 
James. 

Ml', and Mrs. Brown are the parents of twelve 
children: l.etlieJ., boin February 11, 1845; 



William S., born September 4, 1846; Frank F., 
August 29, 1848; Hugh C. September 9, 1850; 
Mary B., deceased, born September 12, 1852; 
Annice L., January 24, 1854; John E., ]\[arch, 
1856; Henry W., June, 1858; Ilattie, .luly, 
1860; Fannie, August 29, 1864; Fred, August 
7, 1867; Maude, January 1, 1870. 

Mr. Brown in his political relations is identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Both he and 
his wife are professors of religion, he belonging 
to the Baptist Church, while his wife is a Pres- 
byterian. 

In the year 1888, while driving through the 
streets of Fremont, a conveyance in which Mr. 
Brown was riding collided with another vehicle, 
which threw him from his seat to the street. 
This accident dislocated his neck and he re- 
mained in that condition one and one-lialf 
years, and conld not turn his neck, but fortun- 
ately (this time) he again slipped and fell, the 
jar of which placetl his neck in its natural posi- 
tion. 

CHARLES BUCIIHOLZ, livingat Hooper, 
Dodge County, has been a resident of 
that vicinity since the autumn of 1873. 
When he first came to Hooper he worked at 
the wagon-making business for about two.years. 
He then engaged in the furniture business, 
which he has followed ever since. 

To accjuaint the reader with our subject's 
earlier life, it may be stated he was born in 
C4ermany, June 8, 1843, the son of Jolin and 
Louisa Buchholz, natives of Germany, whose 
five children were: John, Mary (deceased) 
Louise, one died in infancy, and Charles, , 

Our subject remained in Germany until he 
was thii'ty years of age, when he came to New 
York, and from there to Chicago, where he i*e- 
mained six months, working at the carpenter's 
trade. His early advantages for obtaining an 
education were fairly good. He was in the 
Prussian army for two years, and was in one 
engagement in 1871. He belongs to the Ma- 
sonic, Knights of Pythias and United Workmen 
Lodires. 



2S8 



NORTHEASTERlf NEBRASKA. 



Politically, he is in sympathy with tiie Demo- 
cratic party, and in reli<^ious matters is a Luth- 
eran. 

He was united in marriage in October, 1869, 
to Louisa Ouchwoldt, a German lady. Mr. and 
Mrs. Bucliiiolz have six children : Emma, John 
(deceased), Clara, William, Martha (deceased) 
and Henry. 

ROBERT BARR, of Section 27, township 
2i, Stanton County, residing in Stanton 
precinct, was born near Petersborough, 
Canada West, August Ifi, 1850, and 
came to Nebraska in September, 1871, home- 
steading a part of his present farm. He luul 
no means with which to make improvements 
upon his land, so he sought labor on the B. k. 
M., and F. E. & M. Y. raUroads, and also 
worked on a farm. In 1871:, he bought a 3'oke 
of o.xen and began breaking up his place. Sev- 
eral of the first crops were injured by tlie grass- 
hoppers. He was also unfortunate in losing 
some stacks of grain b_v fire, but he kept ]ier- 
severing and working on, believing that deliv- 
erance would come to him, and his most san- 
guine visions were realized, for now he is the 
possessor of a full section of most excellent land, 
five huntlred acresof which is under cultivation. 
He raises and feeds cattle on a lai-ge scale. His 
herd, containing some thorough-bred and 
high-grade Durhams. His place is well sup- 
plied with fences, barns, out-buildings, etc., his 
present residence was erected in 1883; he was 
one of the incorporators of the Stanton State 
Bank, in June 1802, and is also one of its direc- 
tors. He is a stock iiolder in the Stanton 
Agricultural Society, and the Stanton Masonic 
Cemeter}' Association. 

Politically, Mr. liari' adiliates with the 
Republican party, lie was a member of tiie 
United IJrethern Church, until that society dis- 
banded. 

He was married November 21, 1871, to Anna 
E., daughter of Thomas and Eliza Milligan, of 
Stanton, by whom six children were born: 
]\Liry E.. Haltie R., (Jrace, Alvin. Arthur, ami 



Bertie. He of whom we write this biograpical 
notice, is a son of George and Rebecca ( Mark ) 
Barr, who were natives of Ireland, and emi- 
grated to America about ISln, and still resides 
at Petersborough, Canada. Their children are: 
James, Mary, (Mrs. J. Morton), Joseph, Ellen, 
(Mrs. J. diles), Sarah, (Mrs. P. Kingsley), 
Michael, Andrew, Robert, George, Jane, (.Mrs. 
J. Kingsley), eight of this family reside in Stan- 
ton County. 

Our subject spent his boyhood upon a farm, 
and at lumbering. When twenty-one years of 
age he left home and came to Nebrrska, as 
above related. He started in life with no capi- 
tal whatever, and all he possesses has come 
through his own honest, well devoted ener- 
gies, and he is one of the men who has helped 
to develop the county, of which he is now an 
honored citizen. 



GOTLIEP. BOLDT, a farmer of Section 
IS, Garfield township, came to Cum- 
ing County in the spring of 1807, 
when he located on a quarter section of wild 
land. He did some breaking and built a sod 
house 11x20 feet, in which he lived six years, 
and then built a small frame house which 
served four years longer, and then built ids 
present residence which is a story and one-half 
building 20x21 feet, with an addition l(ixl8 
feet. He also has an excellent class of out- 
buildings including a barn, granary, cow- 
stable, hog-house and machine house. 1 1 is 
l)lace is made more valuable and beautiful l)y 
the i>resence of a four acre artificial grme ami 
an orchard of fifty trees. When our subject 
came to this county he had but a few dollars in 
his pocket, but 03' vears of honest toil lie has 
succeetled in securing a comfortable home and 
a handsome competency. 

He was born in (lermany, June, lS;3;i, the 
son of George and Charlotte Boldt, natives of 
Germany, whose nine children were : Fritz, 
Fred, John, Wilhelmena William, Christian, 
Ciotlifij, Charles, and .Vmelia (^deceased). 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



2S9 



Our subject remained in German}' until he 
was thirty-two years of age. lie tiien came 
to America and lived two \'ears in Wisconsin, 
and then came to Cuming County, Nebraska, 
lie was in the German army three years and 
four months prior to coming to tiiis country. 
He came from his native land with no means, 
save his strong arms and a determination to 
win in the great conflict of life. 

He was united in marriage January, lSr>5, to 
Frederica Eichler, daughter of John and Mash- 
letena Eiclder, natives of Germany, wiiose six 
children were: Fritz, ilary, John, Fredericii, 
Charles (deceased) and Minnie. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four cliikiren : Annie, born and died in Wiscon- 
sin while an infant ; Charles, born April, 1S67; 
Otto (deceased), Herman, born December, 1S7C. 

Polilically, Mr. liohlt votes tiie Republican 
ticket. 

JOHN F. BUER, residing at Hooper, came 
to Dodge County, in the spring of 1870, 
and located in what was then icnown as 
Logan precinct of Dodge County, where 
lie took a homestead of eighty acres, upon which 
he made good improvements, and lived for 
iihout six years, and kept adding to his haul, 
until lie had two hundred and forty acres. At 
the time of his coming, his nearest neighbor 
was one and a half miles away. In 1SS5, he 
moved from his place to Hooper, where he was 
elected constable, collector iind also ]\Iarshall 
of the town, liealso engaged ut auctioneering, 
which he has followed more or less for ten 
veais, during which time he has served as 
deputy sheriff of Dodge County for one and 
one-half years. 

Our subject was born in Germany, Seiilember 
•1\, ISiS, the son cf George and Mary JBuer, 
natives of Germany, whose three children were: 
Henry (deceased); Mary and John F. Our 
suljject was ten years of age when he came from 
Germany. They landed at Baltimore in 18.58, 
and from tiiere went to Jackson County, 
Indiana, where the family reiiiained and where 



he remained until he was twenty years of age 
and came to Dodge County, Nebraska, where 
he has since lived. 

He had a common school education, and was 
united in marriage October I, 1871, to Lizzie 
Trimple, the daugliter of Gerhart and Alesa 
(Weebold) Trimple, natives of Germany, whose 
three children were: Lizzie, George and 
Hannah. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eight children, born in the following order: 
Lizzie, August 14, 1870; Louise, July 14, 187o ; 
John, May 20, 1887; George, July 3, 1881; 
Hannah, June 1, 1884; Martin, August 27, 
1886; Henry, July IC, 1S80, and Alia, Decem- 
ber 22, lS9l'. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters is a 
Lutheran. Being among the early settlers of 
the county, it was his ill fortune to be in the 
countr\' when tlie grasslio]>|)ers made such sad 
havoc. 

ADOLPII BECIIER, manager of the Nye 
& Schneider Cos. elevator at Wisner, 
came to Cuming County in 1870. He 
was born in Gusow, Prussia, Germany, near 
Berlin, February 21, 18,51. He there grew to 
manhood, receiving his education in the district 
school. At the age of fourteen years he was 
apprenticed to the trade of art gardner. In 18('>8 
he came to America with his mother and step- 
father. His father, Herman Becher.died wiien 
he was ten years of age. Tiie family settled 
at Watertovvn, Wisconsin, and removed from 
there to Lake Mills. 

In 1871 our subject was iiianifd in Wiscon- 
sin, to Paulina Schoeclierl, a native of CJer- 
many, born in Philadelphia, Prussia, near 
Lansberg, on the Warthe, May 25, 1852. In 
1872 they came to Stanton County, Nebraska, 
which was then a wild i)rair-ie region. He 
claimed a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres and made the necessary imjirovements, 
having to battle against the hardships co-inci- 
dent to a new conntiy, including the grassliop- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



per raid, which was a period that tried men's 
souls. In 1877 he came to Wisner and engaged 
in tiie grain i)usiness with J. "W. Pollock and has 
I'emained in the same business ever since He 
is a man of good business qualifications, steady 
habits and is entrusted with many thousand 
dollars worth of property. 

In politics lie is a stanch supporter of the 
Democratic party. lie takes great interest in 
educational matters and consequently has 
served on the Sciiool Board. He is a member 
of Wisner Lodge No. 114, A. F. «fe A. M., of 
which he was secretary. He is also one of the 
charter members of the Modern Woodmen 
Order, and lias passed all the chairs iu Ancient 
Order of Ignited Workmen. 

Mr. and Mrs. Becher are the j)arents of three 
children : Ida, born November 15, 187i; Emma, 
born September 0, 1870, and Arthur, born Ma}' 
25, 1880. 

Herman Becher, father of our subject, mar- 
ried Miss Augusta IIoclc, by whom the follow- 
ing childi'en were born : Adolph, the subject of 
this sketch ; Max, who came to America and 
is now engaged in a restaurant busines at 
Oakdale, California. These two brothers were 
the first to establish their family name in 
America. The father died in ISCO in Germany, 
after which his widow was married to Freder- 
ick Schoechert, wlio died in Wisconsin in 1870. 
He was a member of the German Lutheran 
Church, as are our subject and his wife. 



JEPtEMIAH S. DIEIIL, a farmer living on 
Section 2.>, of Nickerson township, came 
to Dodge (younty in the spring of 1877. 
He remained at Fremont a short time, 
arriving February' 11, without a dollar, lie 
soon engaged to work for Hon. H. B. Nico- 
demus on tiie farm, staying with him nearly 
three years. Mr. Diehl was born in Berks 
County, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1855, and 
was reared principally in Snyder County, tiiat 
State, and followed coal-mining for two years; 
the remainder of the time he was at home on 



the farm with his parents until he reached his 
majority. Februar\' 12, 1880, he married 
Martha Maitin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
Jacob ilai'tin, of Pennsylvania, and soon after 
moved to the farm of Mrs. J. C. Rippey, near 
Nickerson. O. B. Ilippey and our subject took 
charge of the farm and engaged in feeding cat- 
tle and hogs. After two years they dissolved 
partnership, having been quite successful. He 
then bought the northeast quarter of Section 
23, township IS, range 8, paying a part down. 
He remained on the rented land, however, 
until 188G, then moved to his own farm, where 
he built a iiouse 10x28 feet with a wing sixteen 
feet square, also good out-buildings. He im- 
proved his farm, including the planting of 
shade and fi'uit trees, etc. 

Mr. Diehl's parents were Charles and Lov- 
inia Diehl, whose ten children were Mary, 
Catharine, Elizabeth, Malinda, Henry, Charles, 
Jeremiah, John, Sarah and Franklin. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children : Mable, born December 5, ISSO, 
and Laura, born April 20, 1889. Mr. Diehl is 
a member of the Farmer's .Alliance ;m(l belongs 
to the Lutheran Church. 



ALLEN MAllSHALL, one of the i)ioneers 
of Xebi'aska, and present day capitalist 
of Fremont, is a native of Jefferson 
county, New York, born Julv 11, 1830, and 
the son of Samuel and Emily (Allen) Marshall, 
of Scotch ancestry. The family have been na- 
tives of New York for man}' generations. 
When our subject was thirteen years of age, lie, 
in company with his parents ami several other 
families, came west overland by wagon to Iowa, 
landing at Fort Madison, November 2, 1843, 
but located at Charleston, Lee county, subse- 
quently, where his father died January 5, 
1S4G, he was born January 10, 1794, 
his mother dying in Fremont, Nebraska, Nov- 
vember 7, 1874; tiie date of her birth was 
April 26, 1807. The father of our subject was 
a farmer, and was the parent of eight children. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



261 



two of whom died in earl}' cbildiiood, in New 
Yoric stiitc. The remainder of tlie famii\' were 
as follows: Allen, our subject ; George W., a 
resident of Saunders county, Nebraska, living 
ni>ar Valparaiso; Elizabeth, deceased In Charles- 
ton, Iowa, aged thirteen x'ears ; Pardon, a resi- 
lient of Norfolk', Nebraska; Sarah Ann, deceased 
in Douglas county, Nebraska, in ISCO, at the 
age of twent^'-one _vears ; Samuel, Jr., tlied in 
1850 in Iowa. 

Our subject was educated in the typical old. 
fashioned log school house, in which was taught 
a subscription school, and though rough were 
the walls and cold the floor, while the seals 
never knew what smoothness was until worn 
glassy b}' the clothing of the urchins, who there 
learned their A, B, C's and " Kule of Three." 
They will never forget to their latest hour, 
the •' old log school-house." Mr. Marshall was 
reared to the activities of farm life, and when 
but si.Kteen years of age, lie was compelled to 
assume the responsibilities of the family, owing 
to the death of his father, so he remained 
at home until he was twenty-two years of 
age. 

In 1850 he came to Nebraska, locating on a 
farm at what is known as Iron IJlutt', on the 
Elkhorn, in Douglas county, where he pur- 
ciiased a claim for which he paid four hundred 
dollars. The same was a pre-emption and he 
entered it on a land wai'rant, upon wiiich he 
paid interest at the rate of fort\'-eight percent. 
They at once erected a small cabin and com- 
menced to make small improvements ; though 
surrounded by Indians who made their occa- 
sional visits to show how impudent they could 
l)e, by forcing their wa\' into the cabin, and in 
nuxny ways making themselves obnoxious. As 
an instance of what labor was necessary to pro- 
tect their stock, it may be stated that he 
erected a stockade, in which he would place 
them during the night, keeping watch over 
them while they could graze, during the foi'e 
l)art of the night, after which they were housed 
in the stockade, and at about three o'clock in 
the morning, thev wei'e turned out again. In 



this manner tiiey labored and devised means to 
protect themselves and what they possessed, 
from the ravages of the wily Indians, and 
inanv other hardships and privations they 
had to endure. But they have safely passed 
all those weary mile-stones of their life, and 
peace, plenty and happiness is their ))resent 
portion. 

He was the main factor in secui'ing the Iron 
Bluff post office, of which lie was the first post- 
master. It was called "Chicago." Tii is lucra- 
tive (?) position he held for some ten months, 
and for his services received the magnificent 
%\x\\\ oi forty cents ! He was also one of the 
first school directors of his precinct, the same 
covering an extent of territory six by eight 
miles. The building was erected under very 
peculiar circumstances, as there were no funds 
for the purpose ; so our subject and the other 
two members of the Board, determined to take 
matters into their own hands, so they had a ta.x 
levied for that purpose, but could not wait until 
tlie same was collected, so they used the funds 
set apart and designated " teacher's fund." as 
tiie need of a house was as imjiortant as a 
teacher, and so it was erected. A teacher was 
employed and the first school was ])ut in opera- 
tion, in the winter of 1858-59. 

Early in the sixties they were compelled to 
make a severe struggle in order to save their 
home during the hard times that overtook so 
many of the pioneers of what was then New 
West. But, after having sacrificed so much, 
they were determined to hold to their home 
and make the necessary impi'ovements, which 
caused an untold amount of hard laboi'. AVhile 
many others lost their homes, our subject went 
to Omaha, with his little family, and plied him- 
self to whatever he could secure in the way of 
teaming, working by the day, etc., whereby he 
might make a dollar. In this way, in a short 
time lie placed himself in a position to hold his 
home. He then returned to his land with a 

j gladdened heart, and not only did lie succeed 
himself, but also assisted many of iiis more un- 

\ furtunale neighbors. 



262 



A OR THE A S TERN A'EBRA SKA 



Our subject was one of the first to push for- 
ward the church work, which was conducted in 
the school-iiouse erected on our subject's hind. 
He was also one of tiie promoters of the vari- 
ous works of good for the public welfare. Mr. 
Marshall resided upon his farm until 18G7. 
While yet upon this place he located the first 
graveyard in that part of the countrv, the date 
being February, 1857, the same being on his 
own land, and the first person to be buried was 
his grandmother Sarah Allen. 

In 1867 our subject moved to Primrose post- 
office, between Valley and Waterloo, at which 
point he opened a general merchandise estab- 
lishment and was postmaster for two years, 
when he sold his stock of goods and moved to 
Valley, where he resided six months, coming 
from there to Fremont, having taken a contract 
of grading on the Elkhorn railroad, five miles 
from that place. He located in Fremont in 
1870, milking it his permanent home ever 
since. After completing his contract with the 
railroad company he engaged in the furniture 
business some nine months, after which he 
engaged in buying and shipping horses into 
Fremont fur the home market. He followed 
this business for fifteen years, at the end of 
which time he engaged in the real estate 
business, his office being at his home, at No. 
7t»G West Eighth Street where he speculates in 
realty of all kinds. 

It goes without saying, that a man ]iossessed 
of the public spirit as has been evinced bv the 
foregoing sketch, that he would naturally take 
a hand in the great political issues of the day. 
Early in life he was an old line Whig, and up- 
on the formation of the Republican i)arty in 
185G, he stood scpiarely upon that platform, but 
l)elieving in political jiarties only so far as thev 
embody principle, ratliei' than part}' name, our 
subject espoused the ])rohibition cause, with 
which party he now affiliates. He has been a 
member of the city council three years, also a 
member of the scIkkjI board, lie is a member 
of tiie Masonic fraternity, belonging to the 
Fremont Lodjj-e No. l.">, A. F. I'^r A. M., of 



which he was treasurer and trustee for several 
years and chaplain in 1690. He is also an hon- 
orary member of the fire department. 

Turning back the pages of his history to April 

5, ISow, we find tiuit he was united in marriage 
to Louisa AVeston, who was born in Franklin 
Count}', Indiana, June 20, 1838. She was the 
daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Crist) Weston, 
who were also natives of the hoosier state and 
of French-German extraction. The father 
died June 10, 1840, at Little Rock, Arkansas, 
while the mother still survives and resides in 
Union County, Iowa, at the good old age of 
eighty-one years. Their family consisted of 
six children : Mary, deceased in early child 
hood ; George B., a resident of Missouri ; Eliza 
J. (deceased), Elizabeth ((.leceased), John C, a 
resident of Fremont, Nebraska, and Louisa, the 
wife of our subject. 

jMr. anil Mrs. Marshall ai'e the i)ai'ents of six 
children: L^'dia A., born January, 1S5(!, wife 
of Lewis H. Netf, of Norfolk, Nebiuiska ; Emi- 
ly E., born April 28, 1860, wife of Frank II. 
Scott, residing in Webster township, Dodge 
County, Nebraska: Charles A., born January 
30, 1862, assistant cashier of the State Rank at 
Scribner, Nebi'aska ; Marinda Jane, boi'n April 

6, 1864, died January 12, 18G6 ; Sarah I., born 
January 12, 1866, wife of C. J. Douglas, of Fre- 
mont ; Ilulda A., born November 20, 1867, 
wife of C. C. Vaughn, of Omaha. 

Our subject and iiis family are membei"s of 
the Raptist Church, and in all their relations in 
business and society they are an honor to the 
the community, in which they have lived and 
labored so long. 

In taking a retrospective view of the deeds 
and events which go toward making up J\Ir. 
Marshall's life, from the time he was sixteen 
years of age, on down through the vicisitudes 
anil i)ioneer hardships endured coincident with 
frontier life: living in a ])rairie country many 
miles from market, surrounded by bands of de- 
generated ndians,lhe reader finds that the subject 
of whom we write has ever been guided by that 
spirit of Christian fortitude, the fruit of which 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



all men honor and respect. Scores of men 
came to Iowa and Nebraska, the same lime of 
his arrival, remained a few years, squandered 
their substance, became disheartened and 
sought other lields of operation, only to re))eat 
the same sad experience, and many of tlicir 
number being only prom]ited by the heartless 
ambition to obtain wealth legally or illegally, 
they have gone from bad to worse, and to-ilay 
their names are only known as failures in life. 
A thousand men win competence by (|uietly 
saving their spare money, where one g(;ts rich 
i)y ci'azy speculation. A saver by habit, stead- 
ily grows more industrious, more temperate, 
more honest and more contentetl. 



CAliL F. I'FKIFFEi;, residing on Section 
13, of Bismarck township, (himing 
County, was born at the village of 
Jagow, near Tyritz, Tommern, August -1, lS+5. 
He came to Cuming Count\', Nebraska, in 1S()9, 
arriving at West Point, December 2-t, without 
one cent of money, and commenced business 
about three hundred dollars in debt. He is the 
son of August and Frederica (Freiwald) Pfeif- 
fer, natives of Jagow, Pommern ; the latter 
died in Guming County, September 28, 1888, 
aged sevent\^-two years. 

August Pfeiffer also had one daughter, 
Augusta, who accompanied hei' father to Ne- 
braska in 1SG7. lie took a homestead in Bis- 
Huirck township in ISO". Three famUies had 
settled in the township a few weeks ])revious, 
maliing him the fourth settler. Our subject 
attended school until fourteen years of age, 
and when twent\'-two years of age he entered 
the German army, serving nearly three years. 
AV^lien his time expired, his uncle loaned him 
money to pay his passage to America, as he 
had previously done for his parents. Upon his 
arrival in Cuming County, onl}' three acres had 
been broken on the homestead, and the family' 
were living in a sod house. They had an ox 
team, iind a crotch of a tree for a vehicle. 
Carl bejiau life in this countrv as the driver of 



a breaking team. They raised a fair crop of 
wheat the next year. Ilis father raised seventy 
bushels the first year he lived on the home- 
stead. This wheat he marketed at West Point, 
cari'ying it across the river on his back. When 
he came to the country provisions were very 
high. AVheat was $2 per bushel and bacon 
27 cents per pound, (ircat has been the change 
in the country from that day to this. Mr. 
Pfeid'er now owns 240 acres of land, all under 
good improvements. His present residence is 
surrounded by a beautiful artificial grove, 
planted by his own hands. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and in religious mattei's is a J.,utheran. 

Mr. PfeilTer was mariied. May 1, 1870, to 
Henrietta E. Schulz. daughter of John an<l 
Sophia Schulz. She was born at the village of 
Alt-Ruednitz, Brandenburg, Germany,and came 
to this country with her parents in 18(18. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Pfeiffer's children are Otto, 
Anna and Hedwig. 

Our subject was a liberal contributor to the 
German Lutheran Church, built in Bismarck 
township in 1887. He stands high in the com- 
munity in which he lives, and is a pi'osperous, 
painstakmg agriculturist. 



WILLIAM CAM IN Sli., a farmer of 
section 10. Elkhorn township, Cum- 
ing county, was born in (-iermany, 
December 7, 1833, and came to America in 
l.s.")l. Ho landed at New Yoi'k harbor and 
from there went to Watertown, AVisconsin, and 
worked in a saw mill until 1802, when he en- 
listed in Company K. Twentieth Wisconsin 
V^olunteer Infantry under (,'aptain John Wel)- 
ber, and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bertram 
of Madison. He was in the battle of Prairie 
Grove and wounded with a bullet shot, enter- 
ing his left side and coming out through his 
breast. General SchoHeld was his commander. 
He was mustered into service August IS, 18(52, 
and after he was wcninded was discharged 
March 4, 1863, on account of disability. 



264 



NOK THE A S TEAW NEBRA SKA . 



He left the service at Springfield, Missouri, 
returneil to Wisconsin, where lie remained un- 
til his coining to Nebraska, in 1867. lie went 
overland driving a yoke of oxen and a mule 
team. Upon arriving in Cuming County, he 
located a homestead, the site of his present 
home. Here he erected a prairie dug-out 
12x15 feet, in which he lived until 1870, and 
then built a story and one half liouse, and i)ro- 
vided his place with a good barn, granary and 
out-buildings. He planted out a maple grove 
of five acres, and set a small orchard. His 
farm is now enclosed by a four wire barbed 
fence. 

Mr. Camin was united in marriage in Ger- 
many, April, 1854, to Mary Mink and by tliis 
union five children were born : Fredia, William, 
Fred, now in I'oyd (/Ounty; Mary, in Stanton 
County, and Augusta. All married. Both our 
subject and his wife's parents died inGerman\'. 

Mr. and Mrs. Camin and their family are 
members of the German Lutheran church, and 
in politics he is a Democrat and was county 
commissioner three years, and township asses- 
sor three years, beside holding other township 
oiRces. 

TIIKOIX )UK R. STOUT, one of the repre. 
sentative farmers of Maple township, 
residing on Section 9, came to Dodge 
(Jounty in the spring of ISSl, and located on a 
quarter section of wild land, where he made 
sulistantial improvements, including the erec- 
tion of a two story house, 26 x 28 feet, stables, 
cribbing, shedding for sixty-live head of cattle, 
two granaries, etc. He set out a grove of two 
acres, and an orchard of two hundred and fifty 
trees. He has since added to his farm, and 
now has two hundred acres under cultivation. 
In 1890, during the month of August, a wind 
storm did considerable damage to his build- 
ings. 

Our subject was born in New Jersey', Febru- 
arv 19, 1852, a son of Elnathan D. and Eliza- 
beth A. Stout, whose children were: Robert 
S., Mary F., Richard R, Theodore R., Sarah 



L., deceased, and AVilliam H. Our subject re- 
mained in New Jersey until he was nineteen 
years of age, when he went to Henderson 
County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming 
until the time of his coming to Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage September 25, 
1878, to Augusta Durling, daughter of Abra- 
ham and Mary A. Durling, who were the par- 
ents of four children : Georgianna, Augusta. 
Mary A., and Ettie. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children : Elizabeth A., born March 25, 
ISSO; and Nellie E., born March 30, 1885. 

Politically, Mr. Stout casts his vote and in- 
Unence with the Democratic party. 



FELIX GIVENS, one of the representa- 
tives agriculturists of Cleveland town- 
ship, residing on Section 34, came to 
Cuming Coimtv in the spring of 1871^, and first 
located at West Point where he worked in the 
brickyard one season, and then purchased the 
farm he now occupies, which at that time was 
but an eighty acre tract of wild land, which he 
broke up; built a small house upon it, in which 
he lived three years, and then erected his pres- 
ent residence. He also has a good -barn and 
other out-buildings to correspond, all showing 
him to be a man of thrift and order. He set 
out an orchard of lift}' trees, and has an abun- 
dance of small fruits. As he has prospered, 
from time to time he has purchased more land 
ami now owns four hundred and eighty acres, 
three hundred and twenty being under the 
plow, and four hundred and sixty acres sur- 
rounded by a fence. Upon coming to the 
county he possessed one thousand dollars. At 
that time there was but four or live houses 
between his place and West Point. He ^vas 
here through the grasshopjier plague, and lost 
his crop of corn in August, 1874. 

Our subject was born in Chicago, Illinois, 
December 25, 1844, the son of Felix and Cath 
arine (Davlin) Givens, natives of Ireland, whose 
four children were: Roseana, Mary A., John 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



and Felix. When hut a child our siihject's 
uiDther died and tiii' father liircd ii lady to 
keep hiin one year and at the expiration 
of this time she became attached to him, 
so lie continued to live with his family until he 
was a grown man. He then I'ented land foi' a 
time, but soon bought a small farm in Clinton 
County, Iowa, where he lived six years. He 
then purchased a (puu'ter section of wild hind 
in Kansas, made some improvements and 
remained one year, sold out and came to 
(.^uniing County, Neliraska. 

Mr. Givens was married November 'Jit, ls6;t, 
to Ellen Burke, daughter of Thomas and 
Maria Eurke, natives of Ti'oland, whose live 
children were: James, Catharine, Michael, 
Ellen and Thomas. 

'l"he parents are deceased. 

To Mr. and Mr. Givens have been born twelve 
children, all living: Thomas W., Charles U., 
Francis A., John E., Frank E., Catharine M.. 
Nellie C, Felix M., Anna G., Freeman D., Tlosa 
J. and Lovetta'_^Leova. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Itoman Catholic Church, and in political mat- 
ters he is a supporter of the Democratic 
party. 

PATPJCK McLaughlin, (deceased) 
whose widow resides on Section 31, of 
Bancroft township, Cuming County, is 
the subject of this memoir. In May, 1809, he 
located on one hundred and forty-seven acres 
of wild land, now part of the present home- 
stead. Here he made substantial improve- 
ments after the first few years, but at first was 
obliged to live, as many of the early home- 
steaders did, in a sod house, covered with the 
same material. This rudo affair served the 
famil}' for three months. They then jiroved u]) 
and pre-empted the land, and Mr. McLaughlin 
went to Washington county and there worked 
on the railroad for two 3'ears, after which he 
moved to liis farm w'ith his ten children. lie 
built a lGx2-I one-story house, and provided 
other suitable buildings. Mrs. McLaughlin 



dug the first well, which was twenty-five feet 
deep herself, her oldest daughter drawing up 
the dirt with a common i)ail and rope without 
a windlass. The place was also made attractive 
and more valuable by an artificial groove con- 
taining twelve acres. The present farm con- 
tains two hundred and ninety-four acres, erne 
hundred and eighty of which is under the plow. 
Our subject remained on this place until 
his death, wiiich occurred December 27, 
18SI). 

During his first settlement in .Xebi'aska, this 
departed pioneer encountered many hardships, 
which were also shared by his family. West 
Point was their nearest mai'ket ]ioint, and 
twenty miles their nearest milling jtoint. Their 
fuel had to be hauled four miles. In coming to 
the country, Mr. JMcLaughlin, met with an 
accident, by which he was ruptured, and was 
never able to do a full days work afterward. 

He of whom we write this notice, was a 
native of Ireland, liorn in Febuar\', 182S, the 
son of Cornelius anil Catharine McLaughlin, 
whose only child was our sid)ject. Patrick 
remained on the Enu-rald Ish?. until thii't\-t w(j 
years of age, and then came to Amei'ica, and 
worked as a section hand, on the New- York and 
Erie railway, in Cattaraugus (bounty, New 
York', for two years. He then went to New 
Haven, Connecticut, where he was a hod car- 
rier until he came to Iowa, in 18CS, and there 
worked on the railroad foi- two months, after 
which he came to Cuming County. Unlike 
most of our American boys, this man did not 
have good educational advantages, and came to 
this. country without means. His wife pi'e- 
ceded him one \'ear, her uncle paying her pas- 
sage, and she earned money and sent to her 
husband, that he might also enjoy the bcnelits 
of this country with her. 

He was united in mai'iiago, Febuary, 1S.')4, 
to Bi'idget Polan, daughter of Farrel and Mary 
Dolan, of Ireland, whose fourteen childi'cn were 
named as follows : Ann, Bridget, Mary, Peter, 
John (deceased), Margaret (deceased), Thomas, 
(deceased) , Michael, Charles, Andrew (de- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



eased), Farrel (deceased), Eliza, Catharine, 
Felix (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. McLauglilin reared a family of 
eleven children : Cornelius J. (deceased), Mary 
L., Peter J. (deceased), Catharine E.. Hose, 
Ann, Margaret L., John F., Anna il., Thressa 
C, Patrick J. and Charles F. 

Political 1}', Mr. McLaughlin, was a Democrat 
and the family are members of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 



ANDREAS SORENSEN, of Section Ki 
Neligh township, came to Cuming 
County in the autumn of 1885, and first 
located on tiie farm which he now occupies, 
which was then 120 acres of wild land, which 
he has improved in a good manner. His place 
now contains good buildings, an artilicial grove 
of six acres antl an orchard of 100 trees. His 
present landed possessions are 360 acres. The 
last farm he purchased also has a farm house, 
good buildings, a grove and orchard. 

He was born in Germany, December 2.5, 18-12, 
the son of Jesse and Anna Sorensen, natives of 
Denmark and Germany, respectively, whose 
three children were: Samuel, Andreas and- 
Nicholas. Our subject lived in German}' until 
twenty-seven years of age, and then came to 
(Quebec, and from there to Omaha, wheie he 
conducted the milk business for five years, and 
then bought a farm, which he operated until 
1882, when he sold and went to California; re- 
mained one year and came to his present loca- 
tion. He came to America without means and 
was not possessed of a very good education. 

lie of whom we write was married in June, 
1872, to Elsade Thomson, daughter of Rarn- 
hard and Anna Thomson, natives of German}', 
whose four children were: Anna, Elsade, 
Webke and Hans, all living in Nebraska. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sorensen are the parents of 
seven children: Anna, Emma, Rosa, Eddie, 
William, Hulda and Clara, all living. 

Politically, our subject believes in the prin- 
ciples of our (iovci'nment and votes an Inde- 



I pendent ticket. At present he is a member of 
; the County Roard of Supervisors. 



WILLIAM C. WALLINGFORD, a high- 
ly resjiected citizen of Maple town- 
ship, located on Section 34, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1870 and first 
located near Fremont and rented land for five 
years. lie came to the county comparatively 
a poor man and worked in ever}' way to get 
a start. He then bought a farm on Section 7 
of I'latte township, consisting of one hundred 
and sixty acres of partly improved land, upon 
which he built a barn 30x10 feet and set out 
a grove of two acres anil an orchard of seventy- 
five trees. He remained on this farm ten 
yea's, then sold out and bought the farm he 
now occupies, consisting of one hundred and 
sixty acres, which at the time was wild land. 
He broke this land up and erected a house 
21x26 feet, two stories high, together with a 
wing; also a barn loxll feet and another one 
36x00 feet, a calf barn 18x32, a milk stable 
16x30, hog house thirty feet square; also pro- 
vided a good drive well, to which is attached 
wind power. He also set out an orchartl of 
two hundred fruit trees, and now has sixty-five 
acres under the plow, while the remainder is 
pasture and meadow land. 

Mr. Wallingford is a native of the Jiuckeye 
State, having been born in Clark County, Ohio, 
April 2, 1830, the son of James and Rebecca 
Waliingford, natives of Kentucky, who were 
the parents of eleven children : Elizabetli, Clark, 
Pollyann, Richard, Nancy, Renjamin, Rebecca, 
James, an infant, deceased ; William ('. and 
Eliza J. Our subject lived in Ohio until ho 
arrived at the age of maturity and then rented 
land for two years, after which he removed 
to Muscatine County, Iowa, where he purchased 
a farm upon which he remained seventeen 
years, then sold out and came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. His early advantages were some- 
what limited for an education. 




^/</# 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



February, 1860, he was united in marriage 
to Sarah A. Burner, daugliter of Hanson II. 
and 8arah Burner, natives of Oiiio and Penn- 
s\'lvania and who were the parents of eight 
children : Sarah A., John II., Jessie, J\Iary. 
Catharine, Edward, George and Rose. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wallingford are tiie jiarents 
1)1' the following eight children: (^haries W., 
Ilila B., Jerry M., Laura M., Jessie Q., Ira B., 
Clara L., Henry H. and Bertha, deceased at 
seven years of age. 

In his political affiliations he favors the Re- 
publican platform and votes with that party. 

Oliio has furnished her full quota of those 
hardy pioneers who ventured on west of the 
Mississippi and Missoui-i rivers, as van-guards 
to civilization, and be it said to their credit, 
their lives and characters are of the practical, 
stalwart type that always succeed in whatevei' 
they undertake, their efforts most universally 
l)eing in the direction of agriculture, stock 
raising or some other laudible, honorable en- 
terprise. 



HENRY K. GOFF, one of the representa- 
tive men of Platte township. Dodge 
County, who resides on Section 11, dates 
his settlement from the month of May, 1866, 
during which month and \'ear he located at 
Eremont, and worked by the month on a farm 
for about one year. He then bought three 
liundred and twenty acres of land, constituting 
his present place. Sevent}' acres of this was 
under the plow, and a small log-house graced 
the place. He boarded and batched it himself, 
and built anew house upon the place, 1(5x22, to- 
gether with a wing and lean-to, also provided a 
barn 28x48 feet, with cribbing, hog house and 
rtc. He planted out a grove of thirteen acres, 
nne of the wisest acts of his ])ioneer life. He 
also set out an orchard of one hundred and fifty 
trees, besides shrubbeiy. His present farm con- 
sists of one hundred and eighty acres, twenty- 
s(!ven acres of which are under the jilow, and 
tlif balance in pasture and meadow land, in one 



place, and Kve hundred and forty ulus uiiiiin 
Dodge County in all. It was his ill fortune to 
live in this country during the never-to-be-for- 
gotten grasshopper years, when those little 
Avinged "curses" made the life of the farmer 
little else than a burden. 

Mr. Goff traces his ancestry back to Jonatiian 
Goff who was born iu Middle Iladdam, Con- 
necticut, January 16, 1767. He married l>ydia 
Harding and the}' reared a family of eight 
children, among whom was Harlow (iolF. who 
was the father of our subject, born January 2, 
181i, now living in Dodge County, near his son 
Henry. The (iolfs are supjjosed to be de- 
scendants of relations of William Goff of 
England, but of Scotch descent. It may further 
be stated that Harlow Goff's grandfathers were 
both soldiersin the Revolutionary War; one died 
from the effect of going without food for nine 
(lays, while lost on the picket lino, and eating 
too much when he returned. The otlier grand- 
sire died before the war was closed. 

Mary (Knox) Goff, on the mother's side, tradi- 
tion says, dates back to John Knox of Scot- 
land, her direct ancesters coming to America 
before the Revolutionary struggle. 

Henry K. Goff, was born in Oneida 
County, New York, December 22, 1843. His 
parents were Harlow and Mary Goff, natives 
of the Empire State, who were the parents of 
five children : Henry K., Charles II. (deceased), 
MyraM., Plerbert and Hiram. Henry K. lived 
in New York until he was twentj'-two years of 
age and then came to this county. He possessed 
a fair education, which was obtained in both 
the district school and Augusta Academy and 
Fairfield Seminarv. Upon coming West he 
traveled by railway to Boone, Iowa, and from 
there to Council Bluffs by stage, and was one of 
the first passengers from Omaha to Fremont, 
on the construction train of the Union Pacific 
railroad. He was united in marriage June 30, 
1874, to Addie M. King, daughter of Henry and 
Adaline King, whose native states were Massa- 
chusetts and New York respectively. They 
had a familv of four children: Fidelia A., 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Henry D., Addie M., and Joseph M. The chil 
dren are all living. 

Their mother died in New York, but the 
father is still living. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four children : Charles D., born June 6, lS7o ; 
Eva F., Octobers, 1877; Albert R. (deceased), 
born November 12, lS80,died January 3, 1881 ; 
Willie J., born December 18, 1881. 

PoliticalU', Mr. Goff is a Republican, and 
has held the office of township clerk, justice of 
the peace, assessor for six 3'earsand is now one 
of the county supervisors. Both he and his 
wife are members of the Congregational 
Church. 

Whenever a new country is opened up to 
settlement, with such attractions of soil and 
climate with the prospect of a future growth, 
as was found in Nebraska at the close of the Civil 
War, scores and hundreds of young men flock 
to such a territory, each to get their share of 
the good things there to be found. At the 
start their chances seem very much alike ; but 
if one would call around after a quarter of a 
century has clasped, he would find in the local- 
ity only a few of those who started out, together. 
We do not of course refer to those who " fell by 
the wayside" and perished, by disease or acci- 
dent, but to the living and active, who have sur- 
vived from the day of small beginnings. The 
majority of such earl}' settlers do not remain. 
A few return to their old homes, while many 
press forward to other " promised lands," or 
perhaps fail of business success. But out of the 
masses you will find a small per centage have 
stayed where they landed at first, and by the 
constant exhibition of high qualities and cor- 
rectness, have succeeded admirably. About 
such a proportion win the praise due to 
substantial citizens, while the greater num- 
ber are not heard from. 

Our subject may be clas.sed among the suc- 
cessful early settlers. He left his home in that 
goodly sub-division of the Empire State, coming 
by rail and stage coach, completing his journe\' 
from Omaha on a construction train and went 



to work bj' the month, and the sequel of his 
labors may be seen by glancing at the assessors 
books of 181)2. 



MICHAEL HERMAN, JR.. who resides 
at Nickerson, Dodge County, came to 
the Elkhorn Valley in 1859. He first 
joined a compan v to fight the Indians, who were 
stealing the few settlers cattle. He was with 
this company about two weeks, when Governor 
Black made a settlement with the Indians, and 
the company disbanded. He made his first 
settlement on the land platted now as Nicker- 
son. The first eleven 3'ears after he came to 
Dodge County lie rented land and then bought 
on Section 12 of Nickerson township, the land 
amounted to one hundred and sixty acres. Tiiis 
prairie he broke out, erected a good residence, 
bai'n, double cribs ; set out an orchard of over 
fifty trees ; planted a grove of shade trees ; pro- 
vided water for the premises by digging wells 
and erecting a wind-mill. His farm consists of 
three hundred and twenty acres, one hundred 
and forty-five of which are under the plow. 
Recently our subject built a residence at the 
village, and rented his farm. 

Mr. Her'man was born in Germany, 0:;tober, 
1824, the son of Michael and Margaret Hei'iiian, 
who were the parents of six children : Jlichael ; 
Jr., Andrew (deceased); Gottlieb, John E. 
(deceased); Gotlip J., Barbar\\ 

Michael lived in Germany until he was seven- 
teen years of age, and from that time until he 
was twenty-eight, he worked on a farm b}' the 
month, and then carae to America and worked 
on a farm three years, near Philadelahia. We 
next find him in Wisconsin, where he con- 
tinued farm labor until he came to Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage April 19, 1856, 
to Rosena Edelman, daughter of Jacob and 
Rosena Edelman, and natives of Germany, who 
had five children: Rosena, Charles. Caroline, 
Jacob and Fridrica. 

Mr. and Mrs. Herman are tlio parents of 
three children, born in the following order: 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



George E., ]\riirch 2^, 1857 : Ileniy W., June 
20, ISGl ; Elizabeth C, October 13, 18G1. 

He is a firm suppoiter of the liei)ublican 
partv, while he and his wife arc members of the 
fAUhcran Cluirch. 

Mr. Herman adds another name to the list of 
tiie well-to-do agriculturists of Dodge County, 
who was born in the German Empire and there 
reared to mature maniiood under the rulings of 
another form of government from ours; subject 
to different customs and habits of life, but who 
upon coming to this country renounced all 
allegiance to his native country, and at once 
took up with our plan of Government and man- 
ner of doing things, was adopted intoour polil- 
, ical family, and has ever since proven himself 
a dutiful subject to our licpublic. When he 
first came to Nebraska, the\' were much 
annoyed b\' the Indians and had very hard 
times, for upon the arrival of himself and 
family, he did not possess one dollar, and for a 
time, they had to subsist upon wild onions and 
lish. They \yere also here through the never- 
to-be-forgotten grasshopper 3'ears, when the 
farmer did not harvest the amount of grain 
which had been sown in the spring time. But 
being possessed of genuine German grit and 
frugality and making ever}^ penny count, they 
stemmed the tide of plague and panic years, 
until the crown of prosperity rested upon their 
every effort, and to-day we find them in the 
enjoyment of a most excellent home. 



JAMES H. PETERS, of Section 18, Nicker- 
erson township, was a pioneer of 1855 
locating at Fontanelle, April 28, of that 
year, and thei'e remained about fifteen 
years. He was a member of the colony that 
located Fontanelle, which at that time was the 
county seat of Dodge Count}'. But few of the 
number who made up that colony are now liv- 
ing, hence it is the duty as well as the pleasure 
of the biographical writer to take from this 
man's own lips the narrative of his life that the 
facts may be woven into the historical record 
of his countv. 



Mr. Peters was born in Jefferson Countv, 
Virginia, April 4, 1821, the son of Warner and 
Catharine Peters, natives of the same State, 
and whose family consisted of the followin"': 
Martha A. (deceased), James H., Mary C. (de- 
ceased), Sarah J., Elizabeth E. (deceased), Han- 
nah A. (deceased), and Warner J. (deceased). 
Our subject lived with his parents in Virginia 
until they removed to Ohio, ami continued at 
home until he had I'eached his majority, work- 
ing for his father. He then leased land of his 
father for three ycai's, farmed land on shares 
for two 3'ears and continued to farm until he 
came to Nebraska. He was mari'ied April 1, 
1847, to Jane Ferguson, daughter of Samuel 
and Rosanna Ferguson, natives of Ohio, who 
had ten children, and whose names here follow: 
Elizabeth, Nancy, Johnson, William, Jane 
Robert, Mary, Rachel, Curry and Thomas. 

James H. Peters and wife were blessed with 
ten children, born in the following order: 
Samuel W., December 11, 1847; James R., 
June 23, 1849; Rachel E., December 23, 1850; 
Mary J., June 7, 1852; Thomas I., deceased, 
born ]\rarch 7, 1855; Edward, deceased, born 
May 31, 1S5G; Sarah, deceased, born Decem- 
ber 22, 1858 ; Henry A., deceased, born Decem- 
ber 12, 1861 ; Lena and Luna, twins, born 
February 4, 18(i4. 

J\Ir. and Mrs. Peters are members of the 
Christian Church, and his political convictions 
lead him to vote with the Prohibition part\', 
which he has represented twice at the State 
Convention, for Dodge County. 

After settling at Fontanelle the company de- 
cided to give each member of the colony twenty- 
six acres adjoining the town plat, in order that 
they might be grouped together to protect 
themselves against the Indians. After he had 
been there about six weeks, one hunilred Indians 
rode into town whooping and yelling, for the 
purpose of giving them a scare, but tlie\' did 
not succeed. Subsequently our subject took as a 
homestead a jiart of his present farm. He came 
to the county poor, having but twenty-five 
cents in his pocket when he landed at I''onta- 



272 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



nelle. He built a log-house 14x18 feet, in which 
he lived for ten years, and then built his present 
house. lie has provided his farm with most 
excellent improvements, including shade trees 
and an orchard of 150 trees. Ilis place now 
contains 280 acres of land, 100 of which are 
under the plow. 

Since coming to the country our subject has 
been engaged in two Indian wars, and received 
a wound in one of them, in ins shoulder. The 
first time he was in the service sixty-nine days, 
and tlie last time served only as a scout a short 
time. 

In addition to liis general farniing Mr. Peters 
has for many years engaged in the manufacture 
of sorghum molasses, having raised sugar-cane 
for twenty-five years, manufacturing as high as 
fifty-five barrels per year. 

Thus it will be seen that to become a settler 
of Nebraska Territory in 1855, before the iron 
horse had ever crossetl the waters of the Missis- 
sippi Iliver and foui-teen years before Nebraska 
joined the Sisterhood of States, meant much 
more of privation, danger and labor, than he 
who of this generation packs his trunk in some 
one of the Eastern or Middle States, and takes 
the "Cannon Ball" limited express train, with 
a sectional map within his pocket, pays his fare 
to some one of the points in Eastern Nebraska, 
now so well poyiulated, for the purpose of look- 
ing up a location. All countries have had 
their pioneer days, but never again will the 
"prairie schooner," the camp fire and log-cabin 
enter into the carlv settlement of the Elkhorn 
Valley. 

FPwVNCIS M. HE A LY, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Nickerson town- 
ship, and whose farm home is on Section 
28, came to Dodge County in the spring of 
1870. He first worked by the month on a 
farm about six months, and then went over 
into Iowa, and worked for a railroad company 
nine months. We next find him in Wisconsin, 
where lie farmed until 1874, when he returned 
o Nebraska, and bought eighty acres of land 



on Maple Creek, the same being partly im- 
proved. At that place he built a granary, set 
out an orchard of sevent^'-five trees and resided 
for six years, when he bought the place he now 
occupies, which consisted of a partly improved 
quarter section. On tiiis place he built a resi- 
dence, barn, double-crib and set out a fine 
grove and has continued to till his soil in a 
successful manner ever since. Owing to the 
grasshopper plague which devastated this part 
of Nebraska his crops were all destroyed, caus- 
ing him to lose nearly all that he had froni 
1874 to 1878. 

To acquaint the reader with Mr. Ilealv's 
earlier career, it may be stated in this connec- 
tion, that he was born in Franklin township, 
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, February 21, 
1848, the son of Patrick and Lucinda Ilealy, 
the former a native of Ireland and the latterof 
New Yoi'k. Our subject was the eighth of a 
family of ten children, whose names were as 
follows: Nelson (died in infancy), Catharine 
deceased), John (deceased), Hariy (deceased), 
Albert B. (deceased), Charlotte C. Lucina 
Francis M., Eomayn E. and Byron N. 

Francis M. lived with his parents until thir- 
teen years of age when he enlisted among the 
three month men as a fifer in the state service. 
He was mustered in at Racine, stayed about 
two months when the regiment was disbanded ; 
he then re-enlisted in the Nineteenth Wisconsin 
Regiment as a member of Company I, under 
Colonel Moore. His father took him from 
the service on account of him being under age. 
He then re-enlisted in Company K, Thirty- 
third Wisconsin, as a fifer and was mustered in 
at Racine. Ilis mother claimed him this time, 
and took him from the service, and in Febru- 
ary, 18G3, he ran away from home and went 
to Kentucky and enlisted as a private in Com- 
pany 1, Thirty-first Wisconsin Regiment, under 
Captain John B. Vliet and was mustered into 
service at Nashvjlle, Tennessee. He was in the 
Atlantic campaign, Siege of Atlanta, and was 
with (General Sherman on his famous "March 
to the Sea." He was with the reiriment two 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



years and five months receiving an honorable 
discharge at Madison, Wisconsin. He passed 
tlirough that much of the Civil War after so 
many persevering attempts to gain an entrance 
into the service, with no material injury except 
that his eve sight was impaired. After his 
return from the army he started to learn the 
wagonmaker's trade, but had to abandon it on 
account of his eyes. We next find our subject 
sailing on the lakes, which he followed for two 
seasons, and then commenced farming in 
Wisconsin, which he followed until he came to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Healy was married July 3, IST-t, to 
Mary West, daugliter to (iuincey P. and Sarah 
West, who were natives of Canada. Mrs. Healy 
is one of a family of seven children, named as 
follows: Mary, Annette, Elizabeth, Julian, 
Jane, Eunice and Carl. 

Like every intelligent American citizen, ho 
has his political choice, and at present casts his 
vote with tho Democratic party. In religious 
matters, he is in sympathy with the United 
lirethren denomination and is identified with 
that Church. He is a member of McPherson 
Post, Grand Army of the Republic and also 
of the Odd Fellows Order, Centennial Lodge, 
Ko. 59, at Fremont and Encampment No. 22. 



CIIPJSTOPHER KNOELL, who resides 
on Section 32, Nickerson township, 
ranks among the pioneers of Dodge 
County, coming as he did in the spring of 1859. 
The first three years he rented a farm in Platte 
township. He was twenty-seven years of age 
at that time, and came in company with his 
]iarents, his father making the lease for the land. 
L'pon their arrival they found the Indians wei'e 
camped near where they were to locate, but 
subsequently they left and went nearer to 
Fontanelle. During that season they ex- 
perienced much annoyance by the Indians 
driving their cattle away and committing other 
depi'edations. July 3d, of that year rumors 
were received at Fremont that the Indians were 



making trouble, when the little colon_y to which 
our subject belonged turned out in a scjuad and 
united with the i)eople at Fremont, for the 
purpose of routing the savages ; but not finding 
the Indians as they expected they went to 
Fontanelle, where General Thayer was at the 
time, and who called for volunteers and forty- 
two men responded. They organized a company 
and appointed their officers. Their captain was 
It. W. Hazen. Mr. Knoell was in the service 
seventeen days and fiii-nished his own provisions, 
rifle and ammunition, and was dischargcid from 
the service at Columbus, Nebraska. After which 
he went to Iowa City, Iowa, where he bought 
a threshing machine. Wheat that year averaged 
twenty-seven bushels per acre, and cats sixty- 
five. He followed threshing and putting up 
hay until 18G2, when he bought a part of the 
farm he now occupies, the same being partlv 
improved, including twenty-seven acres of 
breaking, and a small house, in which he lived 
until 1888. He has since added to his lands, 
until he now owns six hundred and thirtetm 
acres, two hundred being under the plow. His 
farm-house is built of brick 20x28 feet, with a 
wing 14x20 feet and two stories high, llis 
barns and out-buildings, wells and wind-mill, 
are all of modern make. He has an orchard 
and a beautiful grove of shade-trees. 

He was born in Germany, March 2-1, 1832, 
and is a son of Henry and Margaret Knoell, 
natives of Germany, who had a family of seven 
children : Christopher, John, Kosina (deceased), 
Thomas, George, Valentine and Elizabeth. 

Mr. Knoell lived in Germany until he was 
fifteen years old which was in 18-17, when the 
family moved to A merica, landing at New York 
Harbor August 3, IS-l". From that point they 
went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and our subject 
lived on a farm until he came to Dodge Count}'. 

He was married October, 18G9, to Dora 
Storms, daughter of John and Mary Storms, 
who had four children : Christina, Dora, Henry, 
and John ; all living in America. 

Mr. and Mrs. Knoell have a family of seven 
children, born in the following order: Henry, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



August 29, 1870; Clara, April 1, 1872; Carl, 
December 25, 1875; Ettie, March 18, 1877; 
Christopher, Jr., April 17, 1878 ; Zedona, Feb- 
ruary 10, 1880, and Julius, December 5, 1882. 

In conclusion, let it be remarked that one- 
third of a century has made great changes in 
Eastern Nebraska. It has been that long since 
our subject first looked out over this fair do- 
main, for the purpose of making a home for 
himself. He came in advance of many who 
are now termed " early settlers," crossed un- 
bridged and angry streams; lived in tlie most 
primitive abode ; put up with the scantiest fare, 
all that he might finally be tiie possessor of tlie 
comforts of life. He has seen the Indians 
diiven from the country and nearly extermin- 
ated ; the wild game likewise. He has lived to 
see Nebraska added to the sisteriiood of States, 
with many a large city and flourishing town 
reared upon the spot which one-third of a cen- 
tury ago was but the hunting ground of the 
Omaha and Pawnee. He of whom we write 
was one of the earliest threshers to rattle out 
the golden grain in the Elkhorn and Platte 
valleys, and even the thoughts of that old 
threshing machine must remind him that many 
vears have elapsed, as the mechanism of the 
machine he drew from Iowa City would scarcely 
be recognized in the stack-yards of Nebraska 
to-day, so great has this class of machinery 
been improved. Tiiere is always more or less 
honor attached to the name of every '•'■ pumeer ^' 
but especially toone who hasiived'an honorable 
life, sucli as has been the record of the man 
whose name heads this sketch. 

RASMUS JOHNSON, a I'esident of Sec- 
tion 23, Nickerson townsiiip, came to 
Dodge County in tlie autumn of 18G7, 
and first located on Section 20, where he took 
a homestead of eig]it\' acres, upon which lie 
made substantial improvements, including a 
good farm-liouse willi all the accompanying 
out-buildings; set out an orchard of seventy- 
five trees, and numerous shade trees. Subse- 
(juentiy he added eighty acres to his farm, and 



had one hundred and thirty acres under the 
plow. He sold this farm and bought the one 
he now occupies, which consists of a (piarter 
section with twent}-^ acres of bottom land. The 
improvements on this place are gooti; he was 
here dui-ing the grasshopper years and saw 
many hardships, but finally succeeded in ])ull- 
ing through and is now in possession of a most 
excellent home. 

Mr. Johnson was born November 2, 1841. in 
Denmark, the son of James T. and Anna John- 
son, natives of the same country. He was the 
seventii of a family of nine children^ — the first 
born died in infancy : Hans J., Ilenning, James, 
ISfaria, Ole, Rasmus, Lars P., deceased ; Lars P. 

Our subject lived in Denmark until he was 
twentj'-two years of age, and then came to 
America, landing at (Quebec. From that point 
he went to Indiana, remained two 3-ears, and 
then visited his native country, but havingonce 
had a taste of the new world and its customs 
and opportunities, our subject returned to Illi- 
nois, where he remained two years, and then 
came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Johnson was united in mari'iage in the 
month of Februaiy, 1S5G, to Catharine Jensen, 
the daughter of Jens Miller. The Miller family 
had eleven children, the first two dieil in in- 
fancy, and the remainder of the family were : 
Hans, Mary, Carrie, Peter, Rasmus (deceased), 
Andrew, Christena, Catharine, and "William. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of nine 
children, born in the foUovv-ing order : Andrew 
J. (deceased), born July 31,18G7; Anna, Octo. 
ber 18, 1868; James E., September 13, 1873; 
Carrie (deceased), born December 11,1870; 
Gustave, August 12, 1876; Albeit, August 10, 
1879; Julia, July 21, 1883; Jennie, June 8, 1886; 
Maggie (deceased), born June 12, 1890. 

Mr. Johnson and his wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Church. lie belongs to 
the Farmers Alliance of Dodge County. 

Mr. Jolinstjn believes in spending a part of 
what he makes in travel and informing himself 
of the beauties and wonders of the world. In 
the winter of lS!U-92 he made a trij) to the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



275 



Pacific Coast, visiting Colorado, New Mexico, 
Ciilifornia, Arizona, Oregon, Utali, and Idaho. 
His wife, at this writing, is in Denmark, to 
wiiich country she went in Jul}', 1892. 

HOX. MATTHEW S. COTTRELI., now 
i-etired at Xorth Bend, was among the 
liardy pioneers who found their way 
to Dodge County in 1857; he coming in July of 
that year, in compan}' with Alexander Morri- 
son, James Humphrey and John M. Smith, who 
brought a saw-mill to the country with them. 
During the thirty -five \'ears Mr. Cotterell has 
lived in Dodge County, he has made a histor\' 
worthy of preservation, for those who shall 
come after him, and not alone has his life been 
an eventful one (rej)lete with interest), since 
coming to Nebraska, but also during his earlier 
years, hence the following biograpliical notice 
appears in this connection : 

He was born in Genesee Countj% New Yorlc^ 
May 15, 1821, the son of Matthew S. and Sylvia 
(Hooper) Cotterell. The father was a native of 
Iihode Island and his parents, John and Sarah 
(Stillman) Cotterell, were also natives of Iihode 
Island, John being a Seventh Day Baptist Min- 
ister. 

Our subject's mother was a native of Massa- 
chusetts, the daughter of AVilliam Hooper, who 
was probabl}' a native of North Carolina, and 
are descendants of the Hooper who signed the 
Declaration of Independence. "When our sub- 
ject was a small boy, his parents removed to 
Madison Countv, New York, and when he was 
seven years of age, he entered a cotton factorv 
to learn the trade, and worked there until he 
was thirteen years of age, when the family re- 
moved to Buffalo, New York. His. father was 
a shiivcarpenter by trade, and they only re- 
mained in Buffalo a short time, and then went 
to Cleveland, Ohio. Matthew remained at 
home and worked with his father at ship-car- 
piMitering until he became of age, and then 
went to Canada, I'emained one summer, re- 
tui'ued to Clevelanci and went to house-carpen. 
terin<r ; fiJlowin<i' contractin"- and buildintr for 



seven years, which brought him to lS57,the 
date of his coming to Dodge County, Nebraska. 
Our subject, James Humphrey and John W. 
Smith, who came to Nebraska together, all 
took claims near what is North Bend. Mr. 
Cotterell took three hundred and twent^v acres, 
which now includes the town site of North 
Bend ; here their saw-mill was erected. Itonh' 
run about one year, when it was burned by a 
sweeping prairie fire. At the time our subject 
came to Nebraska, the Government surveying 
had not been done, and in fact this portion of 
the state j'et belonged to the Indians. The first 
settlement was made in 1850, and the settlers 
all clubbed together to protect themselves 
against the Indians ; the government furnishing 
them arms. The Territory gave the settlers 
the right to hold three hundred and twent\' 
acres of land ; this was to the Clubs, not that any 
one man could prove up on more than half that 
amount, but it was to be held for a friend, in 
order to induce people to come to the Territory. 

The winter of 1858-59, Mr. Cotterell and 
family lived upon nothing but Indian corn, and 
that without salt. His family came to the 
country in the summer of 1858, and consisted 
of wife and one daughter. 

When Mr. Cotterell came, the town plat of 
North Bend had been laid out by a company in 
Omaha, and he first "jumped" another man's 
claim, two miles to the east of this place, but 
after Mr. Cotterell jumped the claim, the orig- 
inal claimer came on to contest his right ; so 
the Club voted on it, and Mr. Cotterell gave up 
his right to the claim, with -the understanding 
that they would pay him for his house, wliich 
was a small cottonwood building. This they 
agreed to, but never fulliUed their agreement and 
some time afterward he hauled the house about 
one mile to the west of North Bend, and it was 
used as the first school house, and is still in ex- 
istence. ]\rr. Cotterell was on this claim a short 
time, and after getting off of that, he " jumped "' 
the town-site of North Bend, and the company 
at Omaha tried but could not substantiate their 
claim and linallv drdiihi'd the matter. Here 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



our subject built, in the autumn of 1857, a 
frame house, 12 x 19 feet. This was constructed 
of Cottonwood boards, and was the first frame 
house built in the Platte Valley. By building 
an addition to this, it served as a residence for 
ten years. In less than ten years the Home- 
stead law came into effect, and he availed him- 
self of that Act, by taking eighty acres within 
railroad limits, two and one-half miles east of 
North Bend, and purcliased eighty acres ad- 
joining, of the railroad company. Here he built 
a good frame house, 2-4 x 56 feet, story and one- 
half high, that was considered the finest farm 
house in Dodge County. In 1884 Mr. Cotterell 
sold his farm and moved to North Bend, where he 
built a line two-story frame house, constructed 
with all the latest improvements, including 
steam heat; and, without exaggeration, he has 
the finest place, not only in North Bend, but 
as good as the county affords. Our subject has 
dealt considerable in real estate, but has sold his 
property, and like the sensible man that he is, 
is taking the world easier than heretofore. 

He was united in marriage March 4. 1815, at 
Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Cathrine McNaughton, 
daughtei' of Dougal and Elizabeth (McNeai) 
McNaughton, both natives of Scotland. Mrs. 
Cotterell's parents died when she was quite 
young, and she was raised by John McNaught- 
ton, an uncle. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cotterell never reared any 
children of their own, but have two adopted 
children : Ilattio (Seariglit) and Julia Cotterell. 
Mrs. Cotterell is a member of the United Pres- 
byterian Churcii, and politically our subject, 
at present, is independent in politics, but 
has generally supported the lepublican party. 
In 18C0, he was elected to represent his district 
in the Nebraska Teri'itorial Legislature, and re- 
ceived every vote cast in Dodge County, which 
at that time was seventy-five. From the 
experiences of the past we learn the lesson of 
to-day, and as tlie reader reviews the man's 
life, whose name heads tliis sketcli, they should 
remember tiiat coming from the old Empire 
state, on through to the AVestern and Miss- 



issippi valley states, prior to the Civil war, and 
ten years in advance of railroads, meant great 
hardships, and only those possessing manly and 
womanly courage, were found cutting loose 
from the ties of home and fire-side, in their 
native states, to join the van-guard of pioneers, 
whose braun and muscles were to form a new 
Empire, in the great West ; and as one recounts 
all that these early settlers passed through, 
they are voluntarily given a warm place in the 
hearts of the younger generation, who are now 
reaping where their fathers sowed. And as 
our subject is already living on borrowed time 
(having passed his "three score years and ten") 
one half of which has been spent in the West 
assisting in, and watching the growth of 
Nebraska, from long before it was numbered 
with the bright stars in the Galaxy of States, 
on down until she was gridironed with rail- 
ways, ranking high among her sister states in 
point of agriculture and commerce. Well may 
our subject say with the poet : 

Thirty years ago, my State, 
You were fair — yes, very fair ; 

There were no furrows on your brow, 
No Silver in your hair. 

The blush of early womanhood 
Was on your rounded cheek. 

Wild flowers on your bosom. 
Exhaled their fragrance sweet. 

ELI llAGEll, living on Section IS, Platte 
township, has been a resident of Dodge 
(younty since the autumn of 18.")0, at 
which time his parents took a claim when it 
was yet all Indian lands never luiving been sur- 
veyed by the Government. Their first house 
was built of logs and roofed witii dirt. Oursub- 
ject was but seventeen years old, and it will be 
remembered that the winter of 1856-57 was tiie 
one noted for its severe weather and deep snows, 
and during that winter his father was lost in a 
blinding storm and frozen to death. Resjjonsibil- 
ity from that time forward devolved ui)on our 
subject, who had to become as the head of tiie 
family. Tiie following spring he built a log-house 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



for his mother, and he held their claim down un- 
til the treaty was made with the Indians, when 
they laiil a warrant on it. He remained with 
his mother about ten years, and then purchased 
eighty acres of the land he now occupies, upon 
which he erected a frame house 10x20 feet, in 
which he lived nine years. He made good im-. 
provements on this place, including stabling, 
granar\', artificial groves and an orchard of one 
hundred trees. He then sold out and built his 
present house in 1876, and provided the place 
with barns, cribbing, , carriage house and gra- 
nary. He also set out a grove, an orchard of 
six hundred trees and a hedge. His farm is 
known as the Centennial Stock Farm. It was 
our subject's ill-fortune to live in Dodge County 
through the grasshopper period, and by reasen 
of these winged pests sustained considerable 
loss. The only trouble he ever experienced 
with the Indians was a small amount of pilfer- 
ing they did from him. 

Mr. Hager is a native of the Green Mountain 
state and was born November 19, 1839, in Ver- 
mont. His parents were Steadman and S3'lvia 
1 lager, who were also natives of Vermont, and 
the parents of twelve children born in the fol- 
lowing order: Levina, Joseph, Seneca, Martha, 
Eli, Henry, Levi, Louisa, Margaret, George, 
Franklin and Sarah. 

Eli lived in Vermont until seven years of age, 
when the family moved to Massachusetts and he 
worked in a cotton mill two years, and from there 
the family moved to Wisconsin and engaged in 
farming until the time they came to Nebraska. 
His early advantages for an education were 
somewhat limited. November 11, 1866, he was 
united in marriage to Anna C. Swan, the 
daughter of William M. and Klioda Swan, who 
were the parents of the following eleven chil- 
dren : James, George, Piiillip, Walter, William, 
Anna C, John, Jasper, Penelope, Araminte 
and Arthur. 

He and his wife have thi'ee children : 
Ellis, born September 7, 1867 ; Morris, born 
January 13, 1869, and Jesse, born March 24, 
1871. 



In his political choice our subject supports 
the Independent party. He belongs to Lodge 
No. 15, as well as the Chapter of the Masonic 
Order at Fremont, also to Centennial Lodge, 
No. 59 , of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- 
lows. 

After having read tlie foregoing, it would 
almost go without saying, that our subject saw 
many of the hardships coincideiit to pioneei- 
life. However, the reader mav be reminded, 
that Nebraska at that day with its broad 
expanse of prairie and more Indians ten to one 
than there were whitdpB, afforded little else 
than hard work and annoyance for a youth of 
but seventeen summers to bear the I'esponsibil- 
ities of looking after the family, and so long as 
life shall be his, that memorable winter and the 
raging storm in which his father perished, will 
rise up before him with its awful realit}'. 



THOMAS KNOELL a highly respected 
citizen of Section 5, Platte township 
came to Dodge County in June, 
1859, in company with his parents and rented 
land for five years. His parents bought land 
and he remained with them until he was thirty- 
three years of age, himself and brothers work- 
ing together until the father died, when the 
land was divided. The mother was to be paid 
three hundred dollars a year as long as siie lived. 
Our subject took the farm, broke the |iraii-ie,made 
the building improvements, including liouse, 
barn and shedding for one hundred head of 
cattle, set shade trees and ])lanted an orchai'd of 
fift}^ trees. He now has three humired and 
twenty acres of land all enclosed with a good 
fence, ninety acres under the plow and tlu; bal- 
ance in pasture and meadow land. Tiie family 
came to Dodge County, poor. 

Thomas was born in Germany, October 20, 
1841, the son of Henry and Magaret Knoell of 
German birth, who were the i)arents of seven 
children : Christopher, John. Ilosa (deceaseti), 
Tiiomas, George, Valentine, Elizabeth. All six 
of the living chiklren are in Nebraska. Thonuis 



278 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



was but four years of age when he accompanied 
his parents from Germany to' this country. The 
family settled in Wisconsin, where they lived 
about thirteen 3-ears. Fi-om there our subject 
came to Nebraska, and has not been out of the 
state since. His advantages for an education 
were limited. 

lie was married January 28, 1873, to Mary 
Close, (hiughter of Adolph and Helen Close, 
natives of Germany who had ten children : 
Anna, Mary, Catherine, Casena, Herman, 
Adolph Jr., Helen and three who died in in- 
fancy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Knoell are the parents of ten 
children born in the following order : Mageie, 
January \?>, 1874; llosa, May 15, 1876; Fred, 
February 18, 1878; James, December 13, 1879; 
William, November 8, 1881 ; Gusta, December 
23,1883; Carrie, December 19, 1885; Mary, 
November 20, 1886 ; Frank, July 25, 1888 ; 
Sarah, March 21, 1891. 

Politically, Mr. Knoell is a believer in, and 
supporter of, the principles of the Republican 
party. 

To be possessor of half a section of Nebraska 
land is indeed a princely heritage, as it is grow- 
ing more valuable with the passing 3'ears, and 
our subject must indeed value his excellent 
farm with the good home it provides him and 
his interesting family, even more highly from 
the fact of his parents having spent their youth- 
ful days in that old and densely populated por- 
tion of Europe in which he was born, and where 
farms of this size are rare. His parents never 
had the opportunities of branching out and 
becoming well situated, as has our subject. 



DAVID EROWN, who is a resident of 
Section 4, Maple township, came to 
Dodge County in March, 1870, and 
rented farm land for four years ; traveled as 
colporteur for the Presbyterian boai-d for one 
year and then removed to the place whei'e he 
now resides. 



He first rented this place and in 1878 bought 
it, and two years thereafter purchased the 
adjoining quarter section of land and removed 
the buildings thereon, to the home place. 
Though situated on the table-land, this farm is 
more than ordinaril}' convenient to water sup- 
ply, abundance being found at a depth of ten 
to twenty-five feet, and of the purest quality. 
This farm contains a grove of ten acres mostly 
planted before he bought it, and he has added 
an orchard of about three hundred apple trees, 
besides pears, plums and an abundance of small 
fruits; while his lawn is beautifully shaded b}' 
evergreens. He has reduced his plow land to 
sixty acres, the balance being pasture and 
meadow, all being seeded with the tame grasses 
and clover. 

During these years of farm life, he has had 
good crops and a fair return for his labor. He 
is a practical and scientific bee-keeper, and 
receives not only profit but pleasure from car- 
ing for his apiary. 

The past few years he has added cattle-feed- 
ing, so as to increase the profits as well as the 
richness of the land, and for this purpose has 
added machinery to cut and grind all feed 
used, and uses steam-])ower to do so. 

He was born in Gavin, Ontario, Canada, 
July 8, 1839. The son of John and Eilcn P.rown, 
of the County Antrim, Ireland, who were the 
parents of nine children, of whom he was the 
youngest. He lived at his ]iarental home 
mostly, until he arrived at his majoi-ity, after 
which he was mostly employed in school teach- 
ing until he came to Nebraska. The subject 
of this sketch has not been without his troubles 
in life. Married, January, 1SG2, to Catherine 
Reid Henderson who died in January of the 
following year. He was in 1806, married to 
Catharine Raycraft, daughter of William and 
Margaret Raycraft. 

Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of nine 
children, all of whom are living: Alfred D., 
William J., Emma V., Agnes S., Ellen M., 
George S., Earle R., Owen D., and Ernest H. 
When Mr Hrown came to the United States to 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



279 



make his home, beino- fully conversant with the 
government of the Nation, and in deep s\'m- 
pathy with the cause tiiattlie Republican party 
esjioused and so nobly won, he had no hesita- 
ti(jn in joining them. I'ut not willing to rest 
satisfied with (he good they had done, but 
desiring still greater reforms tiiat they as a 
party, wei'e not willing to undertake, he joined 
the Trohibition Party, and is willing to work 
and wait for tiie bringing about of all the 
reforms they ask for. 

I'oth he and his wife have been members of 
the Presbyterian Church since tiieir vouth. 



ALHEIiT JOHNSON, whose farm liome 
is on section 19, of Elkborn township, 
first looked upon the fair and fertile do- 
main of Dodge County in the autumn of 1857, 
thirty-five years ago, when he located on land 
constituting his present farm, consisting of 
one hundred and sixty acres, which claim iiow- 
ever he did not improve at once, but went to 
Omaha where he engaged as a carpenter and 
contractor, remaining four years. After that 
he went to Chenango County, New York, and 
v/ent to farming and there remained until 
the spring of 1877, when he came back to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, and commenced the 
improvement of his own land. At first he 
erected a shant}', 12xl'± feet, and moved his 
wife and four children into the same, tempor- 
arily while he was building a story and one half 
liouse, 18x24 feet. He has since added a wing 
Mx2-1: feet: built a barn 38x50 feet, cribs, shed- 
ding, granary, tool-house and a milk-house. 
His premises are furnished with the purest of 
water, by the use of drive wells and wind- 
))ower. He has added to his land until he now 
lias four hundred acres, one hundred being 
under the plow. He has a fine orchard of 
sixty trees, besides a large amount of shade 
trees. The first years he was in the country, he 
sustained great loss by high water from the 
Hoods of theElkhorn riverand Kawhide Creek. 
In ISSl, lie sliipped two car-loads of ealtle 



into the country from New York, of which 
number he lost a good many during a severe 
snowstorm. He met with one reverse after 
another, in his operations and using his own 
language, "would have gone to the wall, had it 
not been for help receiveil from friends in New 
York." 

Mr. Johnson was born in New York State, 
March 17, 1S35, the son of Ralph and Betsy 
Johnson, natives of Connecticut and the par- 
ents of five children: William, George, de- 
ceased; Clarrissa, deceased; Joseph and Albert. 
Our subject remained in New York with iiis 
parents until he was of age, when he learned 
the carpenters trade, at which he worked until 
he came West. His education was limited, 
and what he has was obtained at the public 
schools. In 1SC3 he paid a substitute to enter 
the Union army in his stead. 

He was married in 18G3, to Adaline Yanness 
daughter of Henry and Magdaline Vanness, 
natives of New York, and whose family con- 
sisted of five daughters : Elizabeth, Mary, Ada- 
line, deceased; Margaret, Henrietta. 

In October, 1881, death claimed our subject's 
companion, and for his second wife he married 
Harriett Moore, daughter of Godfrey and Har- 
riett Moore, natives of New York. The date 
of this marriage was October 25, 1883. In our 
subject's present wifes' family", were the follow- 
ing children: Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, Sarah, 
John, Jane E., deceased; Caroline P., and Har- 
riett. The father and mother are both de- 
ceased. By his first nuirriage our subject had 
four children: Henry A., Ralph, Magdaline \'., 
and Robert B. 

He and his wife are members of the Congre- 
gational Church. Politically, oui' subject is a 
supporter of the Prohibition party. 



FRED SONNENSCllEIN, a real estate 
broker residing at West Point, Cuming 
County, is a native of Boiiemia, born in 
185'1 at Prague. He came to America in ISlKi 
and loeateil at West Point, Nebraska, in 18(11). 



280 



NOH THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



He was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss 
Elizabeth Norak. 

Mr. Sonnenschein has been engaged in the 
real estate business for the past ten years. 

He is United States Commissioner for his 
district. 

He is now an officer in the Grand Lodge of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, also an 
ofiicgr in the Grand Lodge of the Knights of 
Pythias Order, for Nebraska. He is a thor- 
ough believer in American institutions. 



J MASON SMITH, a farmer residing on 
Section 12, Union township, is a pioneer 
of Dodge County, coming as he did in 
the month of June, 1S57, with Mathew 
S. Cotterell, Alexander Morrison and James 
Humjjhrey, who brought a saw-mill with them. 
Upon their arrival here there were only four 
families within the radius of several miles. 
These were: Robert Miller and famil}', George 
Young and family, John Miller and family 
and George J. Turton and wife, all of whom 
are still residents of the county except the last 
named, who went to California about 1881. 
Mr. Smith's first house was built on his present 
farm, in the summer of 1858, he having entered 
one hundred and sixty acres of land. This 
building was made of cottonwood boards set 
up endwise. The first year they were here 
they liveil in a double log-house with two other 
families, the building being known as the 
" North Bend House." 

Mr. Smith was born in Alloa, Clackmannan 
Shire, Scotland, November 11, 1829. He is the 
fourth child of John and Jane (Mason) Smith. 
The father was a native of Yorkshire. England, 
and the mother a native of Scotland. Our 
subject remained at home with his parents 
until lie was about twenty years of age, when 
he went to England to visit his father's people 
and remained there three years, returned to 
his native country and there remained until the 
spring of 1855, when he sailed for America and 
went direct to Springfield, Ohio, where his 



parents had gone some time before. He re- 
mained about that place one month and then 
went to Cleveland, Ohio, where his brother, 
Mark Smith, lived. He was made chorister 
of the Erie Street Church. He was also book- 
keeper for Jonn Downie, painting and paper- 
hangers establishment, and remained there 
until May 29, 1857, and then started west. 

May 26, 1857, he was united in marriage at 
Cleveland to Janette Bisset, daughter of Evan 
and Mary McKay, both natives of Ross Shire, 
Scotland. Mrs. Smith was born in the city of 
Inverness, Scotland, May 8, 1828. Iler mother 
died in Scotland when our subject's wife was a 
young girl, after which she went to Canada 
with her father, and there remained until she 
was fourteen years of age, after which she went 
to live with her sister, Mrs. Charles A. Hills, of 
Cleveland, and there remained until the date 
of her marriage. 

Mr, and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two 
children : Roderick Cotterell, who was born 
December 21, 1858, and who was the first white 
child born in the village of North Bend ; 
Scott E, born August 12, 1860, on the farm 
Mr. Smith now occupies. This son now lives 
in AVood River and is cashier of the Citizens 
Bank. 

Politically, he has usually been associated 
with the Republican party. 

Among the early day hardships experienced 
by him, in common with other pioneers,he relates 
that there was no flour to be had, even though 
one was fortunate enough to possess mone\', as 
it nearly all came from St. Louis up the river 
to Omaha, and at certain seasons of the year 
could not be had. As a substitute, he frequently 
grated green corn from which to make meal, 
upon which his family might subsist. 



ELIJAH G. BRUGII, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Elkhorn townsliip, 
whose farm is located on Section 32, 
came to Dodge County in the spring of 1863, 
he being sixteen years of age at the time. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



281 



Of his histoiy before he came to Dodge 
Count}', the reader will be informed that he was 
born in Blackford County. Indiana, August 17, 
1816. Ilis i)arents were Jacob and Lydia 
l^rugii. natives of Pennsylvania, whose nine 
children were as follows: Spangler, Lydia A., 
Margaret, Emaline (deceased). Catharine, An- 
di-ew G., Elijah (t., Mary E., and Jacob T. 

Mr. Brugh remained in Indiana until he was 
sixteen years of age, and then came to Dodge 
Oountv, Nebraska. His advantages for an ed- 
ucation were of the common school oi'der. 

He was united in marriage December 2, 1866, 
to Mary E. Bowman, daughter of Isaac and 
llebecca Bowman, natives of Virginia, whose 
family consisted of the following eight chil- 
dren : George J., William G.. James L., Jo- 
seph C, Mary E., Annie E., Nathaniel Q. and 
John II. 

Our subject and Ins wife liave the following 
children: (Miarles II., Lulu K., Elijaii 8. and 
Addie M. 

Politically Mr. Brugh is a stanch su])porter 
of tlie Republican party, and has held the 
officesof justice of tlie peace, assessor and county 
supervisor, and has also been member of the 
school board. 

Upon coming to Dodge County, it will be re- 
membered, he was but sixteen years of age, but 
he purchased a team consisting of two yoke of 
oxen and went to freighting across the plains 
to Denvei', Laramie, and other points in the 
West, lie followed this for four years. This 
was during the last years of the Civil War, 
when the Western country was little else than 
a wilderness, and he endured many hardships, 
seeing the roughest side of life. At different 
times he was attacked by tlie Indians. U[)on 
one occasion this happened at Plum Creek, but 
tlio soldiers came to his aid and repulsed them, 
so tiiat our subject suffered no loss, with the 
exception of twenty-one head of oxen, which, 
however, nu'ant a great deal to the young 
freighter. After leaving the plains he pur- 
chased the farm he now occupies, wiiich at the 
time was a (|uarter section of pai'tl}' imj)roved 



land, upon which he erected a house lix20 feet, 
to which he adiled an upright 14x24. This farm 
house served him for fifteen years, when he 
built his present house, which is 26x30 feet, 
with a wing 16x18 feet, lie built a barn 30x56 
feet, with a cattle shed 150 feet long and a 
doul)ie crib. He provided his place with drive 
wells, erected a wind-mill and set out an or-chard 
of 100 trees; also a grove of 2,000 trees, each 
one of whicli now stands as a living, towering 
numument to his good sense. He has since 
added to his landed estate until he now has 640 
acres. 

As will be seen from the foregoing. Mr. I'.rugh 
commenced to battle for himself quite early in 
life. He looked upon the great Western plains 
as a freighter, and encountei'ed tribes of hostile 
Indians long before Nebraska had been ad- 
mitted into the Union. His has been a life of 
toil and industry, which has finally crowned 
him with financial success, for to be tiie posses- 
sor of a section of Dodge County land is indeed 
to be indepetulent. 

In the fall of 1892 Mr. Brugh erected a house 
at Fremont on the corner of Ninth antlTrving 
streets, but will still attend to his farm interests, 
with his two sons. 



G 



EOIIGE YOUNG, one of the prominent 
farmers of Union township, is a resi- 
dent of Section 12. He may well be 
numbered among the pioneer band of Eastern 
Nebraska, because he effected settlement in 
Dodge County, on July 4, 1856, and took a 
claim of one hundred and sixty acres, wliere 
he now lives. Thirty six " Fourth of July " 
celebrations have come and gone; the Civil 
War was enacted, and peace finally restored ; 
Nebraska lias passed from an Indian IJeserva- 
tion to a Territory, and finally been admitted 
into the Union, all since Mr. Young first lookeil 
upon what has come to be one of the famous 
garden spots of the West. During this time 
it is no more than natural, to suppose that our 
subject has been making history also, though 



282 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



of a more personal character, but which has 
its place in the history of his countiT — hence 
the following notice : 

Mr. Young was born in Linlithgow Shire, 
Scotland, March 30, 1823. lie is the son of 
James and Georgianna (Orick) Young, both 
natives of Scotland. Like most youths of his 
day, George remained under the paternal roof 
until long past his majority. In the month of 
June, 1850, he sailed for America, and came 
direct to Lake County, Illinois, arriving the 
last of July. For the first two years he worked 
on a farm, and the ne.xt two years had charge 
of a farm in Clark County, after which he re- 
turned to Lake County, remained until the 
spring of 18515, and being seized with the west- 
ern fever, he started for Nebraska. Land was 
not surveyed in Dodge County at that time, 
but he made a claim to a (juarter of Section 12, 
as the surveyed lines afterward indicated, and 
when land came into the market, which was 
about 1858, he pre-empted eighty acres, giving 
one dollar and one quarter per acre. He did 
not have money enough to pre-empt a quarter 
section, consequently had to be content with 
one-half that amount. Our subject did not 
come to the country in a palace car, but on 
the contrary, he migiit have been seen wend- 
ing his way from Luke County, Illinois, across 
trackless prairies and unbridged streams with 
an ox team, in comi)an\' with John Miller and 
family, Kobert Miller and family, William and 
Alexander Miller (single men) and Miss Eliza 
Miller, (now Mrs. EI3', of Fremont), all of 
whom took land in this localit}^ The first 
house Mr. Young built on his claim, was con- 
structed of cotton wood logs, was 12x14 feet, 
with no door and covered with hay, which 
was anything but water tight. A year later, a 
mill was started by Messrs. Cotterell and 
others, and then our subject obtained shingles 
for a roof and boards for a floor. He lived in 
this house fourteen years, having made an 
addition to it, when he erected the frame house, 
which his son now occupies, the same being 
one of the best houses in the commnnitv at the 



time. This house served the family until the 
spring of 1884, when he erected his pres^ent 
residence, just to the south of the pioneer house 
and on tiie opposite side of the road. This is 
a story and a half frame structure, 18x24 feet, 
with a kitchen 12x14 feet. In 1875, he built a 
barn 20x32 feet. His premises are of the first- 
class order, and the beautiful evergreen trees, 
that grace the yard about his residence, be- 
speak of the man's character and taste. Mr. 
Young and sons, now have something over one 
section of land in the Platte Valley, all in one 
body. The river Nile never flowed through 
more fertile soil than is here found. 

The ''hard winter" of 1856-57, the one 
never to be for'gutten by western pioneers, 
afforded an experience of cold and discomfor- 
ture almost past endurance. December 2, was 
tiie worst day of the season ; RoberD Miller 
and Mr. Youngs' houses were only fourteen 
rods apart, and John Miller and wife at the 
time were at Mr. Young's house. The three 
had built a sod stable for our subject's calves. 
This was about twelve rods from both Mr. 
Miller and Mr. Youngs' houses. The storm had 
commenced a couple of days before that, and 
on that morning, Mr. Miller came over to Mr. 
Youngs' and asked if tliey had seen the calves. 
Mr. Young replied "No" and as his wife was 
very sick, Robert and John Miller started for 
the stable to see the calves. After they had 
been gone about an hour and did not return, 
Mr. Young thought he would go and see what 
was the matter. So he started for Robert Mil- 
ler's house and the first thing he knew he fell 
headlong over a drift of snow into a haystack. 
He then concluded he could not find Mr. Mil- 
ler's house, and the best thing he could do 
would be to get back home. He knew he was 
only a few rods from his house, but instead of 
going east as he supposed he had, he had gone 
south, so he turned against the storm, believing 
he could find the house by facing the storm. 
He had only gone a short distance, when he 
was out of breath and turning his back to the 
wind, stopped tu get his breath, and it hap- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



283 



pened there was a lull for a moment and be 
could see liis house, wliich he had passed by. 
Thus the moment's lull in the storm saved Inm 
from being lost, lie returned to his house in 
safety and did not venture out again that day ; 
but as to John and Ilobert Miller he knew not. 
Mrs. Miller, John's wife, who was at our sub- 
ject's house became frantic, and was bound to 
go out and hunt the lost men. But Mr. Young 
would not let her go out, so they sat in the 
house while the long hours of the day ])assed 
slowly by, and when the curtain of night had 
fallen did not go to bed, for fear Mrs. Miller 
would go out in search of her husband. One 
by one tlie dreary hours of the night pa.ssed 
by , gradually the storm abated, and in the 
morning the wind had ceased to blow. Uright 
and early, Mr. Young went over to Mr. Mil- 
ler's, and happil\' found the men there. Upon 
leaving Mr. Youngs' place the day before,, the\' 
went to the stable when the storm arose in all 
of its fury, and they started for Robert Mil- 
ler's house, having the wind at their face. 
"When they got where they thought the house 
ought to be, they called aloud, whereupon 
liobert Miller's wife opened the door and called 
to them, and while they were within ten feet 
of the house, so blinding was the storm it could 
not be seen. Thus ended a page of experience 
that might have terminated in the fatality of 
two pioneers. 

Mr. Young was uniteil in marriage in Scot- 
land November 11, 18-15, to Miss Anna Miller, 
the daughter of "William and Eliza (Cochrine) 
Miller, natives of Clackmannan Shire. Our sub- 
ject and his wife are the parents of four chil- 
dren : Eliza C, born in Scotland, November 8, 
1846 ; James II. born in Lake County, Illinois, 
September 26, 1850; Georgianna O., born in Lake 
County, Illinois, May 1, 1853; and Seth W., 
born in Dodge County, Nebraska, November 
30, 1856, he being the first white male child 
born in L^odge County. 

But not alone tlid the ehnnentsof nature, war 
against pioneer Young's happiness during that 
memorable winter; but the grim messenger 



death, made his appearance at the humble cabin 
home on December 20, 1856, and claimed our 
subject's companion, who died in the wilds of a 
strange land, leaving an infant twenty -one days 
old. Mrs. Voimg was boi'n in Scotland, March, 
1821. She was a member of the I'nited Pres- 
byterian Church, and an exemplarv Chi-istian 
lady. 

Jlr. Young was again married November 19, 
1870, in Platte Countv, Nebraska, to Miss Anna 
C. Kelley, the daughter of John and Charity 
A. (Beeson) Kelley. The father was a native 
of New Jersc}', while the mother was born in 
Oliio. They were man-ied in Ohio, and Mrs. 
Young was born in Columbiana County, of 
that State, October 14, 1836, and came with 
her parents to Douglas County, Nebraska, in 
1857. In 1861 they moved to Platte County, 
where the father died in 1860, at about sixty- 
three 3'ears of age. The mother still lives in 
Platte County ; the date of her birth being 
1800. 

Mr. Young and his present wife are members 
of the United Presbyterian Church, and he be- 
ing a radical temperance man, is ver}' naturally 
identified with the Prohibition part3\ 

Of his children let it be said : Eliza C, is 
now Mrs. N. II. Gale, whose husband is a 
Methodist minister at Central City ; James R,., 
married Miss Hummel, and resides on Section 
12, of Union township ; (ieorgianna, married 
Mr. Keeton, of North Bend, Nebraska; and 
Seth AY., married Miss Anna "Watson and lives 
on the old homestead. 

Our subject' !> parents died in Scotland. The 
mother died of cholera, aged about sixty five 
years. The father came to his death by acci- 
denth' falling down stairs when he was eighty 
years of age. 

The foregoing sketch which reviews some of 
the moreim])ortant incidents in connection with 
the life of Mr. Young, not unlike many another 
pioneer's sketch, is a commingling of both pain 
and pleasure, nevertheless a true record, and 
will rest on the pages of history as a written 
memorial to what he has passed through from 



284 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



his boyhood days down to the present time, 
when he is looking over the threshold of his 
tliree score and ten years. As he looks bade 
with a retrospective glance down the j'ears of 
the past, be may indeed draw a good degree of 
satisfaction with the consciousness within him, 
that he has always lived an u|)nght, manly life, 
an example which may be well patterned after 
by those who shall come after him. 

WILLIAM! E. LEE, of Fremont, better 
known as "C(;mmish'' Lee, was 
born in Pennsylvania in August, 
1833, living there until grown with his father, 
who was a farmer and lumberman. In May, 
1855, he went to Wisconsin, where he worked 
at the carpenter trade in the summer, in the 
pineries in the winter, and rafting on the Mis- 
sissippi river in the spring, lie then traveled 
tJirough Minnesota and came to Nebraska, 
locating at Fremont in 1S56, celebrating his 
twenty-third birthday by staking out a claim on 
unsurveyed land one mile east of Fremont. Of 
tliis he still owns one hundred and ten acres. 
That November lie was elected on the first board 
of county commissioners for two years. In the 
fall of 1858, he went to Kansas, returning in 
the spring and in company with (t. W. Dawer 
went to North Bend and built a flat-boat which 
they loaded with cetlar siiade trees from the 
different islands in the river, ami drifting down 
the river landed at the dilYerent towns and clos- 
ing out their cargo as well as boat at Leaven- 
woi'th, Kansas, which proved a good venture, 
lie then returned to Fremont and in June made 
a trip to Tennessee, Mississi|)pi and Arkansas, 
working at the carpenters trade part of the 
time and getting out navy timber for the 
French market, but the breaking out of the late 
Civil War and tlie blockade of New Orleans 
harbor put a stop to the business. He managed 
to secure a pass to Tennessee, but landed in 
Fremont the last of June. 1861. He then 
engaged in trading with the Indians until tiio 
following spring, at which time he fitted out a 
freight team and went to Denver, makinir two 



trips that season. On October 23, he enlisted 
in the Second Nebraska Cavalry for nine 
months, but served eleven. Being mustered 
out September 22,1863, he immediately returned 
to freighting, following that business until the 
autumn of 1865 and then selling out, going to 
Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he bought a lot 
mules (at a Government sale), which he drove 
to Nebraska. He engaged in getting out rail- 
road ties the following winter and in the spring 
went to grading on the U. P. R. R. as a sub- 
contractor, continuing on the road until its 
completion, excepting the summer of 1867, 
when he was a member of North's Battalion of 
Pawnee Indian Scouts, in the capacity of P^irst 
Lieutenant. In the spi'ing of 186i), he was 
united in marriage to Mary C. Biles, of Penn- 
sylvania. They have two children : Ratie and 
Fred. That fall he graded the first three miles 
of the K. E. & M. V. R. R. 

In 1871 he went to Texas in company with 
Edward Blewett, his former partner, where they 
graded twenty-five miles of railroad, closing out 
and going into the stock business in the spring 
of 1874, in which business he has been engaged 
ever since, most of the time driving cattle, 
horses and sheep from Oregen, selling the cat- 
tle and horses in Wyoming and Nebraska and 
feeding shee}) at Fremont for the Chicago 
market. 

Mr. Lee has several tracts of land, among 
which are three good farms near Fremont. 

Politicallv. Mr. Lee is a Republican, but was 
formerly a High Tariff Democrat. He is a 
member of the G. A. R., Knights of Pytiiias, 
and also of the Masonic Orders, Lodge, Chap- 
ter and Commanderv. He is one of the directors 
of the Fremont National Bank and of the Fii-st 
National Hank of Arlington, and at the present 
time is president of the Old Settlers Association 
of Dodge Countv. 



HON. HENRY P. BEEBE, one of the 
substantial farmers of Platte t(;wn^liip, 
Dodge County, residing on Section 4, 
is one of the few men who sought out a home 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



in what was then the vast prairie wilderness 
of Nebraska, in the autumn of 1856. The earl}' 
|)ioneers are fast passing away ; their heads 
have silvered by the frost of many a winter of 
exposure and hardship; the former lustre of 
their eyes is slowly fading ; but while they 
are 3'et with us it is truly befitting that they 
themselves make some record by which the 
events of their lives may be preserved and 
handed down to future generations. Our sub- 
ject first located on the farm he now occupies 
which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres 
of wild land. Here he broke the prairie sod and 
erected a log cabin in'which helived abouteleven 
years, when he built his present residence, which 
is 16x22 feet, with a w'ing 14x16 feet. He also 
built a barn, shedding for ninety head of cattle 
and a double corn crib ; also a granary and 
other out-buildings. His improvements are of 
the most substantial character, including a 
beautiful grove of five acres and an orchard of 
one hundred and fifty trees, together with his 
wells and wind-mill. He has added to his 
landed estate until he now has two hundretl and 
ninety acres, one hundred being under cultiva- 
tion, and the balance in pasture and meadow 
land. Duiing the deep snow winter of 1856-57 
he killed large quantities of deer, elk and wild 
turkeys. He had but little trouble with the 
Indians except the annoyance occasioned by 
pilfering. The}' stole some of his neighbors 
cattle, and shot one of his cows with an arrow 
that penetrated fifteen inches. 

Mr. Beebe is a native of the Empire State, 
and was born in Rochester, Monroe County, 
New York, Fedruary 22, 1831. He is the son 
of Prentice and Wealthy Beebe, natives of New 
York and Massacliusetts, respectively. Their 
family consisted of seven children, of whom 
our subject was the fourth. The childrens 
names were : Henry (deceased), Chauncey, 
^fary J., Heny P., Phoebe A. (deceased), John, 
]\[artin and Charles. Six of these children are 
living and residents of Nebi'aska. Our subject 
i-emained in his native State until he was four 
years of age when his parents removed to 



Detroit, Michigan, and lived for three years, 
and then went to a point near Green Ea}', 
Wisconsin w'here his father worked as a con- 
tractor and builder. Henry P. renuuned at 
home until he w'as of age, having learned the 
car|)enters trade prior to that time. He fol- 
lowed this until he came to Dodge Count}' and 
has used his tools at various times since, in the 
erection of his own and other peoples buildings. 
His education was of the common school class. 
As a matter of no little interest it may be 
stated that our subject's mother and President 
Franklin Pierce were first cousins. 

He was united in marriage February 2, 1851, 
to Levina Hager, daughter of Steadman and 
Sylvia Hager, natives of Vermont, and who 
reared a family of ten children, who were born 
in the following order: Levina (deceased), 
Joseph (deceased), Seneca, Ely, Henry, Levi, 
Louisa, Margaret (deceased), George and 
Frankhn. Our subject and his wife are the 
parents of ten children, born as follows : 
Wealthy, June 24, 1852; Steadman, December 
25, 1854; Frances, September 22, 1857; Henry, 
March 4, 1860; Curtis, October 6, 1862 ; Sarah, 
March 29, 1865 ; Rosa, August 31, 1867 ; Horace 
(deceased), born April 24, 1870 ; John (de- 
ceased), born March 3, 1872 and an infant 
(deceased), born December 31, 1875. 

Mr. Beebe is a supporter of the Republican 
party, and was elected to the office of county 
treasurer in 1856, serving two years, but as the 
subject happily remarks : " there were no taxes 
to collect at that time and no defalcations." 
He was the first to represent Dodge County in 
the House of Representatives after Nel)raska 
was admitted into the Union, and was elected 
to the office of county judge and served during 
the years lS64r-65, as well as many minor offices. 
Pie is now a member of the Board of Su|)ervi- 
sors for Dodge County. 

The foregoing sketch indicates tiiat Mr. 
Beebe has been an active thoi'ough going man 
and has been closely connected with every inter- 
est of Dodge County for the last thirty-six 
years, his ability being very eaily recognized in 



286 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



his election to the office of county treasurer, 
county judge and member of the legislature. 
From almost any point of view one may look 
at his career, it must be acknowledged that 
his has been a successful life, and tliat the only 
cloud thai lias darkened his 'sky and saddened 
his life was the death of his three children and 
finally the calling from his home and fire-side 
the comjianion of his life, who had wept when 
lie wept, rejoiced when he rejoiced and been his 
faithful companion for forty years but who 
died February 12, 1891. 



HON. LOUIS P. LAESON, an enterprising 
business factor of Fremont, Dodge 
County, is a native of Sweden, born 
Febuary 5, 18.51. He is the youngest of a 
family of five children, and was reared in his 
native country, where he i-emained until he was 
eighteen years of age; there receiving his edu- 
cation. Upon arriving in America in 1869, he 
located in Kewanee, Illinois, and engaged in 
farming, following tiiis for two summers, work- 
ink in the mines during the winter season. 
Having to earn his own way in the world, and 
being possessed of that characteristic so pre- 
dominant in the people of his nationalitv, he 
saved every dollar of his earnings and at the 
end of two years, formed a partnership with a 
physician named Rudelius, in the drug business 
at Kewanee, and in 1872, the3' moved the stock 
to Omalm, Nebraska, wliere tliey continued in 
trade until the summer of 1873, when he dis- 
posed of his interests to his partner, and took a 
course in the Kathbun Business College, grad- 
uating in December, 1873 ; he being the first 
graduate from that institution. January 1, 
1874, he accepted a position as book-keeper in 
the wholesale grocery house of M. Cumings of 
Omaha, with whom he remained one year. In 
Febuary, 1875, he came to Fremont, and 
embarked in the grocery business as agent for 
his former employer, Mr. Cumings. January 
1, 187(5, the firm was changed to L. P. Larson 
ix, Co., Mr. Cumings representing the latter. 



In January, 1878, he purchased the interest of 
Mr. Cumings, and took in his brother John 
Larson, the firm name continuing the same, 
however. They continued until May 1, 1890. 
From 1875 to 1881, the firm did a retail busi- 
ness, carrying a general stock of dry goods and 
groceries. In 1881, the}' merged into a whole- 
sale liquor and cigar house. In 1885, they dis- 
posed of their dry goods busmess to John 
Knechtel, and one of the company's old and 
entrusted employes, but L. P. Larson remained 
an especial partner in the concern until January 
1, 1892, when he disposed of his interest. May 
1, 1886, they admitted to the firm John Bodell. 
The only partners in the concern now being 
Messrs. Larson and Bodell. Joiin Larson hav- 
ing retired in 1890. Their trade extends over 
Nebraska. Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, 
and Northwestern Iowa. They keep two 
traveling men on the road constantly, wiiich at 
times is increased to three. The}' carry a fifty 
thousand dollar stock and enjoy an annual sale 
of two hundred thousand dollars. Since 1881, 
they have been general western agents for the 
Pabst Brewing Company. They have good 
facilities for storing and keeping their stock, 
including two large warehouses, besides their 
genenil business room which is sixty -six by one 
hundred feet, with a basement under the entire 
building. Tliey are located on the corner of 
First and Main streets, Mr. Larson was presi- 
(k'nt of the Fremont Foundry and Macliine 
Company for about three years, and is still one 
of the stock holders. The concern works upon 
an average of fifty men. He is also one of the 
directors of the Fremont National Hank, as well 
as a director of t hi' I'rcnioiit Land and Stock- 
yard Company, lie being (jne of tiie original 
organizers of that corporation. He is one of 
the directors of the Fremont Brewing Com- 
pany, as well as treasui'cr of the same. He is a 
director of the Anahuac Mining Company, as 
well as a stockholder in the Fremont Carriage 
Manufactory ; Fremont Manufacturing Com- 
pany ; Fremont Continuous Kiln Company, and 
the Fremont Street Ilailway. He possesses 




(y)cj^^^w^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



considerable real estate in Dodge County, 
iiu-luding Fremont Cit\- property. In ISSS, he 
erected a fine residence on East Fourth street 
at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. 

Mr. Larson is a member of the Knigiits of 
Pythias Order, Triumpii Lodge, No. 32. Poli- 
ticall}', he was formerly a Republican, and on 
this ticket was twice elected to the office of 
city treasurer. In 1884, he changed his poli- 
tical affiliation entering the Democratic party, 
and in ISSS was elected as a member of the 
twenty first legislature of Nebraska, during 
which time he was on the finance committee, 
public lands and buildings, militia and emi- 
gration committees. 

Mr. Larson was married March 13, 1873, to 
Althea Granath, a native of Sweden, who came 
to America in 1869. Five children bless their 
home : Lydia, Laura, Louis P., Lillie and Luther. 
Mrs. Larson is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church. 

Not unlike many other representatives of his 
native country, Mr. Larson may well feel proud 
of his adopted country, with the freedom of 
speech , the free school system, and the liberal 
educational institutions which qualify men for a 
business life, together with the fi'eedom of chos- 
ing their own calling in life. These can all be 
duly appreciated by the man for whom we write 
thisskotch. Indeed itmay be said that hehasbeen 
eminently successful in his every undertaking, 
and as an index to his popularity' his election 
to the State Legislature only needs to be men- 
tioned. Again be it said to his credit, that he 
is not possessed with that miserly disposition 
so detestable in mankind, but n-herever he lias 
made a dollar it has been judiciallv invested 
in some one of the man\' legitimate business 
(jnterprises with which he is connected, all of 
which go toward the upbuilding of the city, 
county and state in which he lives, giving 
employment, as they do, to the day laborer and 
skilled artisan, who have not a sufficient means 
with which toengage in business for themselves. 
An American well says: "The genius of Amer- 
ican industry is our home-building. Take away 



that and 3'ou destroy' everything," and Mr. 
Larson has acted upon this principle by invest- 
ing his money at his own homo, instead of 
risking it in far-away speculations, which too 
often result in a final overthrow. 



HON. NKLS. P. NELSON, a farmer, lo- 
cated on Section S-i, of Logan town- 
ship, came to Dodge County in the 
autumn of 1869, when he took a homestead of 
eighty acres, which is a part of his present 
farm. He at once commenced improvement, 
making a dug-out for a residence, the sides of 
which were sod and the roof covered with hay 
and sod together. In this abode he lived for 
five years, when a small frame house was 
erected in which twelve years more were spent, 
at the end of which time his present commo- 
dious, two-story frame house was erected. The 
same is 28x48 feet. He also built a barn, 
granary, cribs, etc. A ten-acre grove of arti- 
ficial trees adorns his place, besides an orchard 
of seventy trees. His farm now comprises 
two hundred acres. 

Mr. Nelson was born in the North of Europe 
midst the pine trees which there abound in 
such great abundance. He was born in Swe- 
den, December 6, 1852," the son of Peter and 
Hannah Nelson, natives of Sweden, who had 
four children : Nels. P., John, Nellie and Bet- 
tie. Our subject is the only one who survives. 
He lived in Sweden until he was sixteen years 
of age, when he accompanied his parents to 
this countrw. From Quebec, Canada, the fam- 
ily went to Red "Wing, Minnesota, where the}' 
stopped a short time and then moved to 
Omaha, Nebraska, where our subject worked 
by the day for two months, when his father, 
brother and one sister died, after which he 
came to Dodge County. 

He was married January 3, 1878, to Mary 
Burgquist, of Swedish parentage, whose seven 
children were named as follows: Matilda, 
Charles, Oscar, Alexander (deceased), Edna, 
Gustave and ]\Iary. lie of whom we write 



290 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



this sketch, and his estimable wife, are the par- 
ents of five children : Hjalmar, born Septem- 
ber 15, 1879; Elilma, born October 2, 1881; 
Emily, born May 28, 1884; Nellie, born March 
8, 1888, and Carl, born April 29, 1891. 

The family are members of the Lutheran 
Church, and politically, our subject is a Demo- 
crat. In the fall of 1890 Mr. Nelson was 
elected representative of the Fourteenth Dis- 
trict and served with credit to himself and con- 
stituents, and was re-elected in the fall of 1892. 



HON. EDWIN II. HARNARD, ex-re))- 
resentative and early county official of 
Dodge County, is justly entitled to 
more than a passing mention in tliis connec- 
tion. 

He is a great-gi'andson of William Barnard, 
wiio was a native of New Haven, Connecticut, 
where he was reared and spent his early life, 
amid the Puritanic scenes of New England 
life. lie was there married, reared a part of 
his family, and then moved to Oneida County, 
New York, and took up a large tract of land, 
and after a long and useful life died in that 
county. 

The grandfatlier of Edwin II. was Gurdon 
Barnard, who was also born and partially 
reared in New Haven, accompanying his par- 
ents to New York State, where lie engaged in 
farming, married and reared a large famil}', 
there being twenty-one children, fifteen of 
whom grew to maturity. After rearing his 
family, he removed to Susquehanna County, 
Pennsylvania, where he laid down the burdens 
of life, about tlie year 1856. His son, the 
father of our subject, was Henry Barnard, he 
being the first child in the family. He was 
reared to farm life, following agricultural pur- 
suits in his native State until 1866, when he 
came West to Nel)raska, with his family, which 
consisted of wife and one child. He located at 
Fremont, where he spent the remainder of his 
days, dying in January, 1885, aged eighty-two 
vears. lie was an active worker in the Con- 



gregational Church, of which he had been a 
member for many years. He had served in 
the capacity of deacon frequently, and was 
holding it at the date of his death, having been 
made an honorary or life deacon. He was 
united in marriage, in Oneida County, New 
York, December, 1826, to Miss Rebecca Mon- 
roe, a native of that county, and the daughter 
of Jakamiah and Rebecca (Eraser) Monroe, 
who came from Johnstown, New York, and were 
of Scotch extraction. They died in Oneida 
County, after having reared a family of five 
children : Rebecca, the fourth child, came West 
to Nebraska, with her husband, ^Mr. Barnard, 
and died in February, 1891, at the age of 
eighty -five years. They had a family of three 
children: Edwin II., our subject ; Addie, wife 
of J. F. Reynolds, of Fremont, and Flora, wife 
of John E. Shervin, of Fremont. The Barnard 
family finds its origin in England. 

Edwin II. was born in Kirkland, Oneida 
County. New York, October 7, 1830, and was 
reared midst the scenes of rural life. His 
favorite study was that of mathematics, and at 
the age of twenty -one, after he had taught 
school a few seasons, he began life as a civil 
engineer and surveyor, in Augusta, New York ; 
but finding that too narrow a field for opera- 
tions, he packed his transit, and in the spring 
of 1854 went West, •' to grow up with the 
countrx'," which was several years prior to the 
advice given in this quotation bv Horace 
Greel}'. He soon found employment at Rock 
Island, Illinois, in the land agency and insur- 
ance ofHce of M. B. Osborn & Co. The next 
year he was sent out to assist in establishing a 
branch office in Des Moines, Iowa, where he 
remained one year. In August, 1856, accom- 
panied b3' John A. Koontz, he came to Ne- 
braska, and on the 22d of that month dis- 
covered and claimed the site where now stands 
the thriving city of Fremont. The two young 
men erected a rude cabin, the first built in 
Fremont, which became at once a residence, 
boarding house and hotel. Our subject laid 
out the town and did such other surveying in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



291 



the vicinity as was required. But his energies 
were mainly devoted to farming- and tlie inter- 
ests of the infant town he had phitted. Jle 
held the office of probate judge four years, 
was a member of the Territorial Legislature 
one term and the Nebraska State Legislature 
two 3'ears, and was a member of the board of 
town trustees of Fremont, for many years ; 
president of the city counsel one term, county 
treasurer of Dodge County two years, and in 
1869 received the appointment of receiver of 
public monies for his district, which appointment 
he declined. In 1860 he was appointed special 
clerk of what is now Dodge County, and has 
been active in politics all his life, lie was 
chairman of the Third District Ile])ublican 
Committee for several years. lie is president 
of the First National Bank of Fremont; vice- 
president of the Fremont Creamery Company, 
also president of the Butter and Egg Com- 
pany; president of the Deer Creek Coal Com- 
pany, and has mining interests in Wyom- 
ing. He owns two valuable stock farms in 
Dodge County, one containing three hundred 
and sixty acres and the other four hundred 
and eighty acres. The former is located near 
Ames, while the latter is located twelve miles 
northwest of Fremont. He has been an ex- 
tensive dealer in real estate, in eastern Nel)raska, 
and has improved more than half a dozen farms 
in Dodge County. He was engaged in the 
hardware business at Fremont from 1869 to 
1879. He has devoted himself since 1880 to 
real estate, loans and insurance, having trans- 
acted such business, more or less, ever since he 
came to the country. His real estate business 
is principally confined to Dodge and Saunders 
counties, while his loan business extends over 
several counties. His stock farm is devoted to 
propagation of the Percheron horses. He also 
grazes and feeds. cattle, lie and his eldest son, 
Willis, have a stock farm of six hundred acres, 
in Cherry County, and a range of eight 
thousand acres, which they utilize for stock 
purposes, handling large quantities of cattle 
and a goodly number of horses. In public 



matters Mr. Barnard has always been very 
liberal. It was he who was one of the main 
factors in getting the Normal School located 
at Fremont, giving the site (ihi'ce acres of 
ground) and one thousand dollars in mone}'. 
He also gave five hundred dollars toward 
the erection of the Eno hotel, also gave the 
site of one-fourth block for the Congregational 
Church. In church mattei's, he has been fore- 
most, donating some forty-five hundred dollars 
toward the erection of the present commodious 
Congregational Church edifice. With half a 
dozen other gentlemen, our subject was active 
in getting the Union Pacific railway through 
this section of the country, assisting, as he did, 
in getting the right-of-way through the count}', 
in giving depot grounds and fift}' dollars in 
money, besides their time. Mr. Barnard was 
also one of the active promoters on securing the 
cemetery grounds and has been president of the 
same ever since the new location was selected. 
He is treasurer of the Boai'd of Trade, and one 
of the original members of the same. 

Mr. Barnard was united in marriage Ai)ril 7. 

1858, at Kanajoharie, New York, to Emma L. 
Hodge, a native of that [)lace. This marriage 
union resulted in the birth of the following 
children: Frank Fraser, born September 11, 

1859, died August 21, 1801 ; Willis, born April 
4, 1862 ; Charles, born January 1, 1867, died 
October 11, 1873 ; Ned II., born May 31, 1872. 



DPt. THOMAS C. SEXTON, formerly a 
prominent practicing physician and now 
a large land owner, was born in Chatham 
Hill, Virginia, August 21, 1843, the son of John 
G. and Sarah B. (McDonald) Sexton, of Irish 
and Scotch extraction. On his father's side 
the famil}' dates back to George Sexton who 
came from England about 1663. The place of 
his birth is unknown to our subject, though it is 
known that he died at Westfield, Connecticut, 
in 1690. His son George moved to Long- 
Island in 1689. llis son Chai'les was born 
September 9, 1680, and moved to Huntington, 



292 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Long Island, afterwards to Hopwell, New 
Jersey', and died in 1752. He was a man of 
wealth and filled many offices of trust during 
his day. He was twice married, having children 
by his last wife. His grandson, Z. Platte, was 
one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. 

The next was Joseph Sexton, born at Hunt- 
ington, Long Island, January 4, 1730, and 
married Phoebe Campbell, the daughter of 
Thomas Campbell. The next in line was 
Thomas C, grandfather of our subject; he 
was born June S, 1764, and married in New 
Jersey, Charity Currant and had a family 
of eleven children. He resided in Shen- 
andoah Valley, which place he left in 1816, and 
removed to Smyth County, Virginia, where he 
died. He was one of the pioneei's of that 
county. John G., his ninth child, and the 
father of our subject, was born in Currenstown 
in the Shenandoah Valley, May 19, 1808, and 
removed to Smyth County, when about eight 
years of age. He was a farmer by occupation ; 
was reared, educated, lived and died in that 
location. He was a strict member of the Bap- 
tist church. He was united in marriage Feb- 
ruary 23, 1836, to Miss Sarah B. McDonald, a 
native of Smyth County, A^irginia, born Sep- 
tember 8, 1811. She was a daughter of Solo- 
mon and Nancy (Cox) McDonald, who were 
natives of Maryland. In our subject's parents 
family there were nine children, of whom our 
subject was the fourth cliild, six of whom still sur- 
vive. The family were as follows : Helen V., 
(deceased), wife of Doctor Samuel B. Goodwin, 
who was her first husband, but subsequently 
was married to Captain M. Treadvvay, now of 
Oklaiioma. She left two sons, both residents 
of Ncbrasiva. The second chikl was Charles 
McDonald Sexton, a resident of Chatham Hill, 
Virginia, whose wife is deceased, leaving four 
children : Elenor C. (deceased), wife of J. F. 
Ilaller, of Chatham Hill, Virginia ; Thomas 
Campbell, our subject; Susan J., wife of Cap- 
tain J. B. Whitehead, of Virginia ; Edward L., 
married and lias a family of oiglit children, and 



is a resident of Nickerson, Nebraska ; Laura 
M., wife of H. S. Buchanan, of Ellendale, Vir- 
ginia, with a family of nine children ; Nancy 
E., a resident of Chatham Hill, Virginia; 
Emma G., deceased at the age of five j^ears. 

Thomas C, of whom we write this sketch, 
was born in Smyth County, Virginia, where he 
was reared and educated at the private schools 
of the Old Dominion State, including the 
academic schools of Marion. Between the 
time of his common school work and his aca- 
demic schoolinir, he served for four years in 
the Confederate Army, being a member of 
Company D Fourth Virginia Volunteer 
Infantry, the old " Stonewall Brigade", and 
participated in all the principal battles, includ- 
ing the Peninsula Campaign. He was wounded 
at Chancellorsville, with a bullet tiirough iiis 
leg at the knee, for which he was inca- 
paciated for further service, during the war. 
After the close of the great civil strife he entered 
the academy above referred to, witli the view of 
fitting himself for a physician. N. P. Wat- 
son, M. D., was his preceptor, with whom he 
remained two years, graduating fi-om the Bal- 
timore Medical College, February 21, 1871, 
having taken his first course of lectures in 1867. 
In July, 1868, he came to Nebraska, located 
at Fremont for three months, and then removed 
to Fontanellc, where he practised his profession 
for two years, ending in 1888, wiien he came 
to Fremont and erected a fine frame residence 
on the corner of Nye avenue and Tenth street. 
He possesses eleven hundred acres of land in 
one tract, about seven miles nortii of Fremont, 
a majority of which is under cultivation, tiie 
improvements having been made under the 
Doctor's own supervision. He has a quarter 
section of land one mile and one quarter from 
Fremont, also eight hundred acres in Stanton 
and Wa3'ne counties, aside from his residence 
property in Fremont. 

Politically, he is a Democrat, being a repre- 
sentative man of iiis party. He beh)ngs to 
the Masonic Fraternity, having united at Mar- 
ion, Virginia. Tiie doctor was married Decern- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ber 4, 1S72, to Miss Emma Peters, born in New 
Lisbon, Ohio, December 23, 1850. She is the 
daughter of James H. and Jane (Ferguson) 
Peters. The Doctor and Mrs. Sexton have two 
childrer. living : Gertrude, at liome, and Laura 
at home. Our subject and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Baptist Ciiurch. 

The Doctor, having retired from active pi'ac- 
tice, turns liis attention to agriculture; however 
lie still keeps pace with his profession with the 
advancement in the science of medicine. 

Not un frequently does the man who makes 
a success of any professional or business calling, 
as he advances in life, take great delight in 
retiring to the independent life, found in the 
possession and care of a landed estate. Even 
Daniel Webster, it is said, was never so happy 
as when looking over his broad acres in New 
England, watching the growth of crops and 
feeding his large sleek oxen with ears of corn 
from his own hand, and indeed there can be no 
more honorable calling, for either tlie rich or 
the poor, tlian the production of grain, grasses, 
vegetables and live stock, upon which the race 
must ever subsist. Manv of the earlier settlers 
of Washington and Dodge Counties well recall 
the professional visits made by the good Doc- 
tor of whom we write in the " seventies " and 
'' eighties." And doubtless there are those who 
would not be here to-day, had it not been for 
the knowledge and skill he possessed ; so 
whether the Doctor is referred to in the role of 
a physician and surgeon, or that of an agricul- 
tui'ist, he must necessarily be thouglit of as 
filling a useful position. 



RUDOLPH P. SCIINEIDEPw, secretary 
and treasurer of the Nye & Sciineider 
Company of Fremont, being one of the 
representative men of his county, one would 
very naturally turn to the pages of his local 
history to find some personal mention of the 
man possessing so much prominence. 

Mr. Schneider was born in Beardstown, Illi- 
nois, February 25, 1853, anil is the youngest 



son of B. W. and Elizabeth (Crow) Schneider, 
natives of Germany and Illinois respectively. 
The father came to America about 1S30, at 
the age of twenty-live years, locating in Beards- 
town, where he became acquainted with, and 
nuirried Miss Elizabeth Crow. He was born 
about 1805 and died in November, 1853, leaving 
a considerable fortune, which was the result of 
his own efforts since coming to America. He 
was engaged in the mercantile and real estate 
business. His wife survived him until 18S4-, 
her death occurring December 12, 1884, at Fre- 
mont. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider were the par- 
ents of four children : Mrs. Anna McPherson, 
now a resident of Fremont ; Charles N.,a resi- 
dent of Kansas City, Mo.; L. A., a druggist at 
Arlington, Nebraska, and our subject, R. B. 
Schneider, who was reared and educated in iiis 
native county. He left school at the age of 
fifteen and two years later came to Fremont, 
Nebraska, where he was employed with W. K. 
Wilson in the grocery business, for a year or 
more. lie then returned to Illinois and 
engaged at farming for five yeai's. When he 
returned to Illinois from Fremont, he was but 
eigliteen years of age, yet assumed the head of 
the family, as his mother and sister were both 
widowed. He remained with them until he 
was twenty-four years of age, when he retraced 
his steps to Fremont, and again entered the 
employ of Mr. Wilson, who had engaged in the 
grain business. He remained with him six 
years and became a partner, under the liiin 
name of W. R. Wilson & Company. Their 
business was conducted atNickerson, Nebraska, 
where our subject (Mr. Schneider) was located 
most of the time after returning to Ncbi'aska. 
He was associated as a partner of Mr. Wilson 
until January, 1887, when tlie Nye, Wilson, 
Morehouse Company was formed. lie became 
one of the directors of the same and helpetl to 
bring about the organization. Upon the retire- 
ment of Wilson and Morehouse, our subject 
became secretary and treasurer of the same 
and has occupied the position ever since. Mr. 
Sciineider has a large amount of property inter- 



394 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ests about Fremont, including investments in 
the Fremont Stock Yards and Land Company; 
tlie Fremont Foundry and Machine Compan}', 
and is one of the stockholders of the First 
National and FrcTiiont National Banks, also 
Fremont Street Kaihva}' and other various 
institutions of the place. He has been fore- 
most in every enterprise that it was thought 
in his judgment would be beneficial to Fremont 
and the communit\' in general. He was one of 
the promoters and first president of the Chris- 
tian Park and Assembly Association of Fremont. 

Politically, he is a progressive Kepublican, 
and was made chairman of the Republican 
County Committee for two years. In 1889 was 
chairman of the board of county supervisors 
and a member of that bodj' three j'ears prior 
to 1891. He was chairman of the county board 
during the erection of the court-house, and was 
one of the men wiio had a burden to carrv dur- 
ing its construction. 

Socially, Mr. Schneider is identified with the 
Centennial Lodge No. 59, of the Lidependent 
Order of Odd Fellows, also of the Encampment 
and Canton of the same order. He is inter- 
ested in Fremont property, also in Salt Lake 
City and Seattle. 

He was united in marriage June 29, 1882, at 
Nickerson, Nebraska, to Miss B. D. Spangler, 
a native of Pennsylvania and the daughter of 
Adam L. Spangler. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider 
are the parents of two daughters : Etta Mav, 
born February 26, 1886, and Clara, born March 
30, 1890. Our subject and his wile are accept- 
able members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

That Mr. Schneider possesses good business 
qualifications, is evident from the fact that he 
has so long held the prominent position of sec- 
retary and treasurer of the firm to which he 
belongs, the annual business of which amounts 
to ovei' two million dollars. Again his having 
been chosen from among tlie ]ieople, to repre- 
sent them on the county board, spealcs in 
unmistakable words of his good judgment and 
popularity in Dodge County. 



T HERON NYE, one of the pioneers of 
Eastern Nebraska, now residing at Fre- 
mont, where he is living a retired life, 
was born July 20, 1828, the son of Thomas and 
Anna (Goldsmith) N\'e. The former, a son of 
Jonathan Nye, who came to New York from 
Connecticut. He reared a family in the Empire 
State. He was a man who turned his atten- 
tion to the dispensing of the law, at times, in 
connection with his other business, which was 
of a various nature. He lived to quite an ad- 
vanced age, having reared a large family of 
children. His son, the father of our subject, 
was born in New York, and there spent his 
life, the early part of which was devoted to 
agricultural pui'suits, but later in life was en- 
gaged in the hotel business. Manv years of his 
life, however, were consumed in the manufac- 
ture of potash. He married Miss Anna Gold- 
smith, who was also a native of New York 
state, and the daughter of Richard and Ruth 
Goldsmith, natives of Connecticut, but who 
moved to New York in early life, where they 
passed the I'emainder of their days. The Nye's 
and Goldsmith's were both descendants of Eng- 
lish ancestors. The parents of Theron Nye 
both died in their native state, after rearing a 
family of eight children: Julius, deceased; 
Richard G., deceased; Mary A., wife of E. R. 
Throop, deceiVised, a resident of New York; i 
Lucinda, widow of Christopher Holmes, a resi- I 
dent of New York ; Theron, our subject; Betsy 
M., wife of E. C. Usher, of Fremont, Nebraska; 
Jane, deceased, wife of F. G. Slie|)ai(lson, of 
New York state ; Elenora, wifeof P. H.Woldrof, 
of New York. 

Theron was brought up in his native state, 
receiving his education in the common sc'nools, 
and when yet a mere lad began woi'king on a 
farm and assisting his father in the manufac- 
ture of potasli ; continuing thus to laboi\ both 
with his b(Hly and mind, until he became of 
age. In his twenty -first year he entered a ilrug 
store in Hamilton. Madison County, New York, 
where he remained for two years, and then 
made a change, entering into a general store in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



his native town, \Yhich was Hubbardsville, New 
York. lie remained there three years and de- 
termined to launch out in business for himself, 
as lie had saved a small sum of mone}' fruin his 
earnings at clerking, amounting in all to about 
three hundred dollars, which was quite a fortune 
to this \'oung would-be merchant ; when it is con- 
siilered that the first year of his clerkship he re- 
ceived but twenty-five dollars per month, and his 
board, and only twice that amount the next year. 
With this three hundred dollars he determined 
to begin business, and by the assistance of a 
friendl}^ gentleman he was enabled to open up 
a very creditable store of general merchandise 
which he continued to operate for three years, 
and then disposed of the same. After settling 
up, he found he had comparatively nothing 
left out of his labor, so, with ninety dollars 
capital, April 13, 1857, he started for the west, 
to seek out his fortune, in pursuance of the 
glowing accounts he had been reading, of what 
was in store for the young and enterprising 
man who would come and take possession of a 
good)}' heritage. Having read of the famous 
Platte Valley, of "Nebraska Territory," he 
started for Omaha, landing in that i)lace, which 
was then a small town, about midnight, the last 
(lay of April, 1857, with thirty-seven and one- 
half dollars ashissole])OSsession. He spent some 
thi'ee weeks at that place embracing every op- 
[lortunity to make a dollar, and when he could 
get an odd job he was found busily engaged. 
At the end of three weeks, when lie came up 
the Platte Valley to Fi'einont, he had twenty- 
seven and one-half dollars. This was May 22, 
1857. He was intluced to come to Fremont, 
on account of his belief that if the Union Pa- 
cific railroad was ever constructed, it would fol- 
low the Platte Valley. This, coupled with the 
fact of there being a small settlement of intel- 
ligent eastern people here, caused him to come. 
When he left New York he bid good-bye to 
his good wife and babe, for whom he had come 
to sock a place to make a home. Having been 
married May 22, 1853, just four years to a day 
before he landed in Fremont, Nebraska, the 



field for his new operations. He came into 
Fremont on foot, having walked the last thir- 
teen miles of the way. The first day he was 
in Fremont he located a claim three miles east 
of town which proved to be not desirable, so he 
made another claim, which he abandoned, and 
in September, 1858, he located a claim of one 
hundred and sixty acres about one mile noi-tli 
of town which he proved up and retained for 
several years, finally selling the same at thirty 
dollars per acre. 

When he first came to Fremont, he engaged 
at whatever he could find to do, and among 
the first things was planting sod corn with an 
ax, and digging a cellar, for which he received 
eight dollars. He also worked in the brick- 
yard, and in the following September he went 
over into Iowa and ))urchased two yoke of 
oxen. The first night he had them home, three 
of them were stolen by the Indians. However 
he did not know what had became of them, and 
believing that they had wandered back towards 
Iowa, he concluded to search for them, which 
he did, spending some six weeks riding all over 
the country, looking for his stolen cattle, which 
had long since furnished many a good meal 
for the hungi'y savages, and later on the only 
remaining ox wandered awa}^ and he found 
him the next spring, but which had winter 
charges against it sufficient to almost pay for 
the animal, so he sold the old fellow for eighteen 
dollars, after which he was out of the ox busi. 
ness ; the same having cost him some two hun- 
dred dollars, which money he had received 
from his bi'olher to fix him out for farming. 
But not being daunted by adversit}', he pushed 
forward, doing what he could to earn a dollar. 
In the summer of 1857, in com])any with i'oui- 
others, got out logs to build each of tiiem a 
liouse, spending some three weeks on the big 
island in the Platte river, cutting timber by day 
and fighting mosquitos b}' night, witli no cov- 
ering but blankets and limbs of trees to shelter 
them from the i-ain, which often came down in 
torrents. In the autumn of 1857, lie erected his 
first building, which was a hewed log 



996 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



house, sixteen by twenty-four feet, one story 
and one- half, in which he kept bachelors hall 
for almost one year, without any floor. He 
traded a watch and shot-gun to get the logs 
hauled to his building site, and exchanged work 
with his neighbors to get help to lay up the 
walls. The spring of 1858 he had a floor put 
in, and sent for his family, who came in com- 
pany with E. II. Barnard, who had gone back 
to the Empire state to get a wife. The same 
summer ho farmed some land for the Eogers 
Jjrothers, which had been broken out, they fur- 
nishing tiie team, he having none at the time. 
Tiie season referred to being extremely wet and 
the land very low, his crop was a failure, as he 
relates at one time in the latter part of June, 
he went to iiis field to look after his corn, and 
owing to the depth of water, he decided that it 
would be better for him to disrobe, for when 
he got into the corn field the water was up to 
his waist, so his summer work was all lost. In 
the fall of 1858 he received two hundred dollars 
from his brother-in law to pay for his claim, 
after which he had some forty dollars left. His 
next move was to get a team, so he bought a 
yoke of oxen, paying twenty-five dollars cash 
and gave his note for forty dollars more, bear- 
ing interest at the rate of forty per cent per 
annum. He was not relieved from this obliga- 
tion entirely foi' about three years. After he 
had secured a team of oxen, he and his brother- 
in-law, Mr. Usher, who lived on the adjoining 
farm, doubled teams and broke out their land, 
at intervals as they could. In the summer of 
1859 Mrs. Nye's parents, Thomas P. Colson and 
wife, together with the family, made their 
home with our subject. That year provisions 
were very scarce. The most of families had 
but little aside from corn and pork, so they re- 
sorted to almost every means to secure a little 
wheat, by whicli some flour could be had. He 
and a Mr. Richmond walked to Omaha, crossed 
the river to Iowa, spent two days in search of 
harvesting, in order to secure some wheat in re- 
turn, but found no work. After their return, 
Mr. JS'ye and his brother-in-law, Mr. Usher, 



harvested some wheat for Smith brothers and 
thrashed tiie same by tramping it out with 
horses. In this manner they secured wheat for 
their winter bread. During the summer of 
1859 the}' farmed some of the Smith land and 
broke out some of their own. Our subject 
bought a log cabin, which he moved along side 
his own, for the purpose of a shoe-shop, for the 
use of his father-in-law, Mr. Colson ami his son, 
S. B., who were shoemakers. 

In 1860, the Western Union Telegraph line 
was i)ut through, and an office was put into this 
shoe-shop, the .same being managed by S. B. 
Colson ; for several years, until it was taken 
from its rude quarters and placed in the railroad 
depot, hence all war news during the civil con- 
flict was receivod by dots and dashes within 
this })ioneer shoe shop. The Nye and Colson 
families were thus brought intimately together, 
and finally the firm of Nye k. Colson was formed. 
It was during 1860 they erected a large log stable 
making ample room for the accommodation of 
travelers, which were at that date passing 
through the country, en route for Pike's Peak 
and other western points. They also accom- 
modated all they could with meals and lodg- 
ings, and right here let it be said that the emi- 
gration west proved to be a Godsend to the 
people of this section, furnishing them with a 
means of disposing of their corn and grain. By 
1861, Nye & Colson had provided themselves 
with three yoke of oxen, and began freighting 
corn to Denver, which business they continued 
to follow for several j'ears, until the building of 
the railroad caused them to abandon it. Our 
subject had added to his original quarter sec- 
tion, until he and his brother-in-law had four 
hundred acres of land, two hundred of which 
were under cultivation by 1866. 

In 1863 Mr. Nye was appointed county treas- 
urer, and subsequently elected, holding the 
office four years in all. In 1865 he took a 
contract, in conqjany with Mr. E. II. Rogers, to 
furnish 10,000 bushels of corn to the Govern- 
ment, which was finally increased to 25,000. 
This corn was the first shij)ped out of Fremont 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



by railroad. They also shipped a large amount 
of wheat for H. T. Clark, of Bellevue, wiiich 
was the first cargo of grain shipped from Fre- 
mont. Realizing about this time that the coun- 
try demanded a better market for their grain, 
and also that the peo})le were rapidly filling up 
the country and were in need of lumber and all 
kinds of building material, as well as farm ma- 
chiner}', and there being no such business con- 
cern in Fremont, our subject, in December, 
1800, organized the Nye-Colson Company for 
the purpose of supplying this demand. The 
company was composed of Theron Nye, S. B. 
Colson, James G. and J. T. Smith. Having no 
facilities for storing grain, they bought and 
stored what they could around town until they 
could provide ware-rooms. They soon erected a 
storage room, which was 40x70 feet and used 
it for grain and agricultural implements. Two 
years later one of about the same size was 
added. At this time their business began to 
grow rapidly, and more caj)ital was added as it 
was needed. They started with $20,000, and 
within a few years they did a business amount- 
ing to $500,000 annually. They received their 
first consignment of lumber in July, 1867, and 
sold the same all over this country for a dis- 
tance of fort}' miles around, and the same was 
true of farm machinery. In 1872 they pur- 
chased the elevator that had been erected a 
short time previous by Mr. Marshall, which 
they used for a grain elevator until they erected 
their present one. To this growing business 
our subject devoted himself until about 1885, 
when he sold his interest to his son, who is 
trying to fill his father's place in the premises, 
lie was also one of the organizers of the First 
National Bank of Fremont, and was ciiosen its 
first president, and was one of the prime movers 
in tiie erection of the Eno Hotel, donating up- 
wards of $4,000 ; also a stockholder in the Fre- 
mont Carriage Factory and Street Railway, 
lie had the honor of being elected tlie first 
mayor of Fremont and serving two terms. He 
was also county commissioner three years. In 
18t!5 he erected a frame residence, which at th 



time was one of the best houses in Fremont, 
the same costing $4,000. He lived in this resi- 
dence until 1874, when he laid out his beautiful 
grounds at the upper end of Nye avenue, where 
he erected a fine brick residence, costing 
$13,000, its surroundings being superb, and is 
indeed a lit place for our worthy subject to 
spend his declining years in peace and quietude. 

Of his domestic life it may be said that he 
was united in marriage to Caroline M. Colson, 
who was born in New York State March IS, 
1833. Bv this marriage union four children 
were born : Fred, a resideut of Chicago, con- 
nected with the Chicago Herald; Ray, suc- 
cessor to his father in the Nye-Colson Company, 
now Nye & Schneider Company, and two chil- 
dren who died in infancy. 

Mr. Nye has always been progressive, intro- 
ducing new ideas and theories wherever he 
could. He was the first to introduce Short- 
Horn cattle into this part of Nebraska. He 
tried growing liops, spending several thousand 
dollars and much labor, but for various causes 
the enterprise proved a failure. Two year.^ 
they were destroyed by grasshoppers and an- 
other by a hail-storm, and so on. 

Politically, he is a Republican. In 1872 he 
was placed upon the ticket for State Senator, 
and was defeated by 7 votes. In 1882 he was 
placed again upon the ticket for State Senator 
by the unanimous vote of the convention, but 
much against his will, and u-as defeated again, 
owing to his championing another part3^ 

The sixty-four years of his life thus farsjient 
will indeed be a lasting monument to frugality, 
perseverance and industry. The earlier years 
of his pioneer life in Nebraska, a decade before 
it had been admitted into the Sisterhood of 
States, are all too full of hardships, privations 
and struggles to relate without pathos, and are 
years which he would not care to live over, yet 
there must be a satisfaction to him now as lu; 
enjoys the fruit of his labors in a home of com- 
foi't,toknow that his honest efforts were finally 
crowned with success, and that he and his good 
wife have lived the life of the upright, and that 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



their sons are not compelled to pass through 
the struggles which they encountered in order 
that they may be well surrounded in life. 



EN. MOUSE, the senior member of the 
firm of Morse k. Ilaman, and Presi- 
dent of the I'Vemont Street Hallway, 
has been so closely identified with the business 
and social interests of Fremont and Dodge 
County, that the history of the same would be 
incom])lete without the following personal 
mention, outside of the general and local chap- 
ters found in this volume. 

Mr. Morse is a native of Knox Count}', Illi- 
nois, born July 14, 184G. He is the son of Nel- 
son D. and Amanda (Glass) Morse, of Scotch- 
Irish origin. The father is deceased and the 
mother is living in Iowa. Our subject was 
reared in the "Prairie State" until he had 
reached the years of manhood, devoting a 
greater portion of his time to farm life up to 
1863, the central period of the great American 
conflict — the Civil War — when he enlisted in 
Battery 11, Second Illinois Artillery. He was 
discharged from United States service August, 
1865, at Clarksville, Tennessee. After his dis- 
charge he returned to Illinois, remained two 
weeks anil came to Nebraska and engaged at 
farming near Omaha ; also followed railroading 
until December, 1865, during which month he 
came to Fremont. When he first came to the 
place he opened a small grocery store and oper- 
ated the same for a short time, when he rented 
a farm for one season. AVe next find him en- 
gaged in tile ice business, after having freighted 
one winter to the Rocky Mountains. In 187(1, 
he erected a frame building which he rented 
for a i>akery, and aijout 1872 engaged in the 
grocery business, whicii he o])erated in connec- 
tion with his ice Ijusiness. He has ahvaj's been 
ready to assist in any jiublic enterprise wliich 
sprang up for the interest of Dodge County. 
In 1883 he was elected to the ofKce of County 
Treasurer for Dodge County, serving as such 
for four vears. He has also sei-ved as a mem- 



ber of the Fremont City Council for several 
terms. He is a man who has always been held 
in the esteem of his fellow-men, which he has 
earned by honest integrity, and the faitliful 
performance of every known duty. 

Politically, he is identified with the Demo- 
cratic party, and of his social connections, it 
may be said that he is an honored member of 
the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Fremont 
Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M. ; Signet Chajiter, 
No. 8, and Mt. Tabor Commandery. No. 9. He 
also belongs to the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, McPherson Post No. 4 ; also the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, Centennial Lodge, No. 
59 ; Apollo Encampment, No. 52, and (.'anton 
Fremont, No. 4. He is also connected with the 
Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 859., 

Mr. Morse has been associated with the fol- 
lowing business concerns : He is President and 
Manager of the Fremont Street Ilaihvay ; Di- 
rector of the First National Bank ; and has 
stock in nearly every compan\- that has been 
organized for tiie advancement of the city. He 
possesses considerable reality' in Dodge Count}', 
his possession amounting to about four hun- 
dred acres. He also has property in Fremont, his 
residence being located at No. 320 West Military 
Avenue. His success in life has been due to 
his own efforts, having accumulated this prop- 
ert}' by the dint of industry. 

In 1870 he was united in marriage to Emma 
J. Goodman, a native of Wisconsin, by which 
union five children were born, four of whom 
are deceased. 

The hand of affliction fell heavily upon Mr. 
Morse in 1886, when- ileath claimed his wife, 
June 6, of that year. In August, 1887, he was 
again united in marriage to Lillian Greene, a 
native of Wisconsin, but reared in Fremont, 
Nebraska. The result of this union has been 
two children. 

Whether one views our subject, in the role of 
a jiioneer in the great West, following some 
sandy trail across the great American ilesert, 
or winding about some mountain pass upon his 
heavily loailed freight wagon; supplying the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



299 



people of Fremont with groceries and ice for 
many yeais, or posing- over tiie Count}'^ Treas- 
urers boolvs for four years, handling tlie peo- 
ple's money , or in the score or more of manu- 
facturing enterprises, tlie furnace lires of which 
he helped to kindle, or taking the fraternal 
vows before the shrine of the various civic so- 
cieties of which lie is an honored member; or 
in his own home, he has always been found 
measuring up to tlie full standard of true man- 
hood. 



OSWALD UEIILING, one of the pioneers 
of Dodge County, settled in 1864. He 
first took a homestead of one hundred 
and sixty acres, upon which he ])laced improve- 
ments, including a half sod and half board 
house, straw stable, provided a good well of 
water, and remained on that place seven 
years, and then built a house 18x28 feet, with 
a wing, 12x28 feet, two large barns, 26x100 
feet. He also set out an orchard and an arti- 
ficial grove. He added to his land until he 
obtained four hundred and eighty acres, three 
hundred acres of which are under the plow. 
Pie lived on this place twenty -eight years and 
still owns it. When he came to Dodge Count}' 
his earthl}' possessions consisted of a set of 
blacksmith tools, two ox teams and eleven dol- 
lars in money. But he had an abundance of 
courage and went in to win. 

In 1888 he built the roller mill at Hooper in 
company with Mr. Briggs. He is also inter- 
ested in general merchandising and several 
branches of manufactures. 

Mr. Uehling is a native of Germany, born 
July 12, 1835. He is the son of John and Liz- 
zie Uehling, who iiad thirteen children : Mar- 
garet, Cruteliza, Andrew, Oswald, Barbai'a, 
John, Ilosena, Martin, Elizabeth, Christena, 
Ilenryjetta, Fred, Catharine. Our subject re- 
mained in Germany until sixteen years of age, 
when he came to America, landing in New 
York City, and from there went to Wisconsin, 
where lie remained until 186-1, at which time 
he came to Nebraska, lie had a common 



school education, and was united in marriage 
October, 1862, to Elizabeth Keller, the daugh- 
ter of John and Margaret Keller, whose four 
children were August, Eli»abeth, Christena and 
William. 

Mr. and Mrs. Uehling are the parents of 
twelve children, all living but one : Christena, 
William (deceased), Lizzie, Elizabeth, John, 
Conrad, Barbara, Lottie, Martha, Susie, Rachel 
and Joseph. 

Mr. Uehling stands well in the community 
in which he has lived and labored so long, and 
has been one of the potent factors in building 
up the village of Hooper. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and in religious matters is a believer in 
the Lutheran faith. 

He belongs to the Masonic Lodge of Hooper, 
No. 72, and Odd Fellows Lodge at Omaha, 
No. 8. 



JOHN H. UHING, a farmer of Secton 1, 
Monterey township, came to Cuming 
County in June 1870, accompanying 
his parents. He was born in Germany 
May 17, 1859, and came to America, arriving 
at Omaha in 1870. The father bought a farm 
in Monterey township, the same season, for 
which he paid five dollars per acre. Our sub- 
ject remained at home until 1880, when he 
came to Section 1, where he bought one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of land, paying six dollars 
per acre. Upon this land he has placed a good 
class of improvements, including buildings, a 
grove of two acres and one half, a small 
orchard, with grape vines and small fruit. He 
has eighty-five acres under cultivation, while 
the lemainder is in pasture and meadow land. 
He was united in marriage June 2, 1885, to 
Catharine Stolte, to whom has been born five 
children: Katie M., Joseph, Annie M., Henry 
and William. 

Mr. Qhings' ])areiits were born in Germany. 
Their names were Henry and Katherena Uhing. 
They reared a family of six children, he being 
the third in order. 



300 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mrs. Uhing, was born January 9, 1858, the 
third child in a family of five children. 

In political matters he aflBliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious affairs is a 
devotee of the Roman Catholic Church. 

Early in the seventies the vicinity in which 
this man lives was devastated by the grasshop- 
pers, which destroyed tlieii' crops for five years. 
But times have changed in Nebraska, and the 
earth affords no more prosperous and contented 
people, than tiiose of tlie Elkliorn Valley. 
Silver Creek runs through his farm, adding to 
its beautj' and value. The soil is unsurpassed 
for productiveness. Corn averaging fifty bush- 
els per acre. Ail, in all, he of whom we write 
did the wise thing to remain in Nebraska, as 
the sequel proves. 



JAMES MORTENSON, a farmer residing 
on Section , 16, of Cuming township, 
Cuming County, has been a resident of 
tiiat locality, since the spring of 1868. 
He first engaged at blacksmithing at West 
Point, and continued to wield the sledge and 
fan the forge, until 1882, when he bought the 
farm he now occupies, wliicii consisted of two 
hundred acres of wild land. lie built a house, 
16x20 feet, in which he lived the first two years 
and then built his present liouse, a two story 
frame structure 16x32 feet with a wing 16x20 
feet. He also has a good class of out-buildings,an 
old-fashioned well.witli wind-powerattachment; 
also an artificial grove of eight acres and an 
orchard of one hundred trees. His place now 
consists of two hundred and eight}^ acres, one 
half of which is under the plow, and the re- 
mainder in meadow and pasture land. When 
he came to Cuming Countv, he possessed about 
six hundred dollars. 

Mr. Mortenson was born in Denmark, in tiie 
north of Europe, July 10, 1845, the son of 
Morton and Elsie (Robinson) Mortenson, na- 
tives of Denmark, who had three children : 
James M., Olie and Minnie. The children 
took the name of Mortenson, as is the custom 



of their country. James remained in Denmark 1 
until he was twenty years of age, when he 
bid farewell to the scenes of his childhoodi 
and sailed for the New World, coming direct 
froni New York, to Racine, Wisconsin, where 
he worked at blacksmithing for two years, and 
then came to Nebraska. His early advantages 
for an education were fair. 

He was married August 11. 1872, to Jorgena 
Johnson, a native of Norway, whose parents 
had two children. 

Our subject and his wife are tlio parents of 
four children : William, born June 15, 1876; 
Minnie, born June 14, 1878; Tena, born April 
25, 1882, and Matilda, December 11, 1884. 
Both our subject and his wife are members of 
the Lutheran Church. 

Mr. Mortenson's parents are living in Den- 
mark, and his wife's father lives with her near 
West Point. 

He was postmaster at West Point for two 
years, beginning with 1879. 

Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the 
Repuljlican i>art_y. lie belongs to Lodge No. 
24, Kni"hts of Pythias Order at West Point. 



CHAUNCEYD. GARDANIER, a repre- 
sentative business man of Hooper, en- 
gaged at general merchandising, will 
form the subject of this biographical notice. 

To give an idea of this man's life before 
entering into the details of his business rela- 
tionns, it should be slated that he comes from 
a long-lived race. His grandfather, Adam 
Gardanier, was a farmer and always followed 
that line. He was born about 1782, in the 
Empire State, was in the war of 1812, and died 
at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He 
married a Miss Shot and reared a family of six 
sons and three daughters, among whom was 
Jacob, father of our subject. Jacob was born 
in Genese County, New York, June 26, 1813, 
grew to manhood in his native State, came to 
Calhoun County, Michigan, in 1832, and was 
therefore one of the pioneers of that section. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He was one of the commissioneis appointed to 
see that the Indians of that section were trans- 
ported to Wisconsin. He alwa^'s followed 
farming as his chosen occupation. He was 
married in February, 1838, to Mary Dixon, a 
native of ^ew York State, who was born Sep- 
tember 5, 1819, and is now a resident of Cali- 
fornia. They had a family of six children, 
named as follows : Charles, Lucy, Cliauncej^ D., 
Mary (deceased), Calvin J. and Farena (de- 
ceased). 

Chauncey D. was born in Callioun County, 
Michigan, January 29, 1846, and there grew to 
his majority, attending the district scliools of 
that county until he was sixteen 3'ears of age, 
when he began a course in college at Olivet, 
remaining two years. Then to acquire some 
practical knowledge of business he clerked in a 
store two years, then spent one yeai' in Br\'ant 
& Stratton's Commercial College, of Detroit. 
We next find him in Burlinofton, Iowa, engaged 
as time-keeper and pay-master for the Detroit 
Bndge and Iron Works, which jiosition lie held 
about nine months. 

In January, 18t)9, lie returned to Calhoun 
County and rented part of his father's farm, 
later took full control and continued farming 
five years. January 18, 1871, lie was united 
in marriage to miss Franceiia J. Atiams, a 
native of New York State. She was tiie ninth 
child of a famih' of ten children, born to 
Charles and Charit\' Adams. Tiic family were 
named as follows : Josepii (deceased), David, 
Philo, Cliarlotte (deceased), Alartha, Arvilla 
Sarah (deceased), Alice, Franceiia J., born 
October 12, 1849, in Chenango County, New 
York, and Ciiarles. Her father was a farmer 
and came to Calhoun County, Michigan, when 
l''rancelia J. was but three years of age. 

In October, 1874, our subject and family 
came to Scribner, Nebraska, and the first year 
]\Ir. Gardanier clerked in a store in tiiat town. 
In January, 187*!, lie opened a store at Scribner, 
and one year later formed a partnersiiip with 
J. C. Miiligan. In the spring of 1881, Mr. 
Gardanier sold to his partnei'. In 1SS2 and 1883 



he was deputy county cit-rk. August 1, 1884, 
he formed a partership with R. G. Airis and J. 

0. Miiligan, the style of the firm being Gard- 
anier, Airis & Co., this firm done a lumber, 
grain, coal and live stock business at Scribner. 
In 188G they built an elevator at Beemer and 
in 1887 one at Dodge. In August, 1888, our 
subject again sokl out and accepted a position 
as superintendent of the stock yards at Fremont, 
which position he held about eighteen months, 
during which time he was quite extensively 
engaged in the feeding of sheep. February 

1, 1890, he resigned his position and in partner- 
ship witii J. O. Miiligan went to Arizona, 
bringng back S.OOO sheep and 309 head of 
cattle which were fed and shipped that 
winter. 

In JMarch, 1891, we find him proprieto!' of a 
general store at Hooper with a stock of eleven 
thousand dollars in which business he has con- 
tinued ever since, generally carrying a stock of 
about fifteen thousand dollars. Besides his 
mercantile interests he owns a valuable half 
section of land near Creighton, Knox County, 
Nebraska. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gardanier are the parents of 
two children : Mary, born June 9, 1872. and 
Earl, born July 15,1881. 

Politically, he aifihates n-ith the Democratic 
party. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge at 
Scribner, No. 132, and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen at Hooper. 

To review the foregoing sketch is to be 
convinced that this man's life has been a busy 
one and goes to show what a liberal education 
backed up 03^ good judgment and a willingness 
to work, lias accomplished for a man yet young 
in years. 



D\\. KOBEUT C. McDonald. oneof Die 
leading practicing physicians of Fre- 
mont, Dodge County, lias been a resi- 
dent of the city since August, 1888. He is a 
native of Perth, Ontario, boi-n June 5, 1859. 
He was reared and educated in his native coun- 



302 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



try, attending the public schools and colleges, 
including the McGill Universit}' of Montreal, 
Canada, from which he graduated in 18S0, hav- 
ing read medicine with Dr. Robert C. Ilowden, 
of Perth. Soon after graduating he located at 
Spencer, Iowa, where he remained until his re- 
moval to Fremont. He practices both medicine 
and surgery, and lias worked up a large prac- 
tice in the vicinity of Fremont. In November, 
1SS9, he formed a partnership with Dr. J. II. 
Crabbs, with wiiom he remained until January 
1, 1892. He was united in marriage at Spencer, 
Iowa, January 31, 1883, to Miss Minnie Bow- 
man, of that i)lace, who was a native of Wis- 
consin, the daugliter of W. P. and Lestina 
Bowman. 

Dr. and Mrs. McDonald are the jiarents of 
one child, Duncan, born in April, 1885. Both 
he and his wife are members of the Congrega- 
tion Church. He is an honored member of the 
Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Fremont 
Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M.; Signet Cliapter, 
No. 8 ; Mt. Tabor Commandery, No. 9 , and is 
also a member of the Ancient Order of United 
AVorkmen. He is a member of the State Med- 
ical Society and Board of Pension Examiners, 
and has been one of the Trustees of Doane 
Coliejife. 



affiliates witli the Re- 
believing that tiiat jtarty 
interest of the American 



Politically, lie 
|)ubiican party, 
best serves the 
People. 

As much as one dislikes lo call the Doctor to 
their bedside, ever}' one appreciates the edu- 
cated and truly skillfull physician ; for sickness 
and death are the common lot of all mankind. 
When one burns beneath a fevered brow, it is 
well for them to live within acommunity where 
they may be cared for, and speedily restored 
by the hand of an eminent practitioner. If Dr. 
McDonald possessed no other recommendation 
than that he was a graduate from that most 
thorough medical university — the McGill. of 
Montreal, it woukl suffice to establish confidence 
in any community. 



HON. JOHN E. SHERVIN, wholesale 
and retail dealer in harness, saddles 
and leather, is [)roprietor of one of the 
oldest houses of the kind in Fremont, locating 
as he did in October, 18GG. 

He was born near Ilagerstown, Maryland, 
December 26, 183(), and is the ninth child of a 
family of twelve children born to Thomas and 
Isabel (McConn) Shervin. Both of his parents 
were natives of Ireland. His father came to 
America in 1812, and the mother in 1815. His 
father was a weaver bv trade, and followed his 
profession in America until 1846, when he pur- 
chased a farm in Maryland and followed agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death in 1868. 

John E. received his education in the public 
schools of his native State, and when nineteen 
j'ears of age began to learn the harnessmaker's 
ti'ude at Ilagerstown. He worked in that town 
and vicinits' until 1861, when he came west to 
Winchester, Missouri. In the fall of 1862 he 
went to Springlield, Illmois, and in 1865 to 
Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked at hie 
trade until October, 1866, then came to Fre- 
mont and opened a shop, where lie has remained 
ever since, enjoying a liberal patronage. 

He was united in marriage, May 20, 1868, to 
Miss Florence Barnhard, a native of New York 
State. They are the parents of two children, 
Mabel and John. 

Politically, Mr. Shervin is a standi Democrat, 
and has served his City, County and State most 
of the time since his residence in Dodge County. 
He was the first Democrat elected as a member 
of the Board of Alderman of Fremont, and was 
the first democratic County Treasurer elected 
in Dodge Countv. He has been City Treasurer 
two terms, held the office of Ma3'or two terms ; 
also served as member of the School Board 
three years. In 1885 he was electeii to the State 
Senate, and re-elected in 1887. He has always 
taken an active part in the political work of his 
party, tilling the various positU)ns with creilit 
to himself and pleasure to his supporters. He 
is what may be rightly termed a self-made man, 
and is the architect of his own fortune. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



HERMAN EOIILING. a farmer of Sec- 
tion 1, Everett townsliip, came to 
Dodge Count}' in the spring of 1873, 
antl located near Hooper, where he worked by 
the montli on a farm, for about five years. He 
then bought a farm of two hundred acres upon 
whicli lie built a house 2ix2S feet, two stories 
high, the same being built of brick. He made 
other substantial improvements upon the prem- 
ises and remained upon that place twelve 
years, when he sold and bought the place he 
now occupies, consisting of four hundred and 
seventeen acres of improved land. Here he 
built a barn 30x48 feet, erected a wind-mill, 
]ilanted out a five acre grove and an orchard of 
one hundred trees. This place was purchased 
in IS'tO, and is one of the most valuable in the 
community. Our subject was born in Germany, 
in August, 1853, the son of Christ and Catha- 
rine Bohling, whose six children were : Herman, 
Anna, Fred, Mary, Henr\', and Louisa. 

Herman remained in his native country until 
nineteen years of age, when he sailed for 
America. He came from New York to Wis- 
consin, where he remained a short time, and 
then came to Dodge County, Nebraska. His 
early educational advantages were fair. He 
was united in marriage in April, 1878 to Catha- 
rine Munderloh. By this marriage union five 
children were born : Louis A., October 5, 1881 ; 
Henry G., June 1, 1882 ; Anna, April 28, 188-1 ; 
Clean, January 14, ISSfi : Christian, December 
24-, 1888. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bohling are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and politically, he votes an 
Independent ticket. 

CONRAD LUIS, an enterprising farmer 
of Monterey township, residing on Sec- 
tion 20, came to Cuming County in 
1881, the same year in which he came from 
(iermany, in which country he was born, June 
1, 1855. He landed at Baltimore and came 
direct to Cuming County, and ])urchased a 
<|iiarter section of land, for which he paid seven 
dollai's per acre. Tlie place is now well ini- 



proved, being provided with good buildinirs 
and enclosed with a wire fence. 

In 1884 Anna Wistkaempcr became his wife, 
and by this union four children have ijeen born : 
Mary, Anna, Frank and Dinna. 

His jmrents were natives of Germany and 
are now both deceased. They had a family of 
nine children : Mary, John, Dinna, Thersia, 
Bonnie, William, Lizzie, Conrad (our subject) 
and Henry. 

Mrs. Luis' parents were natives of Germanv. 
Her father is deceased. They had a family of 
five children : Mary, Frank, Lizzie. Christine 
and Anna. 

In his political choice, Mr. Luis favors the 
Democratic l^arty, and in religious matters, 
both he and his family are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church. 

AUGUST RUBIN, who ranks among the 
enterprising farmers of CumingCounty, 
is a resident of Section 24, township 22, 
range 6, in what is now Sherman civil town- 
ship. He was born in Germany, January 13, 
1837, and came to America in 1868. He landed 
at New York harbor and came direct from 
there to CumingCounty, Nebraska, and claimed 
a homestead on Section 24, where he has since 
resided. His farm contains a good class of 
buildings, an orchard of four or five acres, and 
the whole tract is surrounded b}' wire fence. 
One hundred and ten acres of the farm are 
under cultivation, while the remainder is valu- 
able for pasture and hay land. 

He was united in marriage in 1867 to Matilda 
Maespe, to whom has been born live children : 
Otto, Frank, Herman, Anna and Eda. His 
first house was a frame building 14x18 feet, the 
lumber of which was hauled from Fremont. 
This served the family until 1889, when he 
erected a first-class fai'm-house. At the jiresent 
time his sons work the farm and he lives in 
West Point, moving there in 1882. From 1871 
to 1876 his crops were materially injured by 
tlie grasshoppers, but all things counted, lie i)as 
made a success in Nebraska. 



NO a THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



CHRISTOPH HANDKE, a farmer residing 
on Section 26, Blaine township, Cuming 
County, first saw the light of day i^ 
Rudann, by Wilsnak, Province Bi-andenburg, 
(4erniany, March 22, 1838; he was raised on a 
farm and afterward learned the miller's trade, 
whicli he followed until coming to this country-. 

He came to America in 1867, and worked 
for a time on the railroad in Ilhnois and Iowa. 
He also followed coal mining at Coalsiding and 
Centerville, Iowa, and subsequently bought a 
farm near Moulton, of the same state. Janu- 
ary, 1881, he sold this place and came to Cum- 
ing County,]Vebraska, purchasing land in Blaine 
township, where he now owns four hundred 
and eight}' acres of land with good improve- 
ments, most of which has been made bv him- 
self. 

Mr. Handke is the son of James and Sophia 
(Behn) Handke; they had a family of six 
children, two of whom came to America, 
Christian, of West Point and our subject. 

Christoph Handke was united in marriage at 
Burlington, Iowa, in April, 1873, to Fredrica 
Behn, a native of Wittenberg, Germany, they 
are the parents of nine children : Albert C, 
Edward B.,Wilhelm, Emma, John, Charles, Ida, 
Letty and Annie; the last named is deceased. 
Mrs. Handke is the daughter of Christian and 
Mareia (Kester) Behn ; there were but two 
children in her father's family, she the only 
one that came to America, 

Politically, Mr. Handke is in sympathy with 
the Independent movement, and was charter 
member of the Farmers Alliance in Blaine 
township. 

He has served as judge of election and takes 
an active interest in school matters and aims to 
give iiis children a liberal school education. 



GEORGE W. LOSEY, sheriff of Madison 
County, will form tlie subject of this 
notice. He was born in Tuscarawas 
County, Ohio, December 18, ISiQ. Amos 
Losey, the greatgrandfather, emigrated to 



America from Germany. Stephen A., the 
grandfather, was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
He married Nancy Willard, a native of Ver- 
mont, and the}' settled in Ohio and reared a 
family of four sons and four daughters : Amos, 
Reuben W., Harrison, George W., Sabie, 
Abigal, Ann M. and Harriett. The father of 
George W. was Reuben W., born in 1828, in 
Ohio, and his mother was Elizabeth Retherford, 
a native of Virginia, born in 1833. When they 
were young jieople they emigrated to Ohio, 
with their parents, married and settled in Tus- 
carawas County, where they lived until 1853 
and then moved to Davis County, Iowa, where 
the father took land on a warrant given his 
father, for services in the war of 1812. Their 
children were: George W., Sabie A„ wife of 
George T. Mitchell, of Davis County, Iowa ; 
Martha B., wife of Isaac Beckley, of Coates- 
ville, Missouri. The father died in 1882. 

George was educated in the common schools, 
working summers and attending school winters. 
At seventeen years of age he left home and 
worked at farming up to tlie time he was mar 
ried, which event occurred in Davis Count}', 
Iowa, in 1871, his wife being Miss Eliza 
ViiiiBuskirk, by whom two children were born : 
Nellie and Lou. In the spring of 1882 Mr. 
Losey came to Madison County, settled on a 
farm four miles south of Battle Creelc, and there 
remained two years. In 1S85 he came to the 
village of Madison, engaging in the livery anil 
stock business. In 1889 he lost by fire seven 
thousand dollars. The barn he rebuilt. 

For his second wife Mv. Losey married Mary 
E. Heath, daughter of A. J. and Eliza Heath. 
As a result of this union four children were 
born : George W., May 20, 1886 ; Harry Edward, 
born March 7, 1888 ; Willard, born April 12, 
1890; Ray, born April 22, 1892. 

Mr. Losey affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and in 1889 was elected to the oHice of 
sheriff of iladison County, to which position 
he was re-elected in the autumn of 1891. He 
was on the City Council at the organization o 
f'c incorporation of Madison. He was a 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



charter member of the Knights of Pythias 
Lodge, and is a member of tiie Masonic frater- 
nity. 

ALEXANDER PETERS, sheriff of Stan- 
ton County, Nebraska, has been a resi- 
dent of that locality since 1869, and 
hence is entitled to more than a passing notice. 

He was born in Petersborough County, Can- 
ada,- May L5, 1849, the son of George and Mar- 
garet (Neligh) Peters, both of wliom were born 
in the Count}' of Mayo, Ireland, the former in 
1810 and the latter in 1802. They emigrated 
to Canada in 1831 and purchased a farm, they 
being among the first settlers of that count\'. 
Their ten children were as follows: John, who 
died on the ocean, but was buried at Quebec; 
Robert, died in Canada in 1883; Ann, who 
married Hamilton Spence and came to Stanton 
County, where she died in 1881 ; Charles, of 
Scribner, Nebraska ; one died in infanc\' in 
Canada ; John, a farmer of Stanton Count}', 
Nebraska; Margaret, who died in Stanton 
County in 1874 ; Oliver, an agricultural imple- 
ment dealer in Stanton ; Ellen, married Andrew 
Spence, who is now deceased, and she is living 
at Madison, Nebraska; Alexander, of this 
sketch. In 1872 our subject's father moved 
with his family to Stanton County, where he 
died in 1883. Mrs. Peters, our subject's mother, 
died in Stanton County in the spring of 1892. 
They were both members of the Church of 
England. He was Conservative in Canada, 
and a Democrat after coming to this country. 

Alexander was educated in his native coun- 
try by a liberal schooling. In 1869 ho, with 
his brother, came to Nebraska and took a home- 
stead. He remained on his land until 1886, 
when hewaselected totheofficeof sheriff. His 
election occurred in the fall of 1885, and so 
popular an official did he make the people re- 
elected him in 1SS7, 1889 and 1S91. 

Of his domestic relations it may bo said he 
was united in marriage in 1871, to Miss Lydia 
E. Gest, a daughter of Reuben and Sarah Gest, 
natives of Ohio, where she was born in lSr'5. 



By this marriage union eight children were 
born : Margaret E., Ilattie M., Oliver (de- 
ceased), Lizzie E., Alexander C Henrietta (de- 
ceased, James, Harrison. 

In politics Mr. Peters is a Republican, having 
affiliated with this party ever since he came to 
the country, casting his first vote for General 
U. S. Grant. lie has always taken an active 
interest in educational matters, as well as in the 
general welfare of his county. 



ADAM PILGER, treasurer of Stanton 
County, Nebraska, has been a resident 
of the State since 1868, when he came 
to Omaha, and has been a resident of Stanton 
County since 1874. He is a good re|>resentative 
of the large and intelligent German element 
which predominates in Stanton County. 

He was born in Washington County, Wis- 
consin, November 8, 18.52, the son of Peter 
Pilger, who was boin in Prussia in 1817. He 
emigrated to America in about 1844, and 
located in Wisconsin, where he married Miss 
Elizabeth Young, a native of Germany. They 
emigrated to Nebraska in 1874, and settled 
where the village of Pilger now stands, which 
bears his name. They are the parents of eight 
children: A. P., of Norfolk; Fred. W., of 
Fierce County, Nebraska ; Adam, the subject 
of this sketch ; Peter, of Pierce County, 
Nebraska; Henry, of South Dakota; Jacob, of 
Pierce County, Nebrask;i ; Kate, wife of Albert 
Agner, of Norfolk; Julius, of Hooper. 

Mr. Pilger obtained his education in the 
district schools of Wisconsin, where he grew to 
manhood. In 1868, he went to Omaha, wdiere 
ho worked at various occupations. He ivmained 
there until 1870, and then went to Norfolk. 
where he learned the tinner's trade. In 1874, 
he came to Stanton, and erected a hardware 
store, which he filled with a stock of hardware, 
continued to handle it until 1887, when he sold 
out his hardware, having sold his agricultural 
implement business in 1886. June 1, 1887, he 
airain bought an interest in the imiilement ijusi- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ness and continued until the fall of 1S90, when 
he sold. 

. He was united in marriage in iS75, to Miss 
Ernistine Buttow, the daughter of John Bultow. 

Politically, Mr. Tilger is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic part_v, and in 1883 was 
elected county treasurer of Stanton County, 
and re-elected in 1889 and 1891, thus proving 
his ability and popularity as a county official, 
lie has represented his party in several State 
conventions, and is always found at his post of 
duty in campaign time, lie is one of the 
directors of the First National Bank at Stanton, 
and outside of hisoilicial duties is interested in 
the real estate business. As a financier he is 
looked upon as a man of most excellent judg- 
ment. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pilger are the parents of six 
children : Albert, Ella, Louis, Martha, Sadie, 
Viola. 

The name of Adam Pilger and the early 
history of Stanton County will ever be closely 
connected, for he has been among the import- 
ant factors of this section of Nebraska. He 
came to Omaha when Nebraska had no rail- 
roads or telegraphs, and her streams were 
unbridged. The Indian had just bid a long 
farewell to this fertile and fair domain. So 
our subject lias watched the country's steady 
development, until he is now one of the honored 
citizens of the well developed and famous Elk- 
horn ^'alley. 

LXIDWIG C. LEHMAN, one of the found- 
ers of tiie village of Stanton, first came 
to Stanton County in 1866, but located 
his family in 1869. He was born in Prussia, 
German}', December 17, 1823, the son of Daniel 
and !Mary (Wagner) Lehman, who were also 
natives of Prussia. They emigrated to America 
in 1847, and were the first to establish their 
family name in this country. The family set- 
tled in Dodge County, Wisconsin, and were 
farmers bs' occupation. They were the parents 
of two sons anil tiiree daughters : So])liia, wiio 
jiiarricd Maitin Dames, of Wisconsin ; Hannah 



wife of Christian Hebner, of Pierce County, 
Nebraska ; Wilhelmena, wife of Mr. Brussow, 
both of whom are now deceased ; Frederick, 
died in Norfolk, and was among the early set- 
tlers of that place ; Lud wig C, the subject of this 
notice. 

Daniel Lehman, our subject's father, died in 
Wisconsin, in 1858, and his wife came to Nor- 
folk, Nebraska, to live, and pas.sed away in 
1869. They were both exem])lary members of 
the Lutheran Church. 

He of whom we write this biogra])hical no- 
tice grew to manhood in his native countr\', 
and was educated in the parochial school pecul- 
iar to the Lutheran Cliurch. He accompanied 
his jiarents to America, and was married in 
1851 to Miss Amelia Wellmtz, born in Prussia, 
Germany, in 1633, and the daugliter of Freder- 
ick and Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Wellintz. 

Mrs. Lehman is one of a family of five 
children: Henrietta, wife of William Flipke ; 
Amelia, our subject's wife ; Dora, wife of Joseph 
Meyer, of Watertown, Wisconsin ; Caroline, 
wife of Ludwig Brundt, of Fairbault County, 
Minnesota ; Ernest, who enlisted in a Wisconsin 
regiment and died in Arkansas from exposure 
during the Civil War. The family first settled 
in Wisconsin, and were the first to establish 
their family name in this country. Mr. Wellintz 
died in 1877, and his wife still lives in Wiscon- 
sin at the advanced age of eighty-two years. 

When he came to this county, he first entered 
two hundred acres of land, upon which he built 
a log-house eighteen b}' twenty -seven feet, 
hauling his lumber from Omaha, one hundred 
and twenty miles away. At that time there 
were not man}' bridges and the streams had to 
be forded, which sometimes was jirecarious 
work. It required one week to make a round 
trip. Our subject has left his wife and children 
at home while the Indians were prowling about 
in great numbers. Mr. Lehman has slept many 
a night with his gun and ax at his bed-.side, 
but never had an occasion to use them. Jlost 
of his marketing was done at West Point. In 
1870 he surveyed the original village plat of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Stanton, the same being recorded in June, 1871. 
He has been closely identified witli the inter- 
ests of the place from that day to this. 

Mr. and Mrs. Leliinan are the parents of ten 
ciiildren: Amelia, born June 18, 1852, wife of 
Herman llohrke, of Pierce County, Nebraska; 
Franlc, born January 24, 1854. died March 14, 
ISGO ; William, born February 25, 1850; Her- 
man, born April 5, 1858, a fanner; Mary, born 
^farch 10, 1S61, wife of Herman Raasch, of 
Stanton; Henry, born February 18, 1863, now 
residing in California ; Emma, born October IG, 
1867, now wife of AVilliam Mattis, of Hum- 
plirey, Nebraska; Anna, l)orn August 29, 
1870, died August 20, 1879; Louis, born Nov- 
ember 1, 187-, now of Stanton ; Albert, born 
Januiu-y 23, 1876, died August IS, 1879. 

Politically, Mr. Lehman is identified with tlie 
Democratic party, but cast his vote for Abra- 
liam Lincoln in I860. He held the office of 
county commissioner in Stanton County tiiree 
years. 

In tlieir religious belief, lie and his wife have 
followed in the footsteps of their fathers and 
mothers, and are devout Lutherans,..and have 
always given a liberal support to that church. 

Mr. Lehman was in Stanton County during 
the grasshopper days, when he was almost dis- 
couraged, and had it been possible with the 
meaiis at his command, he probably would have 
left the country, thereby losing the good things 
which were in store for him, as he is now sur- 
I'lumdeil with all the comforts of life, and en- 
joys the society of a thriving town of which he 
was the oriji-iual fountler. 



JOHN A. EHKHARDT, one of the i)romi- 
nent business and social factors of Stan- 
ton, Nebraska, and one of the leading at- 
torneys of the county, was born in south- 
ern Germany, December 6, 1848, th3 son of 
John A. and Frederica (Dangler) Ehriuirdt. 
^[r. Ehrhardt came to America in 1852, lo- 
cating in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. In 
1854 the family joined him. The father was 



a painter by trade, and was foreman of the 
paint shop of the Cumberland Valley railroad, 
and reai'ed a family of five children : Mary, 
wife of W. P. McCroskey, a resident of Mon- 
roe, Iowa; Lewis, a butcher, at Jetfeison, 
Iowa; J. A., the subject of this sketch ; Frank, 
a printer, at Oakland, California. Mr. Ehr- 
hardt died in September, 1856. The mother 
of our subject is a resident of California. 

When ten years of age Joim commenced to 
fight the battle of life alone. He attended 
school winters and worked upon a farm sum- 
mers until 1864, when he enlisted in the Fifty- 
second Illinois Volunteer Infantr}-, as a mem- 
ber of Company F, at Fulton, Illinois, He was 
detailed in the drum corps, and was sent to 
Polaski, Tennessee, and was with a regiment 
until he arrived at Kingston, where he was 
taken sick, and sent to Camp Butler, and was 
mustered out in Fcbruar}', 1865. He then re- 
turned to Fulton, Hlinois, and attended the 
Western Union College until 1867, during 
wiiich year he enlisted in the Nineteenth 
United States Regular Infantry, serving in 
Indian Territory and Arkansas until 1870, and 
was discharged at Fort Jackson, Louisiana, 
September 16, and went to Monroe, Iowa, 
where he clerked in a store and read law until 
1875, having D. O. Stewart for his preceptor, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1876. The fol- 
lowing \-ear he came to Stanton, Nebraska, 
where he has been an active practitioner ever 
since. 

Mr. EhrhardL has been married twice. First, 
in 1873, at Monroe, Iowa, to Miss Anna J. 
Ilankins, who died in January, 1877. For his 
second wife, he married Augusta Moore, of 
West Point, the daughter of John Moore, iier 
mother being Lovinia (Iledrick) Moore. Mrs. 
Ehrhardt was born near Ottumwa, Iowa, Sep- 
tember 17, 1856. By this union two sons have 
been born : Eugene M., born November 20, 
1880; Mark, born September 26, 1886— died 
October 17, 1886. 

Politically, he is idcnlilied with llie Kcpuh- 
lican party, in which he is an ardent wcirker. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



)1S. f 



He belongs to the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, being a member of Kendall Post Xo. 
189, of whicii he is Tast Commander. lie is a 
member of the National Council of Adminis- 
tration. ]^ \\q is a worthy member of the 
Masonic fraternity, belonging to Korlhern 
Light Lodge Xo. 41, and has represented the 
Grand Loilge many times, and during the ses- 
sion of the Grand Lodge at Omaha in 1892, our 
subject was elected Senior Grand Warden. Ills 
lodge is proud of the distinction bestowed upon 
one of its membei's. It is a rare occurrence 
for a member to be put where Mr. Ebrhardt 
now is at the first step, but being a bright 
Mason, his abilities are recognized. He was 
one of a committee of three to codify the laws 
of ]Masoniy for Nebi'aska. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ebrhardt are exemplary mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
were among the thirteen charter members at 
Stanton, having alwa3's taken an active part 
in Sabbath-school work. lie was president 
of the la}' electoral conference at Omaha in 
1891. He is a self-made man in tiie true sense 
of the word, and those wlio come after him 
may well look to the deeds of his life as befit- 
ting a true character, fasliioned largely by iiis 
own inherent tact and will power. 



CHARLES C. WILLIAMS, a farmer and 
stockraiserlivingon Section 22, Webster 
townshij), came to Dodge County in 
1879. He was born in Peoria County, Illinois, 
August 19, 1850, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah 
(Dickinson) Williams, natives of Ohio, who 
settled at an early day in Indiana, and in 1835 
in Peoria County, Illinoi.5, near Alta, where a 
family of three children were reared : Frances, 
wife of James Atkinson, of Dodge County; 
Ciiarles C, Edgar II., of Taylor County. Mr. 
and Mrs. Williams lived and died in Peoria 
County, Illinois. He died in 1862, and the 
good wife in 1871. They were highly respected 
in the community in which they resided, and 
belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Churcii. 



Charles was educated in the district schools 
and took a ])artial course at the Normal and at 
Peoria, obtaining a liberal education. When 
he became of age he started out for himself, 
and found his way to Dodge Countv, Nebraska, 
and purchased eighty acres of land to which 
he has added until he now has two hundred 
and fort}' acres. It is valued at thirty-live 
dollars per acre. 

He was united in marriage in Dodge Count}', 
in 1882, to Lucretia H. Forney, a native of 
Bureau County, Illinois. Her father, John 
Forney, lives in Dodge County, Nebraska. 
Two children were born by this union : Gertie, 
October 3, 1882, and LeRoy, September 17, 
1887. In politics our subject is a stanch sup 
])orter of Republican principles. 



JOHN SCHORN, a i)rosperous farmer of 
Cuming County, whose farm is on Section 
11 and 14, of Monterey township, was 
born in the German Empire, April 5, 
1860, and came to America in April, 1881. From 
New Yoflv Harbor he went direct to St, Cloud, 
Minnesota, where he was engaged working at 
the furniture business until 1SS3, at which time 
he came to West Point, worked at the carpen- 
ter business three months, after whicii he 
worked in Monterey township at his trade for 
three years. He next bought forty-three acres 
of land where he is now living. For several 
years he followed farming and carpentering 
combined. He spent two years in a store at 
Monterey and in 1887 rented his farm, still 
continuing to work at his trade. His place 
contains an excellent class of buildings, a good 
orchard and a grove of live acres. Ho has 
since added to his place one hundred and 
twenty acres, eighty acres in 1888, for which 
he paid thirty dollars per acre, and one year 
later bought forty acres more at forty dollars 
per acre. His place contains five hundred dol- 
lars worth of wire fence. lie has one iiunilrcd 
and fifty acres under cultivation, and keeps 
consitlerable stock upon the premises. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



\\q was united in marriage in the fall of 1884, 
ti) Anna Ivriencrt, to wiiom liave been born 
three children : .foseph, John and Henry. 

His parents were born, lived and died in 
Germany. Their family consisted of three sons, 
including John, who was the youngest. The 
others were William and Henry. I\[r. Schorn's 
wife's parents \\%v% also born in Germany. 

He of whom we write this notice, in his polit- 
ical choice, is a supporter of the Democratic 
party. He has been township treasurer for 
two years in the township where he lives. He 
has also been supervisor two years, and is the 
present postmaster at Monterey, having held 
that position for five years. He takes great 
interest in educational matters and has served 
as school director for five vears. 



CHARLES W. SASS, a farmer located on 
Section 5, of Cuming township, came 
to Cuming County with his parents in 
the spring of 1867, when he was but two years 
of age. His father took a homestead of one 
hundred and sixty acres in Garfield township, 
and he remained at home with his parents 
until he was twenty-two years of age, when his 
father gave him the farm he now occupies, 
which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres 
of partly improved land, upon which he has 
erected good buildings, dug a well and pro- 
vided it with a wind-j)umj), and also set out an 
orchard of one hundred trees and provided a 
beautiful grove covering three acres. 

He was born in the German Empire in the 
month of December, 1865. He is the son of 
John anil Caroline Sass, whose fourteen chil- 
dren were as follows: Charles "W., Louisa, 
AVilliam, Bertha, Anna, Otto, Herman, Adolpli 
(deceased), Amelia, John, one died in infancy, 
Caroline, Minnie and Clyde. The twelve living 
all reside in Nebraska. 

Charles W. was only three months of age 
when ills jiarents came to America. They 
landed in New York and went from there to 
Milwaukee, lived two vears and llien moved to 



Nebraska. He had a common school educa- 
tion, and was united in marriage Sejiteinber, 
1S90, to M. Sophia Nielsen, daughter of Mads 
and Karen Nielsen, natives of Denmark, whose 
personal sketch appears elsewhere in this worlc. 
Our subject and his wife have one child : Jfads 
C.,born September 13, 1891. 

Politically, the man for whom we write 
aHiliates with the Ilepublican party. He has 
assessed his township once and is at present 
township clei'k. 

CHARLES LEWIS SIECKE, a represen- 
tative farmer of Wisner township, Cum- 
ing County, whose valuable farm home 
is situated on Section 2-1, was born near Bei'lin, 
Prussia, October 31, 1837. Lie is a son of 
Christian and Louisa Siecke, who came to 
America in 1S67, and settled in Wisconsin, 
where the mother of our subject died, in 1868. 
The following year Mr. Siecke came to Wisner, 
where our suliject had settled previously. 
The father died in this townsliip, August 21, 
1888. 

Charles L. received a good common-schoo! 
education, and when eighteen years of age left 
home and went to Dodge County, Wisconsin, 
there engaging in farming, and at the breaking 
out of the Civil War he enlisted (May 12, 1801) 
in Company K Fifth Missouri Infantry, and 
was in General Siegle's brigade. He was 
discharged in August, 1861, soon after the 
battle of Wilsons Creek, in whicii he |)artici- 
pated. He returned to Wisconsin foi- a time, 
and October 30, of the same year, re-enlisted in 
Company C Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and 
became sergeant June 23, 1862. April 26, 
1803, he was transferred to Company I Forty- 
eighth United States Colored Infanti-y. with 
the rank of first lieutenant. March l-I, 1804, 
he was promoted and made captain of Com- 
pany B, of the same regiment, whicli posi- 
tion he held until the close of the war. He was 
discharged Januarv 4, 1860, at Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana. He was a brave soldier and took 
part in the battles of Shiloii, siege of Corinth, 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



luka, battle of Corinth, Coleman's Cross-roads, 
siege and storming of Fort Blakely, and numer- 
ous minor engagements. At Coleman's Cross- 
roads he was wounded in the left knee. After 
leaving tlie service of his countrx*, he became a 
partner in a drug store in Chicago, in Febru- 
ary, 180(1, but was burned out a few months 
later, losing all he possessed. He was next 
found working in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a 
short time, and then took a trip to Prussia, the 
land of his nativity, and upon his return 
brought his parents with him. In 1868 he 
located a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres which forms a part of his present farm. 
He worked one season on the Union Pacific 
Railroad, with which to secure funds for the 
purpose of improving his land. He has been 
an industrious worker and as a reward is now 
the possessor of eight hundred and eighty 
acres of valuable farm land. He is extensively 
engaged at stock raising, and is one of the fore- 
most farmers of Wisner township. 

August 2, 1867, he was united in marriage 
to Dora M. Witte, who is a native of Prussia. 
By this union seven children have come to bless 
their home : Paul, tiie oldest, married Miss 
Katie Renner, and is engaged in farming near 
the old homestead ; the other children are at 
home and are named as follows : Tiieodore, 
Olga, Minnie, Louis, Ella and Eirch. 

Up to 1890 he affiliated with the Republi- 
can party, but since that date has been inde- 
pendent in politics, lie was a membor of the 
county board for six years, from January, 
1870, to 1876, and in 1888 was also a mem- 
ber of that bod\'. He belongs to Finnicam 
Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and is also 
a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He was 
commander of his post for three years, and is 
at present secretary and treasurer of the Local 
Alliance. When lie came to the county, what 
is now known as Wisner township contained 
less tlian twenty families. During the seven- 
ties he was damaged more or less by tlie grass- 
lioppers, some years having his entire crop 
destroyed. His nearest market was then 



Fremont, where all of his grain had to be 
drawn bv teams. 



FRANK C. SCOTT, a farmer residing on 
Section IS, of Ridgley township, came 
to Dodge County in May, 1809. He first 
located on the farm he now occupies, which at 
that time consisted of 160 acres of wild land. 
He made the necessary improvements on this 
place, providing a house for himself and a ten- 
ant house, a grove of fifteen acres and an orchard 
of 300 trees. When our subject came to this 
locality there was not a house in sight nor a 
furrow of land broken. The passing years iiave 
made great changes, for to-day the whole coun- 
try is settled up and farms divided and sub- 
divided into fields. His present farm contains 
400 acres, 250 of which are under cultivation. 
He was damaged more or less for four years by 
the grasshoppers. His crops were also injured 
by hail one 3'ear. Fremont was his nearest 
trading point when he came to the country, and 
he had to go twenty miles to mill. He relates 
now, that he has made many round trips to 
Fremont, twent\'-five miles, loaded both ways, 
in a day and night, taking the night at both 
ends. 

To acquaint the reader with his earlier career 
it should be stated that ho was born in Little- 
town, Xew Hampshire, June 12, 1820, the son 
of Andrew and Louisa Scott, who were natives 
of Vermont, and whose ten children were as 
follows: Marion (deceased). Ellen (deceased), 
Frank C, AVilliam, Murray, Harriet (deceased), 
Libbie (deceased). Charles, George (deceased) 
and Jane. 

The father died in 1873, and the mother in 
the spring of 1892, aged ninety -one years. The 
father was of Scotch descent, while the mother 
was of English. Our subject remained in New 
Hampshire until eighteen years of age, when he 
went to Massachusetts and engaged in boating 
on the Connecticut River, which he followed 
for two years, and then went to work at tiie 
carpenter's trade, following that about two 
years in that locality, and then went back to 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



313 



New Hampshire, where he worked at carpen- 
tering for three years. The next two years he 
spent at laying raih'oad track on the Grand 
Trunk Line. We next find him engaged at 
Lowell, Massachusetts, as a model and pattern 
maker. He followed that four years at that 
place and two years in Boston. The next five 
years he spent in the police department. He 
was in the great Draft Riot and was one of the 
thirteen policemen who went down into Dock 
Square to disperse the mob that were breaking 
into Reed's gun store, and was badly wounded 
from a blow on the head with a gun barrel in 
the hands of one of the mob, an Irishman by 
the name of Campbell, whom he shot four times 
and finally captured. lie afterward returned 
to New Hampshire and followed farming four 
years, after which he came to Chicago, Illinois, 
and worked for a bridge company about six 
months, and then found his way to Dodge 
Connty, Nebraska. 

Our subject was united in mai-riage in October, 
1848, to Rachel Preston, daughter of Sumner 
and Triphosa Preston, of Massachusetts, whose 
family consisted of six children: Lucius, Lorenzo, 
Cyrus, Rachel T. (deceased), Olive and Julia. 

In 1851 he married for his second wife 
Amanda Marshall, daughter of Timoth}' and 
Mahitable Marshall, of New Hampshire and 
Massachusetts, respectivel}'. 

For his third wife he married, in 18C9, Ellen 
Towne, by whom two children were born, both 
of whom are living. 

The third wife died in 1884. B}' his various 
marriage unions there has been born to him 
the following children : Alice, by liis first wife ; 
Frank II. and Edwin L., b}' his second marriage, 
and Lulie N. and Elmore J. by his third wife. 

Politically he votes the Independent ticket. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, be- 
longing to Lodge No. 15, at Fremont. 

WILLIAM STUEFER, president of the 
West Point National Bank, lias the 
honor of being among the pioneers 
of Cuming Count}'. He was born in Water- 



town, Wisconsin, January Vl, islT. His pa- 
rents were Martin and Johannah (Schwefel) 
Stuefer, natives of Prussia. The}' emigrated 
to this country when young people, the former 
in 1844, and the latter in 1845, and were mar- 
ried soon after theie arrival, in Dodge (!ounty, 
Wisconsin, where he engaged in tlie mercan- 
tile business. During the panic of 1857, he 
among thousands of others failed in business. 

Martin Stuefer, the father of our subject, 
came to West Point, Nebraska, in 18ti3, and 
took a homestead of one liundred and sixty 
acres and subsequently added another quarter 
section. His first house was a rude log struct- 
ure. Martin Stuefer was a Whig, and in 185(5 
joined the Republican party, he being opposed 
to the extension of slavery. He voted with 
this party at every presidential election, except 
the second campaign of Abraham Lincoln. He 
was a member of tiie Territorial Legislature at 
the time the moving of the State Capitol was 
first agitated, but which was not removed, 
however, until December, 1868. He served as 
county commissioner six years, and in 18G4, 
was elected as county judge of Cuming 
County. 

Mrs. Martin Stuefer died in 1878. Tliey 
were both life long members of the Lutheran 
Church. They were the parents of the follow- 
ing children: William, the subject of this 
notice; Charles (deceased); Anna Bysong, 
Louisa (tleceased) ; Frederick (deceased) ; 
Arnold, of Dodge County, Nebraska ; Paul and 
Pauline. 

William received his first schooling in the 
log school building, and is what may be termed 
a self-made man. The most of his education 
having come by experience and a close appli- 
cation to business. He came to the county 
with his parents in 1863, and five years later 
took advantage of the homestead act, and thus 
provided himself with a good farm. In 1869, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie 
Billerbeck, a native of Germany. They re- 
mained on the farm until 1873, during which 
vear tliev moved to West Point. In 1S71 ho 



314 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



was elected coroner and was afterward deputy 
shei'ifr a short time, as well as constable. In 
1874, wiiile acting as constable, he was in the 
county clerk's oflice, and in 1875 he was made 
deputy county clerk. Two years later he was 
eler;ted as county clerk, and re-elected in 1879, 
in a strong Democratic county, but he of the 
Republican faith. In 18S9 he was elected as 
mayor of West Point, and has been a member 
of the school board twelve year.s, being presi- 
dent of the same. He is vice-president of the 
West Point Creamery Association. 

Our subject and his wife were the parents of 
two children : Lizzie and Lillie. Mrs. Stuefer 
died in May, 1887. She was a devoted chris- 
tian lady, held in high esteem by all. Mr. 
Stuefer was again married in November, 1888, 
his second wife being Eunice Schairer. of Ann 
Arbor, Michigan. Hy this union one child has 
been boi-n. Otto. 

Our subject, who came to the county at a 
very early day, while all was yet new and wild, 
has lived to see the prairie wilderness trans- 
formed into a well-tilled agricultural section, 
with railroads, cities and towns on every hand. 
And he, by pursuing an even and industrious 
course, has built for himself and family a good 
name among his fellowmen. 



HENRY ROSE, a farmer residing on Sec- 
tion 20, of Pleasant Valley township, 
came to Dodge County in the spring 
of 187(1. He worked in and around Fremont 
for a year or so and then took a homestead 
where he now lives, the same consisting of 
eighty acres. When he came, there were but 
few settlers north of the Maple Creek. He 
has added to his land as he prospered, until 
he now has two hundred aci'cs, one hundred of 
which is under cultivation. He generally keeps 
about lifty head of cattle anil feeds a ca-^-load 
of steers each winter. He came to the county 
without much means and passed through the 
hard time period as most of the homesteaders 
were oijiiged to do, including four vears when 



the grasshoppers destroyed his crops. The first 
four or five years he kept bachelor's hall, and 
drove oxen for a team. 

Ilenr}' Rose was born in Germany, January 
1,1839, the son of Frederick and Ilanchen 
(Glienenriidvel) Rose, both natives of Germany, 
and the parents of three children, our subject 
being the oldest child. He remained at home 
until fifteen years of age, and then worked 
out, but gave his wages to his father until he 
was twent3'-five years of age. During the sum- 
mer seasons he ysually received twenty-five 
cents per da}^ and in the winter not so much. 
In 1865 he came to America and went direct 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he labored until he 
came to this county. 

He was united in marriage in West Point, 
Cuming Countv, April 14, 1876, to Mrs. Mary 
Myer, wIkjsc maitien name was Beding, a native 
of Geruumv, born Feljruary 22, 1842; she came 
alone to America when she was twenty \'ears 
of age. Her first husband died in Cuming 
Count}', Nebraska. The children by her first 
marriage are: Sohhia, Lena, Charles and Minnie 
Meyer. 

Henry Rose and wife aie the parents of: 
Henry, August, Anna, Frederick, Alexander, 
Luie, William and Edna. The family are 
members of the German Lutheran Church and 
he belongs to the Dodge County Farmers' 
Club, organized in 1886. 

Politically, Mr. Rose is a supporter of the 
Republican part\\ 



JOSEPH RERHAUSEN, of Section 12, 
Lincoln township, Cuming County, was 
born in St. Joseph, Missouri, January 1, 
1861. His father moved from Missouri 
to Wisconsin, remained a few years and then 
with his family moved to Omaha, where he 
workeil at the car|)enter's trade and operated a 
grocer}' store for a time. He also worked for 
the Union Pacific railroad for two or three 
years, anil eai-ly in the seventies the family 
moved to Lincoln township, where the father 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



SIS 



bought Government land. Our subject remained 
at home until he was twent}' one 3'ears of age, 
when his father gave him eighty acres of land 
wiiere he now lives, which he at once com- 
menced to improve. He built a story and a 
half house, a good barn, shedding, granary, 
double corn-cribs and a machine house. He 
provided his place with an artificial grove of 
four acres, also an abundance of small fruit. 

October, 1884, he was married to JMinnie 
Pullman, to whom five children were born, 
the first died in infancv. The names of the 
living are: Frank, Lizzie, Tilia and Julia. 

The father and mother were natives of Ger- 
many and emigrated to America at an early 
day, and found their wa}' to Nebraska in 1873. 
The father died in 1883, and tlie mother is liv- 
ing at North Platte. They reared a family of 
ten children: Fi'ank, Lizzie, Joseph, George, 
Katie, Edward, Henry, Mathias, Mar}' and 
Anna. 

For three consecutive years our subject lost 
heavily as a result of the grasshoppers, which 
raided this country in 1873-74-75. In 1888, 
his crops were destroyed by hail. 

Politically, our subject votes the Democratic 
ticket, while himself and famil}' are members 
of the Roman Catholic Church. 



CHAELES FPtEDEPJK BAYHA, of 
Neligh, Antelope County, attorney and 
real estate dealer, was born at Wheel- 
ing, "West Virginia, January 20, 184.5. His 
parents were Lewis J. and Elizabeth (Eckhart) 
Bayha. The former was a native of Stuttgart, 
Germany, and the latter of Barley burg, Prus- 
sia. They came to America when they were 
young people. Louis J. Bayha settled at Wheel- 
ing in 1832, going to that place from Cumber- 
land, Maryland, by stage. He was a baker by 
trade and followed that business until his death 
in 1887. Our subject attended the public 
schools of Wheeling and at the age of fifteen 
began to learn the carpenter's trade, which he 
followed at intervals for sevei'al vears. In tli- 



autnnin of ISGl, he joined Captain J. Mutlis' 
Independent Company of State troops, which 
was called out in tiie spring of 1SC2, and 
attached to General Wheats' Regiment, and our 
subject was detached as dispatcli bearer of 
General Lightburn's staff. He carried dispatches 
during General Imboden's and Morgan's raids 
in West Virginia and Ohio, and was mustered 
out about September 1, 18G3, at Piedmont, 
West Virginia. Soon after he came to Dakota 
County, Nebraska, and there remained eleven 
years, being in the mercantile business at 
Dakota City, then a small trading post. Later 
on he published the Dakota V'dij Mail for five 
years and carried on the business of a con- 
tractor and builder. In 1874 he removed to 
West Point, Nebraska, and published the 
liepuhlican, and during the campaign of 1876 
he founded the Nebraska Staats Zeitung, which 
he published until 1879, during which year he 
removed to Neligh and founded the ^(?/)MW/t'a?i, 
the first permanent newspaper of the place. 
It has since became the Neligli Tribune. The 
press on which it is still printed was usetl to 
print the first paper at Council Bluffs — the 
Bugle — as well as tiie first paper at Omaha, 
called the '■'■Arrov).'''' In 1880, our subject took 
charge of the Commercial Hotel and operated 
it for two years. Since 1882, he has been 
engaged in the practice of law, real estate and 
surveying. He was county surveyor for five 
years, from 1886 to 1891. In the winter of 
18G8-9 he helped to survey the Sioux City & 
Columbus railroad line, the first line surveyed 
across northern Nebraska. This company was 
afterwards reorganized and known as the Sioux 
City & Kearney Railroad Company, of widch 
Mr. Bayha became secretary. He traveled 
tlii'oughout northern Nebraska as a sportsman 
and surveyor. lie was the first to realize and 
])ublish the vast resources and possibilities of 
this section of Nebraska, and it was largely 
through his influence that Antelope County 
was settled and develo|)ed. He published the 
first description of northern Nebraska, the Nio- 
brara and upper Elkhorn valleys, up to Long 



316 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Pine, the same appearing in the Dakota CiUj 
Alail in 1873. 

Politically, he has ever been an active and 
enthusiastic Republican. He was a delegate 
to the National Kepub.lican Convention at 
Cincinnati, in 1876. He is a graduate of 
Eastman's Xational Business College (ISfiS), 
and was admitted to the Bar of Nebraska, Sep 
teniber 12, 1879, and has held the office of 
justice of the peace since coming to the county 
and for a number of years past has been city 
engineer. 

October 20, 1870, he was married to Amelia 
B., daughter of Robert and Frances Jane (Crom- 
well) Beecham, of Sun Prairie, Dane County, 
Wisconsin. Mrs. Baylia was born at Mii'amichi, 
New Brunswick. Iler father was born in Ire- 
land, while her mother was a native of England. 
Not having been blessed with any children of 
their own, Mr. and Mrs. Bayha have reared 
and cared for two children : Robert B. Kanouse, 
now a teacher in the public schools of Antelope 
County, and Edith Clark, now Mrs. A. Bridge- 
ford, who is a widow and resides at home. 

At intervals our subject and his wife have 
also kept several foundling children. Their 
pleasant residence is surrountled by a beautiful 
grove and garden, containing nearly q-vqv\ 
variety of fruit and flower. The forest trees 
have all been grown from seed on their own 
grounds. Mr. Bayha takes great care of his 
grounds, doing the work with his own hands. 
In this and other work he is ably assisted by 
liis good wife, who is a graduate of the Baptist 
College of Beaver Dam, AVisconsin. She is a 
member of the Congregational Church, while 
he is a Lutheran, lie is a prominent member 
in the Odd Fellows Order, having passed 
through all the chairs of the local lodge and is 
now a member of the Grand Lodgeof Nebraska. 
He is also a member of the Modern AVood- 
men. 

Mr. and Mi's. Bayha take an active interest 
in all worth}' public enterprises, and their 
exemplary career commands the respect and 
esteem of all. 



JOSEPH SNYDER, residing on Section 16, 
of Elkhorn township, came to Dodge 
County, in the winter of 1805, when he 
located at Fremont and started one of 
the first shoe shops of the place. He built a 
shop on Broad street. At that time they were 
just building the Union Pacific railway, and 
Fremont had but two hundred inhabitants. 
Our subject paid ninetv dollars per thousand 
for lumber .with which he built his shop, and 
then had to draw the same from Omaha. He 
continued in this business for eight years, when 
he bought the farm he now occupies, which 
at that time consisted of eighty acres of wild 
land. Here he erected suitable buiklings, 
planted out a fine grove and an orchard of 
one hundred trees. Subsequently he added 
eighty acres to this lantl, and also added to his 
residence ; built a new barn, cribs and out- 
buildings. Mr. Snyder came to Nebraska a 
poor man, and dui'ing the grasshopper years, 
when the very heavens were darkened at noon- 
day by these little winged pests, he was 
obliged to leave his farm for two years, on 
account of grasshoppers and high water. 

lie was born in Baden, Germany, Decem- 
ber 28, 18i3, the son of Joseph and Catharinea 
Snyder, natives of Germany,, whose eight 
children were as follows : Victoria, Frediicka, 
llelleiia, Johanna, Conrad, Joseph, Michael and 
an infant unnamed. Josdph lived in Germany 
until eight years of age, when in company 
with his parents he came to America. The 
family settled in Galena, Illinois, where his 
father worked at the carpenter's trade. 
He remained at home with his parents until he 
he was fifteen years of age, and the next two 
j'ears he spent in learning the shoemaker's trade, 
which he worked at until 1801 — the opening 
year of the Civil AVar, and when the gunsof Fort 
Sumter shook the foundations of the Nation, this 
young man, who was born across tiie sea, 
enlisted in the Union Army, as a member of 
Company E Ninth AVisconsin Regiment. Ho 
enlisted at Milwaukee under Ca])tain Schleader. 
and from there was sent to Leavenworth, Kan- 



NOJi THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



sas, and from thence to Kansas City, to guard 
against Quantrel's Band of Guerriiias. From 
there he was sent to Foi't Scot, where they or- 
ganized with the Cherokee and Osage Indians 
and went to Fort Gibson. \\q was under General 
Solomon, of the First Brigade, Second Division 
of Seventh Army Corps, and served his country 
three years. He was a prisoner of war four 
months, and was under guard all the time, 
lie was taken prisoner in October and was out 
all winter, with no clothing but his shirt and 
pants. " Vengance is mine, saith tiie Lord" — 
and many a Union soldier who was imprisoned 
exclaims. Amen ! 

After our subject's I'eturn from the service he 
started a shoe shop, at Scales Mound, Illinois, 
operated it six months and came to Nebraska. 

Mr. Snyder was united in marriage Novem- 
ber 23, ISOT, to Mary Ileindle, daughter of 
Michael and Terrace Ileindle, natives of 
Bavaria, whose two childi'en were : l\Iary and 
Joseph D. 

They aj'e the parents of ten children, boi'n in 
the following order : Josephine, October 7, 
1868 ; Louis, September 30, 1870 ; Sylvester, 
January 21,1871 ; Carrie, November 22, 1873; 
an infant deceased. May 15, 1875 ; Albert. 
December 26, 1879 ; Alice, December 11, 1S81 ; 
Yiola, September 15, 1883 ; Eva, January 1, 
1887 ; Mollie, April 12, 1889. 

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and politically, he 
affiliates with the Democratic party. 



HON. AVILLIAl\r COLLINS, superintend- 
ent of public instruction of Cuming 
County, has been a resident of the 
county since April, 1883. He located at that 
time on a farm near Bancroft. His parents 
were married in New York Citv, afterwards 
settling on a farm in Piqua County, Ohio. In 
1847 this farm was sold and the family moved 
to Knox County, Illinois, where they purchased 
a farm. Their family consisted of six sons and 
three daughters, of which four S(jnsan(ltwo 



daughters are still living. The fatiier died in 
1862, and the mother one year later. 

The subject of this sketch was but a mere 
boy when c(>ming to Illinois. He worked on 
the farm during the summer and attended the 
common school of the neighborhood during the 
winter months until fifteen years old, when he 
was sent to the high school in the then county 
seat. In 1864, he attended the commercial 
school in Aurora City, Illinois, graduating and 
receiving his (li|)loma. After a short experience 
as book-keeper he returned to his iiome in Knox- 
ville antl engaged in the grocery business with 
Slieriff Thompson. After which he was em- 
])loyed as a teacher in the common schools of 
the county for about six years. 

Three terms were taught in the neighbor- 
hood where he grew to manhood. Being 
advised by a friend of his father, Mr. B. Kersey, 
to study for the jirofession of law, he gave up 
teaching and went to read law in the olKce of 
Judge Craig. 

The early abandonment of this project has 
been keenly deplored by Mr. Collins and his 
friends. Anxious to make money he quit read- 
ing law and entered very successfully into 
speculation. But the fictitious prices resulting 
from the Civil War gave way, and swept with it 
almost his entire accumulations. 

Again resuming the life of a farmer, he wfis 
married at the age of thirt\'-three years to Miss 
Carrie D. Donahoe. The latter was scarcely 
eighteen years of age at the time. The Ilev. 
Tlireeworthy D. D., of the Episcopal Church, 
performed the ceremony. 

^fr. and Mrs. Collins are the parents of nine 
children, eight of whom are still living, viz.: 
Bertie R, Maggie M.. James 11., Edith M., 
Ilean E., Blanche J., Nellie B., and Stella F. 

Politically, Mr. Collins is a stanch Democrat. 
He first entered public life in 1887, being at 
that time elected counnt}' suVveyor. One year 
later he was nominated by tiie Democratic 
j)arty and elected to represent his district in 
the state legislature. His opponent was the 
II(ju. John D. Neliirh, of West Point. He 



318 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



resigned the office of surveyor to take his seat 
in the legislature. Here liis party was very 
much in the minority. He had the distinction 
of being the finest looking member of that 
august assembly, and the reputation of 
being a safe, conservative and honorable 
member. Upon his return home he was elected 
justice of the peace for the city of Bancroft. 
He resigned, however, and resumed farming. 
In January, 1801, iiis party nominated him for 
county superintendent of public instruction. 
He had for opposition the fusion candidate 
(republican — ))i'()hibition — independent) Mr. C. 
W. Ray, and Mr. H. D. Readinger, a promi- 
nent Democrat of his own party, who entered 
tlie field as an independent candidate by peti- 
tion. Mr. Collins was elected over all by a 
handsome majority. Entering upon the duties 
of hisofficQon January 7, 1892, the year was 
characterized by carrying to a successful issue 
a six weeks teachers' summer normal, which 
was attended by one hundred and four teachers. 
Tiie normal was held in connection with the 
annual institute in tiie high school building at 
West Point, and jiroved of great value to the 
attending teachers and educational interests of 
the county. Mr. Collins is a man of wide 
experience, in the prime of life, and his many 
good qualities have gained for him the respect 
of a large constituency of friends and sup- 
porters. 

MICHAEL GROEHOWSKE, of Sections 
10 and 11, Logan township, Cuming 
County, was born in German}-, Sep- 
tember 15, 1854, and came to America with his 
parents, John and Victoria Groehowske, who 
landed at Baltimore in 18G6, remained a while 
in Illinois, and then came to Nebraska in 1868, 
locating a homestead in Logan township. 

Our subject I'emained with his -father until 
1880, when he deeded one hundred and sixty 
acres to his son, who has since lived upon the 
same. The place now has good improvements, 
including a (ive-acre grove, a fine orchard and 
good buildings, and is enclosed within a wire 



fence. One hundred and seventy acres are 
under cultivation, while the remainder is in 
pasture and meadow. He has since added 
enough land to make him six hundred and forty 
acres. 

He was married in 1884 to Julia Baker, to 
whom three children have been born. Two 
died in infancy, and the living is named Ed- 
ward. 

Michael's faliici- and niothei' were among the 
earliest settlers in Logan township. He Hied 
on his homestead in Ohama, before he had seen 
the land. He possessed enough money to buy 
a yoke of oxen, a wagon, plow and a cow. The 
famil\' consisted of a w-ife and four children: 
Thomas, Michael, our subject ; Mary (deceased), 
and Stephen (deceased). 

Mrs. Groehowske's parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
Peter Baker, reside in West Point. 

He of whom we write this sketch belongs to 
the Roman Catholic Church, and politically, he 
is a supporter of the Republican part}-. 

During their early settlement the}- met with 
a loss by the grasshoiipers, their crops being 
destroyed for three years. The father was com- 
pelled to seek work elsewhere in order to sup- 
port the family. For eighteen months he was 
engaged on the Pacific Coast. At this time 
our subject was a child at home, and the fiimily 
saw great hardships. Water had to be carried 
one mile for domestic purposes. His father had 
dug four wells eighty feet deep, but failed of ob- 
taining water. He subsequently drilled one 
hundred and thirty feet and struck water. In 
those early days their nearest market place 
was Omaha, and with an ox team it required 
one week to make a trip. No hotel bills were 
paid then, as teamsters camped out and cooked 
for themselves. Their first house was a dug- 
out, and around it the wolves, deer and other 
wild animals sported at will, and at times the 
wolves appeared very savage. The Indians 
wei'e quite numerous and made frequent calls 
at the few settlers' houses, usually begging for 
sometiiing to eat. Then again at autumn time 
they were in great danger of being burned out 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



319 



l)y the prairie fires. Their house and shedding 
liad to be provided with fireguards by burning 
around tiiem as soon as frost came. 



AliNOLI) IIOMOERG, a larinrr of Sec- 
tion .3. Cuming townsliip, Dodge 
County, was born in ILinover, Ger- 
many, in 1850. When he came to America he 
spent one year in Illinois and arrived in Omaha 
in 1868, and soon after fountl his way to Dodge 
County, where he worked a few years as a 
bridge builder on the Union Pacific liailroad. 
He bought his land in Dodge County in 1870. 
lie was united in mari-iage in October, 1880, 
Ilis farm consists of two hundred and forty 
acres. He has a story and one-half house, a 
good barn, an orchard, and four acres of trees, 
while the balance is in meadow and pasture 
lanii. He keeps six head of horses, forty head 
of cattle and one hundred head of hogs. For 
two years during the early settlement of this 
township the grasslioppers and chinch-bugs 
destroyed the crops and caused very hard 
times to ensue. The father ami mother of our 
subject were boi'n in German\', and came to 
Dodge County in 1868, and are now both de- 
ceased. His wife's people were also Germans, 
and emigrated to this country. The father is 
dead, but the mother still survives him. 

The names of our subject's children are: 
Frederica, Arthur, Alexander and Alfred G. 

MADS NIELSEN, a farmer residing on 
section 5 of Cuming Township, Cuming 
County, has been a resident since the 
fall of lS6i;, when he first stopped at West 
Foint, and hence may truly be called a pioneer. 
He first took a homestead of one hundred and 
sixty acres, upon which he built a small house 
of Cottonwood lumber. This was the first 
house erected in Cuming township, as it was 
also the first between West Point and Oakland. 
He lived in this house twelve years, and then 
built his present residence, which is sixteen by 
tliirty-two feet, with a wing fourteen b}' six- 



teen feet. He has a good class of barns, gran- 
aries and shedding ; also a tool house and hog 
house. A beautiful artificial grove, covering 
an area of twenty-two acres, is at once a valua- 
ble and attractive feature of his improvements, 
as is also his orchard of sixt\' trees. Of the 
half-section ot land he now owns, two hundred 
acres are under the plow, while the balance 
is in pasture and meadow land. When he 
came to the country. West Point had but one 
store, a hotel, a saw-mill, and a log blacksmith 
shop. No bridges had yet spanned the waters 
of the Elkhorn and its tributaries. At one time 
they were out of flour for three da\'s, and had 
nothing to subsist upon except turnips. Our 
subject has also passed through the destroying 
plagues of grasshoppers and hailstorms. 

For the birthplace of our subject we must 
look to the north of Europe, for he was born 
in Denmark, April, 1833. He is the son of Nels 
Rasmuson, a native of Denmark, by whose 
marriage relation seven children were born, all 
of whom took the name of Nielsen : Hans (de- 
ceased); Mads, Mary (deceased), Anna, Chris- 
tena (deceased), Johannah and M. Sophia. 

Mads remained in his native land until he 
was thirty years of age, when he came to 
America, landing at Quebec. lie went from 
there to Milwaukee, and then found his way 
into Michigan, where he chopped wood two 
winters, and worked at carpenter work three 
years and came to Nebraska. He came to 
America with about one hundred dollars in 
money. He had been in the army in Denmark, 
and received a good common school education. 
He of whom we write this biographical notice 
was united in marriage July, 1866, to Karen 
Hanson, daughter of Hans and Maren Olson, 
who had seven children, all of whom took the 
name of Hanson Our subject and his wife 
are the parents of seven children, named as fol- 
lows: Ilobert, Mary, Peter, Sophia, one de- 
ceased, Anna and Catharine. 

Mr. and ]\[rs. Nielsen are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and politically, he votes with 
the Republican party. 



320 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Robert, their first born, was the first cliild 
born in Cuming toivnsbip. 



JACOB MILLER, a farmer living on Sec- 
lion 1(1, of Cottereil township, oame to 
Dodge Count}' in the autumn of 1867, 
and located at Fremont, where he run a 
blacksmith shop for three years, when he sold 
out and came to Ins present place, Avhich was a 
pre-emption of IGO acres. When the law was 
passed giving a soldier the right to take ICO 
acres of land within railroad limits, Mr. Miller 
threw up his pre emption and took some land 
as a homestead. His first house was a frame 
shanty, boaided up and down with flooring 
and papered with building paper, which made 
it quite warm and comfortable. In this they 
lived until the fall of 18S2, Avhen he built his 
present house, which is 16x24 feet, with an L 
16 feet square. When he first came to this 
place he broke, forty acres with two yoke of 
oxen. Wlien he came to the county he had 
only $15, but now has a fine farm, well im- 
proved and ver}'^ valuable. When Mr. Miller 
came to Fremont there were about one hundred 
buildings there, and prices were high, both for 
provisions and for work, and our subject relates 
that his i^rice for shoeing horses was $5.50 per 
sjian. 

Mr. Miller was born in Switzerland County, 
Indiana, April 18,1835, tlie son of George and 
Margaret (Douglas) Miller. The father was a 
native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Ohio. 
When our subject was about seven years of 
age his jiarents moved to Tippecanoe County, 
Indiana, where the mother died one \'ear later, 
and he remained witli his father on the farm 
until Christmas Day, 1848, wiieii his father 
died. Our subject was thirteen years old at the 
time, and had two married sisters, with whom 
he remained until spring, when they were going 
to " bind him out,'' and as he did not like tlie 
idea lie ran away to Terre Haute, Indiana, and 
worked on tlie canal for $5 per month for four 
months. We next find him in Fayette County, 



Illinois, in company with a young man named 
Robert Phillips, who had a horse and buggy. 
They drove through. He then worked out on 
a farm during the summer and went to school 
during the winter until he was nineteen years 
old, and then went to Waverly, Morgan County, 
Illinois, and learned the blacksmitli's trade. He 
worked three years for $2<i() and his board. He 
then went to St. Louis and ironed wagons for 
the Murphy Wagon Company, receiving $12 
apiece. After remaining there eight months he 
went to Oqiiawka, Illinois, was tiiere a shoil 
time, and then went to a small town opposite 
Burlington, Iowa, where he rented a black- 
smith shop for a year, and while there lie heard 
of his brother John T., who was in Warren 
County, Illinois, and he went to make him a 
visit, the first he had seen of any of his rela- 
tives, or even heard of them, for fourteen years. 
He was only there a short time, as his brotlier 
was getting ready to move to Mahaska County, 
Iowa. Our subject drove a team out for him, 
and then run a sliop at Union Mills one year; 
then went back to AVarren County, Illinois, 
and operated a shop one winter, then went 
to Abbington, Illinois, where he enlisted, in 
November, 1861, in Company II Thirty-third 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry. They were sent 
to Pilot Knob, Missouri, arrived a day or two 
after the battle, and were then sent to Pea 
Ridge, Arkansas. He was in the following en- 
gagements: Port Hudson, Jackson, Cliampion 
Hills, Black River, Siege of A'icksburg; )-outed 
Johnson out of Jackson, Mississippi, and then 
returned to Vicksburg and was sent to reinforce 
Banks at New Orleans, and from there marched 
through Louisiana to Texas and back, and on 
this campaign had a severe fight with Kirby 
Smith, and was shipped from New Orleans to 
Corpus Ciiristi, and on account of high winds 
could not land. So they played there all night 
and lired guns for a pilot, but they did not come 
to their aiti. Tlie next day they were ordei'cd 
to Mustang Island. Tiiis was in the winter of 
18(i;?-64, and our subject went home to Lafay- 
ette, Indiana, and re eidisted, and was siiii)ped 



'A/v'.\- NEBRASKA. 



821 



to New Orleans, where lie did gan i.^.^n uniy 
one 3'ear, and then went to Mobile, where he 
was engaged in the battle; then marched to 
Montgomerj', Alabama, thence to Selma, from 
there to Meridian. Mississippi, remaining all 
summer; then to Yicksburg in the winter of 
1865. When he was mustered out he came to 
Mahaska County, lou-a, where he remained 
with liis brother that winter, and in the spring 
of 1806 came to Omaha and worked at Bellevue 
at his trade eiglit months. The next eight 
months we find him in Elkhorn, Douglas 
Count}', after whicii he came to Fremont. 

He was united in marriage in the fall of 1SG8 
to Emily Thomas, and they are the parents of 
two children : Floyd E., and George, deceased. 

Emily (Thomas) Miller died on the farm in 
Dodge County, in Ma\', 1S73, and he was again 
married, June 28, 1874, to Mrs. Livonia M. 
Harrington, and they are the parents of one 
child, Bertie. Mrs. Miller is a member of tiie 
Methodist Episc(jpal Church. 

Politically lie has been in s^nupathy with the 
Republican party until of late, but now is In- 
dependent. He is a member of the Grand 
Arm}' Post at North Bend, and stands high in 
the communitv in which he lives. 



HERMAN W. LAASE, of Blaine town- 
ship, Cuming County, was born at War- 
ren, Schwerin, Mecklenburg, Germany, 
i\Iarch 19, 1860. He is a son of Theodore and 
Dorothy (Detdloff) Laase, and when five years 
of age the family came to America, settling at 
liavenna, Ohio. In 1870 they removed to Cum- 
ing County, Nebraska, homesteading the farm 
upon which our subject now lives. In the 
spring of 1891 Theodore Laase removed to the 
village of Wisner, where he and his wife now 
reside. They are the parents of six children: 
Herman, Matilda (Mrs. J. W. Stinson), Amos, 
Frank, Anna, and Paul. 

Ml'. Laase received a limited education, and 
when twenty-one years of age commenced to 
follow the business of boring wells, and also 



dealt in agricultural implements, for several 
seasons being employed as a twine binder ex- 
pert on the McCormick and other reapers, but 
since 1887 has been carr^'ing on the homestead, 
which consists of one hundred and sixty acres. 
He was married November 13, 1887, to x\iiielia 
J., daughter of James and Eliza Wilson. Mrs. 
Laase was born near Lafayette, Indiana. Two 
children have been born by this union : Benja- 
min II. and Levi P. 

Politically, Mr. Laase is an Independent. 
He is a member of the Wisner Lodge, Knights 
of Labor Onler, belongs to the Ancient Order 
of- United Workmen, and was a charter mem- 
ber of the Blaine township Farmers' Alliance, 
of which he is now president, as well as of the 
County Alliance. He is among the most in- 
telligent and progressive agriculturists of his 
townshi]i. 

OLA JOHNSON, a highly respected 
farmer of Section ?A, Logan township, 
became a settler of Dodge County, in 
18C9, when lie built a dugout 12x14 feet, and 
broke twenty-five acres, upon which he planted 
wheat and trees. This was upon an eiglity-acrc 
tract which he homesteaded in 18G8. A few 
years later he bought eighty acres of railroad 
land on Section 25, of the same township. 

Mr. Johnson was born in Sweden, April 6, 
1847. His parents were John and Ella John- 
son, who had seven children: Nels, Ola, Han- 
nah, Annie, ^lary. Mans and Moris. 

Ola accompanied his parents to this country 
in 1868. They landetl at New York, and came 
to Omaha May 26. He was married Decem- 
ber 15, 1873, to Christina Hanson, daughter of 
Peter Hanson, whose wife bore him nine chil- 
dren : John, Annie, Henry, Catharine, Mar- 
greta, Christina, Peter, Louis and Nellie. 

Mr. Johnson and wife are the parents of 
eight children, born as follows: Anna Au- 
rora, January 14, 1875; Arthur Alfvin, Febru- 
ary 28, 1879; Nellie Evelina, January lo, 
1881 : Nellie May, May 28, 1883 ; Olga Corina, 
November 9, 1885 ; Julia Esther, Marcli 29, 



323 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1887; Hatty Emeline, November 20, 1888; 
Ellen, May 10, 1889. Olga, Annie and Peter 
are the only three children who survive. 

For his second wife he married in 1891 
Miss Cecilia Lundqvist, who was next the 
youn<^est of a famil}^ of four children. 

FEEED GUENTHER, a farmer of Section 
5, St Charles township, Cuming County, 
was born in the same count}' January 
28,1862. He lived with his parents on Section 
4 of the same township, until he was twenty- 
seven years of age, when lie moved to his pres- 
ent farm, wMiich had been willed to him upon the 
death of his parents. His place contains a 
small orchard, fifty five acres under cultivation, 
with a good class of buildings. 

He was united in marriage October 15,1889. 

Two children have been born : Ferdinand 
and Casper. Our subject's father and mother 
both died in Cuming County. Politically, Mr. 
Guenther votes the Democratic ticket, and in 
religious matters is a devotee of the Eoman 
Catholic Churcli. 

Mrs. Guenther's parents were born in Ger- 
man}', came to this country in 1885, and are at 
present living in Cuming County, Nebraska. 

In his father's family there were eleven 
children, and lie is one of a pair of twins. His 
advantages for obtaining an education were 
very limited, a tiling which he very much sees 
the need of at this time. 



J 11. IJENNE, an extensive farmer of Sec- 
lion 12, Monterey township, Cuming 
County, was born in St. Charles 
County, Missouri, July 22, 1855. He 
was the nintii of a family of twelve children 
born to J. F. and Mary Benne. The father is 
still living in Mi-ssouri, where the mother died 
in 1871. Ti)ey were Germans who emigrated 
to America in 1842. They landed at New 
Orleans, and from thence came up the river. 
The following children are yet alivo: Mary, 
Eliza, AVilliam, Henry, Herman and Dora. 



Our subject was united in marriage July 19, 
1883, to Anna Dierker, to whom has been born 
four children : Fred, Harry J., Clara M. and 
Victor A. 

Mrs. Benne was the oldest of a family of ten 
children born to Henry and Mary (Gruer) 
Dierker. The father was born in Germany 
and came to America in 1842. The mother> 
however, was born in Missouri. Their children 
were named : Anna E., Ella M., George D., 
Tillia F., Fred J., Edward H., Benjamm F., 
Albert C, Harry F., Mannie M. 

When our subject came to Monterey town- 
ship he worked for his wife's father six months, 
and in 1883 bougiit his present farm of four 
hundred and eighty acres, paying eighteen dol- 
lars per acre for the same. It amounted in the 
aggregate to $8,G40, and he now values it at 
$18,000, outside of personal pi'operty, which 
amounts to $5,000 more. He is a very system- 
atic and orderly man, as everything about his 
place indicates. He has a wind-mill, which 
supplies a system of watei'-works with water 
for both domestic and stock purposes. This 
improvement cost him five hundred dollars. 
His farm is enclosed by a wire fence, which 
cost him eight hundred dollars. His buildings 
are of the best character and all shows him to 
be a man of thi'ift anil e;ood taste. 



JOHN C. BRIGGS, of Beeiner, Cuming 
County, was born near Schoolcraft, Mich- 
igan, December 22, 1844. He is the son 
of Asa C. and Mary (Noyes) Briggs. Asa 
C. was a native of A'ermont. Tlie family had 
resided in New England for many generations, 
and were of English descent. Mrs. Mary 
Briggs was born near Buffalo, New York. Asa 
C. settled in Michigan in 1832. In 1856 here- 
moved to Glenwood, Iowa, anil in 1864 to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, and ])urchased a 
farm near the pleasant village of Hoo))er. He 
completed the Logan mills in 1804, and kept a 
store, post-office and country tavern for a num- 
ber of years at tiiati)oint. This was a popular 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



resort for teamsters en route for Omaha. Peo- 
ple came from as far as Grand Island to mill 
here. Asa C. Briggs died July 7, 1887; the 
widow and her oldest son still reside on the 
place. They were the parents'of five children : 
■1. Frank, Jennie F. (Mrs. H. E. Laird), Asa, 
John C. and Alia 11. John C. received a lim- 
ited education, attending the district school in 
the winter. February 12, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company 1! Twenty -ninth Iowa Infantry, 
and took part in the engagements at Jenkins 
Ferry (Arkansas), Spanish Fort, and a number 
of skirmishes. After the surrender of General 
Lee he was sent into Texas witli the regiment, 
and finally discharged at iSTew Orleans, August 
10, 1SG5. After the war he attended school 
about two months, and I'emained in Iowa until 
tiie spring of 1S66, and then came to Dodge 
County, and ran a breaking team ; the nest 
season pre-empted 160 acres of land, but 
worked in his fatiier's mill for two years. In 
1869 he took a homestead near the present vil- 
lage of Scribner, and resided there until 1880, 
when he moved to Beemer township, Cuming 
County, and purchased a farm. January, 1887, 
he removed to the village and engaged in the 
livery business for three years, since which 
time he has been engaged in dealing in live 
stock ; he also carries on a horse training and 
breeding stable. His stable contains some fine 
specimens of horses. He was one of the incor- 
porators of the Beemer State bank, and has 
been president of that institution since its or- 
ganization. 

Politically, Mr. Briggs is a Republican. He 
is a member of tiie Grand Army of tiie llepnb- 
lic, and has held several local offices. 

He was united in marriage, July 2, 1870, to 
Miss Olive Oberst, the daughter of John and 
Sarah (Florence) Oberst. 

Our subject's maternal grandfatiier's name 
was James Noyes. His father was a Continen- 
tal soldier, and took part in the battle of 
I'.unker Hill. Samuel Russell, his great-grand- 
latlier, was also at the battle of Bunker Jl ill. 
James Xoves was a Methodist minister, llis 



eldest son, James, took part in the Black Hawk 
War. 

Mr. and Mrs. Briggs are the parents of the 
following children : IMary V., born October 27, 
1871— died August 28, 1872; Lida M., born 
October 15, 1874; Guy F., May 5,1876; Mary 
O., August 3, 1887. 



DAVID AD A.MS, banker at O'Neill, Holt 
County, has been a resilient of that 
city since the spring of 1881, when he 
organized the first bank of the count}', known 
as tiie Holt County Bank, which wns started 
with a capital of three thousand dollars, with 
the following officers : D. Adams, cashier ; W. 
E. Adams, president. It was established as a 
private bank but is now a State bank, with a 
capital of forty thousand dollars. With much 
pride our subject has seen the place grow from 
a hamlet of one iiundred ami fifty inhabitants 
to fifteen hundred. 

David was born in Union County, Ohio, 
Mav, 1856, the son of John Watson and Etha 
Adams, natives of Ohio and Germany, respec- 
tively. Their children were : Ciiarles II. (de- 
ceased), Albert, David, Edwiird, Candice 
(deceased) and AVilliam. 

Mr. Adams remained in the Buckeye State 
until twenty-four years of age, when he located 
at Neligh, Nebraska, but after six months went 
to O'Neill. He was reared on a farm receiving 
a common school education and was united in 
marriage February, 1884, to Lenora, daughter 
of Timothy and Jlary Dwyer, natives of Ireland 
and Maine, respectively, whose nine children 
were: Nellie (deceased), Mary (deceased), 
Lenora, Richard, Julia, Catharine, Robert, 
John and William. 

Our subject and wife liave two children: 
Mary E. and Constant F. 

Politically Mr. Adams aililiates with the Re- 
publican party. 

Of his ancestry he knows but little, save that 
his grandparents originated from Massacliuselts 
and \^crmont. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



RICHARD M. ALLEN, manager of the 
Standard Cattle Company of Ames, will 
form the subject of this notice. 

Mr. Allen was born in Baugor, Maine. March 
20, 1853, the son of Rev. J. H. and Anna M. 
(Weld) Allen, both natives of Massachusetts. 

Our subject is of a family of six children, 
five of whom are still living. He received his 
education in the public schools at Jamaca 
Plain and Cambridge, later attending Harvard 
College for four years. In the autumn of 187-i 
he entered the office of the Prescott Insurance 
Company of Boston, remaining until ihe fall of 
1877. Pie then went into the grain commission 
business at Kansas City, Missouri. 

In the spring of 1879 he engaged in thecattle 
business in Wyoming, with A. T. Babbitt, of 
Cheyenne, which business finally merged into 
the Standard Cattle Comjiany, in the spring of 
1881. This company has ranches in W^'oming 
and Montana, an account of which is given 
elsewhere in this volume. In the spring of 
1882 Mr. Allen went south to take charge of 
the company's property in Texas and Indian 
Territory, and there remained until the fall of 
1886, when he took charge as manager of the 
company at Ames, Dodge County, Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage July 14, 1884, to 
Virginia Coggeshall, a native of New York. 

In all his business relations Mr. Allen has 
proven himself a capable and trustworthy 
man. 



ALEXANDER BEAR, physician and sur- 
geon, practicing at Norfolk, is one of 
the oldest jjractitioners in Nebraska. He 
was born in Warrentown, A^irginia, February 4, 
184U. His ancestors came from Germany, set- 
tled in Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed 
to Virginia. His parents were Emanuel and 
Caroline (Bachrach) Bear, who were the parents 
of two children, our subject and Jacob, now of 
Virginia. The mother died in 1876 and the 
father in ISSG. He of whom we write this 
notice was educated at the University of Vir- 
ginia, at Charlottesville. When eighteen years 



of age, he entered the office of Professor Arnold 
oi Baltimore and attended lectures at the Uni- 
versity of Maryland, graduating in 1860. He 
commenced the practice of medicine at Marion, 
Smith County, Virginia, in Ai)ril, 1861. When 
the Civil War i)roke out, he commenced to act 
as assistant surgeon in the Fourth Virginia 
Infantry, and afterwards became surgeon of 
the Twenty-first A^irginia Cavalry, remaining 
in the service until the surrender of Lee at 
Appomattox, when he w'as paroled. In the 
summer of 1865, he came to Fremont, Nebras- 
ka, then a small village. He was the second phy- 
sician which hung out his shingle at that place. 
In 1870 he went to Norfolk, when there was 
but a half-dozen houses in the i)lace. The doctor 
is a member of the State Medical Society, and 
held the office of first vice-president. He is 
also a member of the American Medical Society. 
He is at present surgeon of the Union Pacific 
and C. M. & O. railroads at Norfolk. He be- 
longs to Masonic Lodge No. 56, where he has 
filled all the chairs, represented his lodge in the 
Grand Lodge, and is senior wanlen in Damas- 
cus Chapter. 

He was united in marriage at Richmond, 
Virginia, September, 1887, to Miss Amelia Levy, 
daughter of Leopole Levy, a commission mer- 
chant of Richmond. Two children have been 
born of this union : Robenette. born May 23, 
1889; Alexander L., born August 3, 1892. 

When the doctor came to Nebraska, his 
practice extended over a large territory, as 
there were but a few settlers at any one given 
point. 

Financially he has made a success in the 
North. He is vice-president of the Norfolk 
National Bank, one of the oldest financial in- 
stitutions in northeastern Nebraska. 

Politically the doctor is a stanch supporter 
of Democracy, and has been honored by repre- 
senting his district in the State Senate two 
terms, and also one term in the House of Rep- 
resentatives. In 1875 he was elected as one of 
the Board of Regents of the State University, 
holdinsi' until the constitution was chaiiKeil in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



335 



ISSO. lie was the Democratic candidate for 
Congress for the State in 1879, and was only 
defeated by 4,000 votes, while the Republican 
majority on tlie State ticket was 25,000. In 
1S90 he was candidate for lieutenant governor, 
but was defeated with the balance of his party 
bv five thousand votes. 



HENRY K. IIECKER, a furniture dealer 
and undertaker of Madison, Madison 
Count}', has been identified with that 
place since 1874. He was born in Schleswig, 
Prussia German v, November 1, 1829. He is 
liie son of Jacob Fredrick and Mary C. (Tort- 
sen) Becker, who were the parents of eight 
children : Margaret, who married Claus Rathjer, 
and died in Prussia; Cliristena, wife of John 
Lyme; Ann, wife of Christian Michelson, of 
Phillipsbni-g, Kansas; Marv, wife of Christ 
Landen, of Brooklyn, New York; Frederica, 
wife of John "Weber, near Richmond, A^irginia ; 
Catharine, wife of Hans Albertson, of Brook- 
lyn, New York; Lena, wife of Charles Freder- 
ick, of Phillipsburg, Kansas. 

Mr. Becker, the father, died in Germany in 
1878, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. 
Becker died in 1848. This worthy couple were 
lifelong members of the German Luthei'an 
Church. 

lie of whom we write was reared, educated 
and apprenticed to the trade of a cabinet 
maker, was a soldier during the War of 1848, 
and participated in the engagement at Itstedt. 
In 1853, he emigrated to America, loca.ted at 
Mt. Vernon, New York, where he worked in a 
door factory. In 1855 he went to Greenwich, 
Connecticut, and followed the carpentering 
trade. In 1879 lie married Miss Catharine 
Dully, who was born in Ireland in 1829. Our 
subject enlisted September 25, 1861, in the 
Tenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, being 
a member of Company I. He served three 
years and participated in engagements at 
Roanoke, Newburn, Kingston, North Carolina, 
and was sent to South Carolina, ])articipating 



in the siege of Fort Sumter. He was also at 
St. Augustine, Florida, remained live months 
and was with Butler in the army of the 
James. His health failed and he was sent 
to Hampton hospital anil tliei-e remained 
until the Battle of Cold Harbor, when he was 
in the ambulance corps and assisted in remov- 
ing the wounded. He worked day and night 
and was on short rations. We next find him 
at Petersburg and was sent from there near 
Deep Bottom, Virginia, where he joined his 
regiment, and the next night had an engage- 
ment in which he was taken prisoner, sent to 
Belle Isle for a short time and from there to 
Libby hospital and was soon mustered out at 
Hartford, Connecticut. 

In 1874 he moved to j\Iadison, Nebraska, 
where he built a store and started the first fur- 
niture shop in the place. He sold out in 1888, 
on account of ill heath. He has since purchased 
one-half of his business, which he still retains. 

In politics he is a stanch Republican. He 
has been one of the county commissioners for 
three years ; been a member of the school board 
and on the town council seven years. He has 
always taken an active interest in all public 
affairs. He is a member of the Lutheran 
Church. 

Mr. Becker came to America fifty dollars in 
debt, and by hard work has accumulated a good 
property and bears the respect of the entire 
community. 

CUARLESJ. BEST, junior partner in the 
publication of the Leader at Neligli, 
Antelope County, was born at Portage, 
Wisconsin, January 4, 1857, and moved with 
the family to Agency, Iowa, in 1807. He at- 
tended the public school. At twelve years of 
age he commenced to learn the printer's trade on 
the Ncioshoij and Independent., and in 1878 
bought the Independent., which he published 
three years, and then went to Council BlulTs. 
In 1876 was employed on the Democrat at 
Peoria, Illinois. At one time he was city editor 
of the Council Bluffs Nonpareil, has also held 



326 



NOK THE A STERN NEBRA SKA . 



that position on the Evening Herald of the 
same place. During tlie racing season of 1883 
he reported for tlie Chicago Ilorseraan, raaidng 
a circuit through Iowa and Missouri. In 1884: 
he worked as the night editor of the Omaha 
Herald, and the following year came toNeligii, 
and in company with his brother began tlie 
publication of the Leader. 

April 17, 1883, he was married to Minnie E., 
daughter of John B. Ilill and wife, of Virginia. 
Mrs. Best was born in Washington County, 
Iowa. Their three children are: JohnE., Helen 
and Kuth. 

Politically, Mr. Best affiliates with the Dem- 
ocratic party, and is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias order. For additional information 
the reader is referred to his brother, E. T- 
Best's sketch. 

EDWARD THOMAS BEST, senior partner 
in- the publication of the Neligh Leader, 
of Antelope Count}', was born at Port- 
age City, Wisconsin, February 22, 1850, the son 
of Thomas E. and Emely (Jones) Best. The 
father was born in Portage County, Ohio, of 
German descent, and died at Agency, Iowa, 
October 5, 1877. Mrs. Emely Best was born in 
Connecticut, and now lives at Burlington, Iowa. 
Our subject attended the public schools at 
Portage, and when fourteen years of age 
be<>an work on the AVisconsin State Register. 
In 18G7 the family removed to Salem and soon 
after to Agenc}', Iowa, where he attended the 
public schools and worked in the office of the 
Agency JVeivsloi/. In 1871 he purchased the 
same and published it until the next spring, 
when he went to Chariton, Iowa, and in com- 
pany with others founded the Leader. In 1882, 
he bought the Harlan Tribune, and two years 
later went to Council Bhiffs, remained awhile 
and then moved to Neligh, and founded the 
Leader as a Democratic organ. He was post- 
master at Neligh from November, 1885, to 
February, 1890, and is tiie present city clerk. 

He was married at Fairfield, Iowa, December 
23, 1875, to Florence -May, daughter of Prof. 



R. G. Gilson, now of Apalachicola, Florida. By 
this union three children were born : Edith, 
Robert G., and Edward T. 

Thefamily are members of the Congregational 
Church. 

Thomas E. Best, fatiier of Edward T., was a 
physician, and enlisted soon after the battle of 
Bull Run, and afterwards became a surgeon of 
the Forty-Fourth Wisconsin Regiment, and 
was discharged on account of ill health. 



EMIL K. BOELL, a farmer of Section 20, 
Everett township,came toDodge County 
in the fall of 1873. He first located at . 
Fremont, and worked in the grain elevator 
for about seven years, after which he rented 
land two years and then purchased the farm 
he now occiipies, which consists of one hun- 
dred and sixty acres of partly improved 
land. He built a house 10x28 feet, with a 
wing 10x22 feet, also a good barn, granary, 
cow-barn and dug a well providing the same 
with wind-])ower. He has since added to his 
land until he now has two hundred and 
fort}' acres, two hundred acres of which are 
under the plow. 

Our subject was born in Germany, Nov- 
ember, 1850, the son of Hans and Sophia 
Boell, who had three children : Charles, Paul- 
ina and Emil A. Our subject remained in 
Germanv until twenty-three years of age, 
when he came to America, landed in New 
York, and came direct from that place to 
Dodge Count}', Nebraska. His early educa- 
tional advantages were poor. He was in the 
German army three years, and fougiit between 
France and Germany. He was united in mar- 
riage September, 1872, to Anna Withenrich, 
daughter of John and Mary Withenrich, who 
were the parents of the following children : 
Daniel, William, Henry, Anna, Mary (de- 
ceased), Cliristian, Louis, Trena, Maggie, Her- 
man, August, Ik'rnard. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boell are the parents of live 
children: William II.. Joiin, Lena, Louis and 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



337 



Henry. Four of whom are deceased. Two died 
of diphtheria at the ages of four and one iialf and 
t\T0 years respectively. Heniy died in infancy- 
llr. Boell, in his pohtical afTdiations, favors 
the Democratic party. 



CHARLES W. CAIIU, of the firm of 
Reavis & Car, Battle Creek, Madison 
Count\', was born in Grayson County, 
Virginia, January 3, 1861. He is a son of 
Fielding and Nancy (Phelps) Carr, natives of 
Virginia. Our subject's father grew to man- 
hood in the old "Dominion" State and at the 
breaking out of the Civil War espoused the 
cause of the Confederate States, shouklered his 
musket, and served throughout that terrible 
conflict. He took part in many of the battles, 
and was at tlie sui-render of his chiefton, Robert 
E. Lee. Mr. and Mrs. Carr were the parents of 
ten children : Elizabeth, wife of George Hall, 
of Virginia; Marion, of Kentucky; John, of 
Virginia ; Thomas, a resident of Madison 
County, Nebraska ; Charles "W., the subject of 
this sketch , Fielding, of Virginia ; Wilburn, of 
JIadison County, Nebraska ; Huston, of the 
same locality ; Griggs, of Arizona, and Laura 
at home in Virginia. The parents are still 
living, and aie honored members of the Baptist 
Church. 

Charles W. learned the blacksmitli's trade in 
his father's shop. He also learned the wheel- 
wright trade. In March, 1884, he came "West, 
and started a shop near Hail post-office. In 
1887, he moved to Battle Creek, and foi-med his 
))resent partnership under the firm name of 
Keavis & Carr. 

Mr. Carr was married in Virginia February, 
lS81r, to Miss Susan E. Buseick, a native of 
Wj'the County, Virginia. She is the daughter 
of Troy and Frances Buseick. By this union 
three children were born: Maude, August 17, 
1S85; Retta, born August 10, 1888, and Montie, 
born May 3, 1891. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carr are both acceptable mem- 
bers of the Baptist Church and stand high in 



the community in which they live. He is a 
friend of all educational institutions, and is 
greatly opposed to the liquoi- traffic. 



WILLIAM FRANCIS CONWELL, M. 
D , of Neligh, Antelope County, will 
form the subject of this notice. He 
was boi'u in Van Buren, Grant County, Indi- 
ana, September 17, 1846. His parents were 
James and Harriet (Conner) Conwell. His 
great-grandfather, Jeremiah Conwell, came 
from Ireland and settled in Delaware. His 
grandfather, Jeremiah Conwell, was a sailor 
and sea captain, until fifty years of age, when 
he moved to Laurel, Indiana. James Conwell 
also owned a trading vessel until thirty yeai's 
of age, when he also came to Indiana, about 
1842, and died there in 1S7S. Mrs. Harriet 
Conwell died at Van Burton. Indiana, in 1880. 
Her father, James Conner, was a Baptist min- ' 
ister at Connei'sville, Indiana (named after 
him). He was a native of Kentucky. Mrs. 
Conwell was born in Lexington, Kentucky. 
AVilliam F.. of whom we write, lived at Van 
Buren on a farm, attending the district school 
until July 2U, 1863, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany F One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry for si. \ months, but served 
eight months, and then re-enlisted in tlic Sev 
enteenth Indiana Battery, and served until the 
close of the Civil War, receiving his discharge 
July 8, 1865. He participated in the engage- 
ments so memorable in history. Cedar Creek, 
Winchester and other engagements. After 
the war closed he entered Roanoke Academy 
at Roanoke, Indiana, and afterward attended 
the State Normal School at Terre Haute. In 
the fall of that year he entered upon a three 
year.s' course at the Chicago Medical College, 
and began practicing at Van Buren, Indiana, 
in 1870! In 1875 he went to Falls City, Ne- 
braska, and four years later to Oakdale of the 
the same State. In 1885 he went to New 
York City, and finished his course at Bellevne 
Medical College, graduating March 15, ISSti, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



after which he took a special course in surgery 
at the New York Polyclinical College, finish- 
ing in 1S86. He returned to Oakdule, Ne- 
hi-aska, and resumed his practice, continuing 
until September, 1S91, when he went to 
Neligh, where lie has since practiced his chosen 
profession. lie has built up an extensive and 
lucrative practice in Antelope County, and is 
often called to distant places for counsel. 

The Doctor was united in marriage July 1, 
1880, to Miss Emma, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. 
John Edwards, of Jackson, Missouri. Mrs. 
Conwell was born in Kentucky. 

Politically the Doctor is a supporter of the 
Republican party, and has served as county 
coroner in Antelope County three terms. He 
is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and 
is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows" 
Orders, and has passed through the chairs of 
both the subordinate and encampment degrees 
of the last named. He is also an honored mem- 
ber of the Kniglits of Pythias (uniform rank), 
Grand Army of the Republic, Modern Wood- 
men of America and Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 

He is a member of the Nebraska State Medi- 
cal Society, the Railway Surgical Society, and 
has held the position of surgeon of the F. E. ife 
M. V. R. R. since 1887. 

Be it said to the Doctor's credit that what, 
ever success or distinction he has attained has 
been accomplished through his own efforts, as 
he commenced in life unaided by his friends or 
capital. 

JOHN H. CLAUSEN, a retired farmer and 
present chairman of the township board, 
of Cuming township settled in Dodge 
County,in June, 1868, and took a home- 
stead on Section 12,township 19, range 6, in 
what is known as Ridgley township. He 
remained on this place until January, 1889, at 
whicli time he rented his farm and moved to 
Scribner. 

He was born in Holstein, Germany, January 
18, 1837, and grew to manliood in that country. 



He had the advantages of the common schools 
and has always preferred the life of a farmer, 
to that of any other occupation. He sailed 
for America in June, 1865, landing at New 
York the 13th of that month and at once went 
to Stephenson County, Illinois, where he worked 
upon the farm until he came to Dodge County. 

July 16, 1872, Mary D. Hover became his 
wife. She was born in Hanover, August 24, 
1851. By this marriage union four children 
have been born : Henry, May 2, 1873 ; Otto, 
October 5, 1874; Alma, April 22, 1879, and 
Bertha, March 15, 1885. 

In his political choice ]\Ir. Clausen favors the 
Democratic party, and u]ion this ticket has 
been elected to numerous local offices. 

During twenty -four years residence in Dodge 
County our subject has jiroven the value of our 
laws, for it was that 3'ear he was enabled to 
secure a homestead of the most fertile land to 
be found in the world, by simply entering the 
same and attempting to build for himself a 
home. And as one views his farm to-day, they 
are impressed with the fact that he appreci- 
ated the opportunity that had been offered him. 
And at this time while he is yet in tlie prime 
of life, he is enabled to i-etiro from the labori- 
ous duties of farm life. 



ADAM K. DINGES, a farmer located on 
Section 28, Cleveland township, came 
to Cuming County in the autumn of 
1884, and located on the farm lie now occupies, 
which at that time consisted of one hundred 
and fort3'-six acres of wild land, upon which he 
l^laced good improvements as fast as he was 
able. He has an artificial grove of four aci-es 
and an orchard of one hundred trees. One 
hundred acres of his land is under tiie plow. 

The man of whom this notice is written is a 
native of Pennsylvania, born December, 1840, 
the son of John Philip and Rebecca Dinges, 
natives of the Keystone State, whose nine 
children were : Adam K., John Philip, Jr., 
Oliver Perry, Elizabeth, Jennie, Joanna, Re- 




^■.i^Ai^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



:i31 



becca, Daniel and Samuel. All living in Ne- 
braska, except two who reside in Iowa. When 
fourteen j'ears of age our subject left his native 
state and went to Stej)henson County, Illinois, 
and remained there with his parents on a farm 
until 1S62, during the Civil War period, when 
lie enlisted in Company Ci Ninety-tliird 
lUinois A^'olunteer Infantry, and was mustered 
into service at Camp Douglas, Chicago, under 
Cai)tain Joseph Reel, and from there was sent 
to Memphis, Tennessee, under General Grant. 
In the spring of 1S63 he was in the regiment 
that cut the levee of the Mississippi to Half 
Moon lake, the object being to Hank Pemlier- 
ton at Vicksburg. He was also engaged in 
lighting guerrillas. He was at tlie battle of 
Ciiampion Hills, where he was taken prisoner 
and iield two weeks and then paroled. After 
serving his country three years he was dis- 
chai'ged at Chicago, and went to farming upon 
a fifty-acre tract which he owned. He re- 
mained there until became to Cuming County, 
Nebraska. 

Emaline Gross became his wife in October, 
1867. She is the daughter of Samuel and 
Elizabeth Gross, natives of Pennsylvania whose 
six children arc as follows : Johnathan, Permel- 
ia, Amanda, Emaline, Elizabeth (deceased), and 
Samuel (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. Dinges are the parents of five 
children born in the following order : Millie, 
William P., John and Samuel (twins), Franklin. 

Politically, he of whom we write is in full 
sympathy with the Democratic jiarty. Among 
the local offices he has held may be mentioned 
tliat of town clerk, which he has held for five 
years in succession. 

HON. ROBERT F. KLOKE, president of 
the Nebraska State Bank at AVest 
Point, was born in Manitowoc County, 
Wisconsin, February IS, 1800. His parents were 
Frederick and Elizabeth (Fobbe) Kloke, natives 
of Germany, who emigrated to America in 
18.50, locating in Wisconsin. In 18C8, they came 
to Cuming Countv, Nebraska, where tlie father 



died in 1873. They were the parents of seven 
children : John, who was treasurer of Cuming 
County for seven 3'ears but now a prominent 
farmer in Boyd County, Nebraska; Henry, a 
farmer in Cuming County ; Herman, of West 
Point ; Robert F., the subject of this sketch ; 
Mary, the wife of Augustus Drahos, of West 
Point ; Lena, wife of G. Loock, of Boyd County, 
Nebraska. 

The subject of this notice received his educa- 
tion in the common schools of W^est Point, and 
graduated from the Green Bay Iiusiness Col- 
lege. In 1881, he ongagetl in the real estate 
and loan business, and in 1887, commenced 
banking business as a private banker. When 
the Nebraska State Bank was organized in 
1889 he was made its president, which oliice he 
still holds. He is treasurer of the Building and 
Loan Association of West Point, as well as sec- 
retary of the Land Loan and Trust Company. lie 
is one of the directors of the West Point Elec- 
tric Light Company, and a member of the board 
of education. 

Mr. Kloke has never been an office seeker but 
in the fall of 1892 he was elected to the State 
Legislature from the sixteenth Representative 
District, comprising (.'uming, Thui'stonand Da- 
kota Counties, by a plurality of 428. In 1888, 
Moan, Democrat, carried itbyl30(i. Though 
West Point, Mr.Kloke's home town, is thorough- 
ly Democratic, it gave him a majority of 246, 
which bespeaks liis popularity at home and 
abroad. 

Mr. Kloke was united in marriage in 1884, to 
Miss Amelia Rosenthal, a native of AHenna, 
Austria, coming to Amercia when five years of 
age. The result of this marriage union was one 
child, named Mona. 

Politically, Mr. Kloke is a R('])ui)lican, while 
in religious matters he is in sympathy with the 
Christian Church. 

NOAH DENESIA, whose farm home is 
located on Section 28, Cleveland town- 
ship, has been a resident of Cuming 
County since the autumn of 1SS4, when he 



332 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



located on one liundred and twenty acres of 
wild land, comprisino- a part of his present 
farm. Here he built a 16x24 story and one- 
half house, and provided the place with suita- 
ble out-buildings, also a grove of three acres 
and a small orchard. His present farm con- 
tains one hundred and sixty acres, ninety acres 
being undei' the plow, while the balance is in 
pasture and meadow-land ; the entire tract 
being surrounded by a good fence. In 1885, 
during a hai'd wind storm, his house was taken 
from its foundation. 

To acquaint the reader with our subject's 
earlier life it should be stated that he was born 
in Canada, February, 1834, the son of Tusan 
and Catharine Denesia, natives of France, 
whose seven children were: Tusan, Jr. (de- 
ceased); Joseph, one who died in infancy, 
Mary, William, Estiier and Xoah. 

When four years of age Noah accompanied 
his parents to St. Lawrence County, New York, 
remained about two years, then removed to 
Jefferson County, the same State, where the 
parents both died. Our subject remained with 
his parents at home until he reached his ma- 
jority and then purchased a timber-land farm 
inLewisCounty,New Yokr, which he improved 
and lived upon about twent^'-four years. lie 
then moved to Saunders County, Nebraska, 
lived three years and came to his present place. 

During the Civil War. and in 1863, Mr. Den- 
esia enlisted in Company F Fourteenth New 
York Heavy Artillery, and was mustered into 
service at Rochester and was sent to Longlsland. 
where he did garrison duty until the spring of 
1S64. He then went to the front, and was sent 
back, remaining with the army till Oct(>bcr,lS65. 

All through life he has had to depend upon 
his own resources, and had a common school 
education. He was united in marriage Decem- 
ber, 1857. He and his wife have been blessed by 
seven children : Josephine, Elizabeth, Charles, 
Louisa, Sarah, Francis and Adaline. 

Mr. and Mrs. Denesia belongs to the Roman 
Catiiolic Church and politically he belongs to 
the Democratic party. 



JOHN P. EATON, a farmer of Section 14, 
Cotterell township, came to Dodge 
County in July, 1867, and took a home- 
stead of eighty acres. His nearest neigh- 
bor was four miles, and everything was wild 
and new, but settlement was made rapidly. 
Personally of this man it may be said he was 
born in Barnstead, New Hampshire, August 
18, 1843, the son of Peter and Elizabeth C. 
(Libby) Eaton, both natives of New England. 
In 1861 and spring of 1862, he attended the 
academy at Pittsfield preparatory for college, 
but left and entered the Union Army. He 
enlisted in Companj'^ B Twelfth New Hamp- 
shire Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army 
of the Potomac. In the spring of 1864 he 
was commissioned first lieutenant, and was in 
the Indian country for many months. After a 
varied experience was mustered out in IVfav, 
1866, and returned to his home in the Granite 
State, remained a year and then came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. September 10, 1868, he 
was married to Miss Francena J. Sawyer, of 
Lee, New Hampshire, born November 4, 1845. 
Mr. and Mrs. Eaton are the parents of one 
child, Gertrude F., born November 14, 1881. 

They are both members of the Congrega- 
tional Church. 

Politically, he is a Republican, and has held 
the office of countv commissioner, and was the 
Republican nominee for county judge in the 
fall of 1801. 

JOHN HILBERS, of Section 14. Neligh 
township, came to Cuming County in the 
spring of ISSl and located on the land he 
now occupies, which was then a hundred 
and twenty acre wild tract, which he has suc- 
cessful!}' improved. He built a frame house, 
14x20 feet, one story high, in which he lived 
for nine years, then built his present resi- 
dence, which is a two-story structure, 24x40 
feet. He has a good class of outbuildings, 
barn, granary, etc.; a dug-well provitied with a 
wind-power pump and a good system of water- 
works. He has an artilicial grove of three acres. 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SK 



333 



an orchard of sevent}' trees, besides grapes and 
small fruit. His present farm contains two hun- 
dred and forty acres, one hundred and sixty of 
which is under the plow, the balance in pasture 
and meadow land. He came to the county 
poor, and had to borrow money with which to 
make the first payment on his land, but by hard 
work, good management, together with the 
natural advantages of the country, he has come 
to be a well-to-do agriculturist. 

]\Ir. Hilbers was born in the German Empire, 
April, 18-12, the son of Oltmann and Wubke Hil- 
bers, natives of Germany, whose four children 
were: Helen, Dedric, John and Gerliart. Three 
of these children are living in America and one 
in Germany. The father and mother are both 
deceased. Our subject lived in his native coun- 
try until twenty-seven years of age and then 
came to America. He first settled in Logan 
township. Dodge County, where he took a 
homestead and lived for six years. He sold 
that place and bought near Oakland, but on 
account of the loss he sustained by the grass- 
hoppers, after moving there, he was obliged to 
sell out, and subsequently bought where he now 
lives. 

He received a good education in his native 
county, and was united in marriage. May, 1S71, 
to Meta Wilkens, daughter of Tonjes and Mar- 
garet Wilkens, of Germany, whose three chil- 
dren were: Henry, Bernhart (deceased), and 
Meta. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
four children, born as follows : Helen, Januar}', 
1872 ; Louisa, June, 1874 ; Herman, May, 1877; 
and Margaret, January, 1880. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and in political matters he 
is a supporter of Democrac\\ He has assessed 
his township three years, and been its treasurer 
three years. 

CAPT. JOHN D. HATFIELD, present 
treasurer of Antelope County, residing 
at Neligh, was born July -I, 183-1-, near 
Ttockville, Park Countv. Indiana, the son of 



Abel and lu'i)fita v'^ununiTsi Hailield. Abel 
Hatfield was in born Butler County, Ohio, and 
his father, George Hatfield, fought througii the 
Revolutionary conflict. The father of the 
last named Hatfield (also named George) 
came froni England, and settled at Elizabeth- 
town, New Jersey, about the middle 
of the eighteenth century. 

Abel Hatfield now lives near lied ford, Iowa. 
He was born in 1804. 

Mrs. Rebecca Hatfield was born in Sullivan 
Coiinty, Indiana, and is still living. Her father 
was born in New Jersey, of English extraction. 
Mr. and Mrs. Abel Hatfield are the parents of 
ten children : John D., Jane (Mrs. G. Hall), 
Phoebe A. (Mrs. R. M.Terrell), Jesse, William 
(died in infancy), Margaret (Mrs. D. Yager), 
George (deceased), ifary (IMi's. J.Cook), Janet 
(MrsD. Martin, deceased), and Harrison. In 
1845 our subject, John D., removed with his 
parents to Peoria County, Illinois. At twenty 
years of age he left home, worked on a farm in 
Marshall County, Illinois, and November 2, 
1861, enlisted in Company II Fifty-third Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the en- 
gagements at Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Ilatchie, 
Siege of Yicksburgli, Jackson, Siege of Atlanta, 
and was with Sherman on his famous '"March to 
the Sea," thence through the Carolina cam- 
paign back to Richmond, and on to Washing- 
ton, where he took part in the Grand Review. 

At Hatchie he received a painful and dan- 
gerous wound in the lower jaw. He was sent 
home on a furlough until February, 1863. At 
Jackson his regiment, two hundred strong, 
came out with but sixty-two men. lie was 
sent to Libby prison, with one hundred and 
eight of his comrades, and escaped February 0, 
1864, by digging a tunnel. After six days and 
nights of privation, during which he had but one 
meal, hesucceeded in reaching the Union lines 
at Williamsburgh He received a first lieuten- 
ant's commission, Decemi)er, 2, 1862 and a 
captain's commission December 28, 1864, re- 
ceiving an honorable discharge from the L^^nion 
Armv, July 20, 186."). After the war he again 



334 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



engaged in farming in Marshall County, Illi- 
nois. In 187C he removed to Bradford, Stark 
County, Illinois, and in 1885 to Neligh, Xe- 
braska, where he engaged in buying and ship- 
ping grain and live stock, iiaving purchased a 
section of land in Antelope Count}', in 188i. 
He now owns twelve hundred and forty acres 
of improved land wiiich he rents. Politically 
he is Independent. He has held the office of 
countj' treasurer of Antelope County since 
1889. 

April 2G, 1866, lie was united in marriage to 
Miss Nellie M., daughter of Simeon P. and Car- 
oline Shedardson, of "Warwick, Massachusetts. 
Two children blessed this union; Lillian and 
Jay D. 

Mr. Hatfield is a member of the Masonic and 
Grand Army of the Republic fraternities. He 
and others made the lirst call for an inde- 
pendent convention in Antelope County in 1889, 
and he was a delegate to the National conven- 
tion at Omaha, in 1892. He was also a delegate 
to the first national conference of the labor 
organizations of America, at St. Louis, in 
December, 1889, also to the conference at Cin- 
cinnati, in May, 1891. He is a member of the 
State Central Committee. Formerly he was a 
prominent and enthusiastic Repuljlican. 



SEYMOUR HAMMON, of Section 34, 
township 21, range 3, Maple Creek pre- 
cint, of Stanton County, is numbered 
among tlie first settlers of his precinct. He was 
born in Chautauqua County, New York, Febru- 
ary 4, 1830, and is the son of Anson and Eliza 
(Ilandley) Hammon. They were united in 
marriage March, 1824, and reared a family of 
six children. Our subject remained at home 
until twenty-two years of age. His mother 
died October 15, 1854, after which the family 
moved to Iowa, where he was united in marriage 
February 11, 1804, to Mary E. Hall. He lived 
nearWaterloo, Iowa, until 1870, when he moved 
to Stanton County, Nebraska, and located on a 
(juarter-scclion of land that had formerly' been 



located as a homestead, which delayed him two 
years in filing his homestead papers on the 
same. He then returned to Iowa, and the fol- 
lowing April returned with his wife, to Ne- 
braska, and became the first actual settler in 
Mapple Creek precinct, and built the first habi- 
tation in the same. 

He reared a family of seven children : Eva 
M., now Mrs. W. E. Chilcoat ; Mary A., Mrs. 
George R. Parrish ; Henry H. ; Charles A.; 
Frank E. ; Arthur H. and Jessie A. 

Mr. and ]\Irs. Hammon are members of the 
Baptist Church. Mrs. Hammon was born in 
Rowe, Massachusetts, the daughter of Samuel 
and Jfary (Fiske) Hall, natives of the New 
England States. They reared a family of six 
children. The date of Mrs. Ilammon's birth 
was December 3, 1842. 



EDWARD W. HOOKER, a farmer living 
on Section 3, of Maple township, came 
to Dodge County in the spring of 1872, 
and first located at Fremont, where he rented 
a house and worked land for one year, when he 
homesteaded the place he now occupies; the 
same consisted of a quarter-section of wild land, 
upon which he built a house 20x28 feet with a 
wing 18x24 feet, also a barn and other out- 
buildings. He provided his i)lace with a'bored 
well, set out an orchard of fifty trees, besides 
shade trees. He now has one hundred ami ten 
acres under the plow, while the remainder of 
his farm is in pasture and meadow land. 

It was his ill-fortune to live in the county 
during the years that the grasshoi)pers were 
there. They destroyed his corn crop entirely, 
and he had to resort to school teaching in order 
to subsist. 

^Ir. Hooker was horn in Westliam))ton, 
Hampshire County, Massachusetts, November 
26, 1840, the son of Festus and Mary IJ. Hook- 
er, natives of Massachusetts, and descendants 
of Rev. Tiiomas Hooker, the first minister at 
Hartford, Connecticut. In our subject's parents' 
family there were six children : Allen T. (de- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



S35 



ceased); Henrv C. (deceased); Edward W.; 
Lucy A. ; Wortliington and Cbarles II. Our 
subject remained willi his ))arents until he be- 
canieof age, when he enlisted as a soldier in the 
Civil War, at "Westhampton, Massachusetts, as 
a member of Company D Thirty-seventh Regi- 
ment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry', and 
was mustered into service at Pittsfield, and was 
at once sent to Arlington Heights, Yii'ginia, 
and was in the battle at Fredericksburg, Mary- 
land Heights, Salem Church, Gettysburg, etc- 
His regiment was then sent to New York City 
to assist in the enforcement of the draft in 1SG3, 
after which they were sent back and joined the 
army and participated in the engagements at 
Eappahannock, MineTlun, Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
vania, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg 
and Fort Stephens, at which last named place 
the regiment was armed with Spencer repeating 
rifles. Our subject was also at the battles of 
Charleston, Cedar Creek, Hatches Eun, Fall of 
Petersburg, and Sailors' Creek, also at Opecpian. 
He w'as color-bearer one j'ear and a half, which 
promotion he received for bringing the colors 
from the last named engagement. After having 
served nearh' three years in the Union Army 
our subject received an honorable discharge at 
Readville, Massaciiusetts. He received no 
wounds, while his right and left hand man was 
shot from his side, and the flag-staff splintered 
in his hand. After the war lie went to work 
at the mill-wright trade, at which he worked 
for six years and then came to Nebraska. His 
advantages for an education were good, and he 
improved them by attending the common 
schools, also the Westfield Acadeni}' and Willis- 
ton Seminary. Mr. Hooker was married in July, 
1862, to Jennie E. Clark, daughter of Zenas S. 
and Eli/a Clark, natives of Massachusetts, 
whose three children were : Coi'nelia. Henry 
H. and Jennie E. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. Hooker are the 
parents of six children, born as follows : Henry 
C, born August 22, 1860 ; Annie W. (deceased), 
December 11, 1870; Edward F., July 28, 1876 ; 
Charles S. (deceased), September 8, 1878; Cor- 



nelia A., October 29, 1879; Jennie M., Mav 
19, 1884. 

Mr. Hooker votes the llepublican ticket and 
holds the ofHce of justice of the peace. He is 
postmaster at ]\[aple Creek. He belongs to the 
Grand Army of the Republic, while both he 
and his estimable wife are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 



HENRY HOSTICK, a farmer of Section 
28, St. Charles township, Cuming 
County, was born April 30, 1844, in 
Hanover, Prussia, and came to America in 
1855, landing at New' Orleans. He was the 
oldest son of Henry and Dora (Grovijohn) 
Hostick. Our subject accompanied his parents 
by steamboat to Dubuque, Iowa, where they 
lived five years, and in the spring of 1861 the 
father located a claim in St. Charles township. 
In the summer of 1867 our subject located a 
homestead where he now resides. He was 
married in the autumn of 1868 to his first wife, 
who died, and January 8, 1880, he married 
Lena Nerveman. By his first wife six children 
w^ere born: Henry, IMary, Theodore, Frank, 
William and Lena. II3' his second marriage 
two children were born : John and Josephine. 
Our subject's father is deceased, and the mother 
lives with her daughter in Cuming Count}-. 
Mr. Hostick and family are Roman Catholics, 
and he votes the Democratic ticket. His farm 
originally consisted of one hundred and sixty 
acres, upon which he built a good one and one- 
half story house; also a b;u"n, and set out an 
orchard and a grove of three acres. He after- 
wards bought three hundred and forty acres of 
land, and has the homestead of his father, 
amounting to two hundred and twenty-five 
acres in all, which is all under cultivation. 
During the grasshopper plague, in the seventies 
and eighties, he lost much by their destro3'ing 
his croj)S. His first house was a log structure 
16x18 feet, in which he lived until about 1884. 
His first team was an ox team, for which he 
paid one hundreil and seventy dollars. He was 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



compelled to use this team for about five years 
before he was able to get a horse team. He 
hauled his grain to Omaha, to market, the 
round trip requiring one week's time. Our 
subject has lived to see the country develop 
into a real wonderland of agriculture, with 
happy, prosperous homes on every hand, and 
he is now reaping the reward of some of the 
hard-spent years of pioneering in the Eikhorn 
Valley. 

JOHN HICKEY, one of the highly respected 
and painstaking farmers of Garfield town- 
ship, living on Section 20, came to Cum- 
ing County in the spring of 1882, when 
he located on IGO acres of partly improved 
land, constituting his present farm. Ells im- 
provements inchule a comfortable farm house, 
a barn, granary, tool-iiouse, cribbing, cow-barn, 
and a dug well, over whicli hangs a nicely ad- 
justed winil-mill. He has a sev^en acre grove of 
artificial timber and an orchard of seventyfive- 
trees. He has ninety acres under the plow, 
while the balance is in hay land and pasture. 
Upon coming to tlie county lie liad §8, ((00 with 
whicli to begin farm life in the West. 

]\[r. Hickey was born in Ireland in 1848, the 
son of Edward ami Mary Hicke}', whose eight 
children were : Edward (deceased), Dennis 
(deceased), Daniel, Patrick, an infant (deceased), 
John, Margaret (deceased), Ellen (deceased). 
The three living are all in America. When six- 
teen years of age our subject accompanied his 
parents to America, landing at Boston, and 
from there they went to Webster, Massa- 
chusetts, where he engaged to work in the 
Avoollen mills, and there remained twelve years, 
learning nearly every branch of that business, 
which he followed for five years afterward in 
New York. We next find him at Fremont, 
Nebraska, and soon after he purchased 120 
acres of partly improved land near Hooper, to 
which he added other improvements, and re- 
mained there five years, when lie sold and 
bought a farm in Hurt County, remained one 
year, and from there went to Joliet, Hlinois, 



where he worked in the roller mills two years. 
After leaving Joliet he went to Kearney, Buf- 
falo County, Nebraska, and bought wild land. 
But after a short time he removed to Washing- 
ton Count}', remained one winter, and then 
purchased in Cuming County. He came to 
America poor and with a ver}' limited educa- 
tion. In November, 1876, he married Anna 
Maloney, daughter of Matiiew and Winifred 
Maloney, of Ireland, wliose five children were: 
Maiy, Anna, Martin, James and Catharine. 

Mr. Hickey and his wife have nine cliiidren : 
Mary, Winifred, Margaret, Alice, Anna. Jolin, 
Catharine, Patrick and Agnes. 

Politically Mr. Hickey affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters both 
he and his wife are devotees of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 

HERMAN HOGREFE, president of the 
Battle Creek Valley Bank of Battle 
Creek, Madison County, was born in 
Hanover, Germany, October 28, 1848, the son 
of Friediick and Elizabeth (Bremer) Ilogrefe. 
They were the parents of nine children : John, 
now living in Germany ; Margaret, wife of 
Frederick Winkleman,of Germany ; Frederick, 
came to America in 1866, and was drowned in 
the Missouri River ; Henry, a resident of 
Nebraska, who iiad been a soldier in the German 
army ; Elizabeth, wife of Friedrick Rosebrack 
of Tonawanda, New York ; Catharine, living 
in Germany, married ; Herman, of this sketch ; 
one who died in infancy ; Henry, of Nebraska. 
The parents of this family are both deceased. 
The mother died in 1868, and the father in 
1876. 

He of whom we write this sketch was 
educated in the district schools, and remained 
in his native land until 1868, when he came to 
the United States, and located at Corning, Holt 
County, Missouri, where he workeil upon a 
farm. In 186fl he came to Madison County, 
followed the same woi'k and took a homestead, 
upon which he built a sod-house with a dirt 
floor, and kept bachelor's hall for several years. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



In about 1S78, he was married to Miss Ida 
Gunkel, a native of Nebraska. Prior to his 
marriage he had built a frame house, and 
provided a comfortable home, lie sold that 
))lace, but now owns eight hundred acres of 
land, which is well im|)roved. In 1888, he 
embarked in the liver}' business, continuing 
until 1892. In Januar}', 18S9, the Battle Creek 
Valley lUink was organized under the Nebraska 
State banking laws, when our subject was made 
president of the same, and S. K. Warrick 
cashier. Its original capital was six thousand 
dollars, but the same year was increased to 
twenty-five thousand and in the adtumu of 
1891 to forty thousand dollars. 



W A 11 HEN H. HARRIS, judge of the 
police court, at Madison, Nebraska, 
was born in Muskingum County, 
Ohio, November 28, 1S25, of Irish, English, and 
Welsh descent. His great-grandfather, on his 
father's side, was from Ireland, and on his 
mother's side he descended from New Eng- 
landers. The grandfather was James Harris, 
and the father Thomas Harris, born in New 
Jersey, in 1791. The mother was Sarah (Lilli- 
bridge) Harris, a native of Rhode Island. At 
an early day they went to Pennsylvania, and 
were there married, locating in Northumber- 
land County ; removing from that section 
about 1822 they removed to Muskingum 
County, Ohio. In 1827, they removed to 
Athens and settled on a small farm, remained 
a short time, and then removed to Nelsonville, 
Athens County, Ohio, where he followed tiie 
tadoriiig trade. In 1832, they removed to Cin- 
cinnati. He was also a mill-wright by trade. 
In the fall of 1837, he removed to Brownsville, 
Indiana, and followed carpenting two 
years, and in 1840 removed to Richmond and 
from there to West Lebanon. In May, 1857, 
he died at West Lebanon, Indiana. In his 
early life he was a Democrat, but in 1856, 
being opposed to the extension of slavery in 
the Territories, he left tiiat party. Mrs. Ilar. 



ris died at Grovertown, Stark County, Indiana, 
in 1862. They were the parents of six chil- 
dren, who lived to be adults : Rachel, wife of 
Daniel D. Rogers, both deceased ; Mary A., 
married William R. Evans, both deceased ; 
Warren li., our subject ; Thomas J., a resi- 
dent of Bates County, Missouri ; Louisa M., 
wife of Jesse D. Six, of Bates County, 
Missouri ; and Daniel (deceased). 

Warren H. attended . school in Cincinnati, 
and afterwards at Brownsville. He was mar- 
ried near Richmond, Indiana, April, 1847, to 
Miss Mary S. Demoss, of French tlescent. She 
was the daughter of William and Jane (Heaps) 
Demoss, and was born in Maryland, July 31, 
1830. After his marriage our subject followed 
farming two years, and then removed to Hagers- 
town, where he worked at painting. In the 
fall of 1851, he removed to Warren County, 
Indiana, and remained until 1858, still following 
his trade, also carrying on the di'ug business 
and held the office of postmaster. In 1858, 
he removed to Richmond, and followed painting 
until 1801, and then moved to Stark County, 
lived five years, which was during the Civil 
War period, was appointed provost marshal ; 
he also was postmaster from theautumn of 1861, 
to close of the war. At the close of the war, 
he went to Marshall County, where he started 
his brother in-law in the blacksmith and wagon 
business. In the spring of 1871, he came to 
Nebraska, and homesteadcd a quarter section, 
joining the corpoi'ation of Madison, and 
improved the same, as well as two other farms 
belonging to his sons. In 1880, he removed 
to the village of Madison While living on 
the farm, he assessed one-half of Madison 
County. 

Politically he was formerly a rei)ublican, 
but at present is an Independent party man. 
He held the office of justice of peace and in 
1888 was elected police judge, and re-elected 
in 1890 and is still holding the office. 

In 1890 he was tendered the nomination for 
county judge, of Madison County, by the 
Indei)endent party, but declined the honor. 



338 



A' OR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



\ 



In the senatorial convention, of the Eleventh 
Senatorial District of Xebraska, held at 
Norfolk he received during his absence a 
compliincntarv vote for the state senator. 

Mr. and Jlrs. Harris are the parents of the fi>l- 
lowing children : William T., of Chicago ; 
Ciiarles II.; Sarah J., wife of W. L. Wills, of 
Madison ; Henrietta B., wife of H. E. Wel- 
bergcr, of Madison ; and John J., a railroad 
conductor of Chicago. In 1890 Mr. Harris 
took the federal census of Madison City and 
precinct. 

LARS PETER JOHNSON, who is a repre. 
sentative farmer of Section 15, Maple 
townshij), came to Dotlge Count}' in the 
autumn of 1870, and first stopped at Fremont, 
where he was engaged for two 3'ears as a rail- 
road laborer. He also worked one winter at 
Fremont for a Mr. Mathison, hauling lumber ; 
making trips seven miles and return each day. 
Si)ent about one hundred dollars docloring his 
eyes and was beaten out of his wages in the 
spring by the failure of his employer. At the 
end of this time, he pui'chased a team and went 
to breaking prairie and working on the rail- 
road, continuing for one year, after which he 
bought eighty acres of wild land, which he 
broke out and erected a house upon, in which 
he lived eight 3'ears, and then built his present 
farm house, which is a frame structure 1J:X2J: 
feet with a lean-to S.xSi feet. He built a barn 
26.\-18 feet, and a granary 14x18 feet; also 
double cribs 10x24 feet. Ho set out an orchard 
of fortv fruit trees and planted five acres of 
timber. Of his present one hundred acre farm 
sixty acres are under the plow, and the whole 
surrounded by a good fence. He was a jioor 
man u[)on coming to the count}' and has met 
with numei'ous draw-backs, which might have 
discouraged a man of less perseverance, and 
determination ; but he kept steadily pressing 
onwaitl, believing tiiat deliverance would come. 
During the grasshopper years, these little pests 
destro^'ed his entire crop, and another year 
he lost a valuable horse. 



Mr. Johnson was born in that goodly land in 
the north of Europe, known as Denmark, 
January, 1848. He is the son of Jens Hansen 
Thrane and Anna Hansen Thrane, whose nine 
children were as follows: Hemming J., Hans J., 
Marv, Jens, Ole, Rasmus, Peter, and two who 
died in infancy. 

Lars Peter remained in his native country 
until he was eighteen j-ears of age and then 
came to America, and for the first eighteen 
months worked near Decatur, Illinois, both 
on a farm and as man-of-all-work for a banker. 
We next find him in Chicago, where he engaged 
as a day laborer for six months. He worked 
for one month for Mr. Sullivan, on what was 
then known as the largest farm in the world. 
This brings him to the time he first looked 
upon Dodge County, which was upon a beauti- 
tul autumnal day in 1870. 

He was united in marriage July 3, 1872 to 
Mary Hansen, the daughter of Hans andCatha- 
rina Johnson, whose seven children were as 
follows: Rasmus, Mary, Ole. Hans, Jens, 
Dorthea and Christ. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child : James, 
born June 4, 1875. 

Our sul)ject received a good common school 
education in his native countr3',and since living 
in America he has become well versed in the 
important features of our country. Politically> 
he is in full accord with the Ile])ublican party. 



ANDREW JOHNSON, JR., of Section 
7, township 24, I'ange 2, in what is 
now Spring iiranch i)recinct, Stanton 
County, was born at Mora, Sweden, June 9, 
18G0. His parents' names are Andrew and 
Mary (Hansen) Johnson. When our subject 
was ten years of age, the family emigi'ated to 
America. The first season they spent in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, and the fall of l!570, went 
to Stanton County and took a homestead, 
where our subject now resides. The\' lived in 
a dug-out for several years and were in debt 
for their fare from Sweden to this country. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Andrew Johnson, Sr., and wife had three 
children : Christina (llrs. J. Ileflinoer); Andrew 
tiie subject of this sketch, and Carrie, now 
^[rs. P. PetersQn. Several other families 
accompanied tliem from Sweden and settled in 
tiie same neighborhood. Our subject attended 
tlie district school, and at tlie age of nineteen 
became a teacher. December 31, 1883, he was 
united in marriage to Anna Norling, daughter 
of Eric M. and Anna Norling. By this niar- 
liage three cliikiren were born: Alexander, 
Anita and Raynold. About the year 1884, 
began his life as a farmer, lie now owns four 
luiiidred acres of land, one hundred and sixty 
of which is under cultivation. 

Bega post-office, which was established in 
1870, is located on his farm, of which he has 
been postmaster since 1882. 

Politically, Mr. Johnson affiliates with the 
Republican party. He has served as assessor 
in liis precinct for several years. In religious 
matters, Mr. Johnson was reared in the Luth- 
eran faitii. He is a member of the Lyceum 
League of America ami is president of the 
Local League. He is an intelligent farmer, 
and is very successful in producing jirofitable 
cro]is and |)ays sjiecial attention to stock raising. 



ANDREW M. JACKSON, a farmer living 
on Section 30, Cotterell township, came 
to Dodge County, in the autumn of 
1867, and located on the farm where he now 
lives. He took a pre-emption of eighty acres 
upon which he erected a stor\' and one-half 
iiouse, 16x28 feet, which was one of the first 
buildings between North Bend and West Point. 
He was one of the first settlei's north of the 
Bend. After proving up on his pre-emption 
claim, by paying two dollars and one-half per 
acre, he took a homestead of eighty acres, on 
Section 20, but did not wait to pi'ove this up 
by living on it five years, but after one year 
paid the Government price two and one-half 
dollars per acre. He then returned to his pre- 
emption and has lived there ever since, Tiiere 



was no school-liuuse nearer than llie one close to 
North Bend, and that was an uncertain affair. 
In the early spring of 1868, Mrs. Jackson 
started a school in their own house. It was a 
free-school and she charging nothing for her 
services. This was the first school taugiit in 
this part of the township; tiie term lasted two 
months. In tiie summer of 1868, there was a 
subscription school held in Mr. Graham's sod- 
house on Section 30, taugiit by Isaac Bang- 
heart. 

Andrew ]M. Jackson was born in New 
Hampshire, November 23, 1825, the son of 
Andrew and Mary Warren Jackson, both na- 
tives of the Granite State. When our subject 
was quite small !iis people moved to Vermont 
and at the age of tert years he commenced to 
" Russel " for himself ; he hired out to drive a 
horse cart along the line of the Vermont Central 
Railroad, which was then being constructed. 
He received seven dollars per month when he 
commenced this work. He followed railroad- 
ing about all of his life, until he located on the 
farm where he now lives. He came West 
when he was twenty years of age and located 
at ]\Iuscatine, Iowa, and was on the Rock 
Island road for fifteen years, as a section boss, 
part of the time, and as road master for 'Cwa 
years ; the balance of the time having charge 
of a construction train. During the time he 
was road master he lived at Muscatine, Iowa 
City, Maringo, GrinncU and other points along 
the road. In the spring of 1865, he came with 
a team from Grinnell to Omaha, to take charge 
of track la^'ing on the Union Pacific i-adway, 
and claims he landed the first locomotive that 
ever run over the Union Pacific railway, the 
same coming from St. Joseph, Missoui-i, by 
steamboat. He laid the first rail on the Union 
Pacific track, and was i-oad master from Omaha 
to Grand Island. For two yeai's he lived at 
Omaha, when he moved his famil\^ to Dodge 
County, and still continued to serve as road 
master for several years afterwards. When lie 
first came to Omaha, that city was only about 
the size of North I'end. 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



He was united in marriage in Niagara 
County, New York, March 16, 1856, to Miss 
Lydia Pratt, daughter of Newberry and Lov- 
inia (Staley) Pratt. The father was a native 
of Burminghani, Enghmd, and tiie mother a 
native of France. Mrs. Jackson was born on 
the ocean, a child of the wave, as they were 
coming to America, tiiedate of her birth being 
August 11, 1843. They settled in Niagara 
County, and she remained with her parents 
until the date of her marriage. Our subject 
and his wife are the parents of four children, 
born as follows : Etta, February 24, 1857 ; 
Charles A., February 17, 1865; Clark W., July 
31, 1874, and Jennie E., April 4, 1877. Etta 
M. married Clark Dodge and lives at North 
Bend. The}' are the parents of seven children, 
four daughters still living. 

It has been his good fortune to have been 
connected with some of the first important 
events of this century, as he helped lay the first 
rail, as well as to set on track the first loco- 
motive of the great national highwa}'^, the 
Union Pacific and that he possesses execu- 
tive abilit}' and good judgment is evinced 
from the fact of his Jiaving worked his way 
from a common laborer on the railroad track 
to the responsible position of road master of 
the above named great highwav. 



EDWARD JOHNSON, of Union town- 
ship, who is a farmer on Section 22, has 
been a resident of Dodge County since 
tiie spring of 1859. He located on Maple 
creek. In the autumn of tliat year his brother 
Michael ]n'e-em])ted land and they lived to- 
gether, they being single men. Our subject 
was the first permanent setiler in the north 
partof Union townshij). About 1806 he home- 
steaded eighty acres, which he improved and 
has lived upon ever since, lie has added to 
his original farm until he lias 300 acres, and 
also owns tiie eighty acres ])re-emptcd by his 
brother in 1859, and owns 28(i acres on Sec 
tions30 and 31, Union townsliip. Eighty acres 



of this tract are under cultivation, while the 
balance is in pasture and hay land. On tlie 
homestead he built a frame house 14x28 feet, 
and has since made large additions. His barns, 
sliedding and out-buildings are all first-class, 
and in great contrast to his first stable, which 
was posts, with hay walls and roof. 

Mr. Johnson was born in the north of Ire- 
land, in March, 1832, the son of Edward and 
Jane (Piatt) Johnson, both natives of Ireland. 
In 1852 our subject, with his mother, came to 
America, and located in Philadelphia, where 
Edward worked in a bottling establishment five 
years, which brought him to the time of his 
coming to Nebraska. He came by rail as far 
as Monmouth, Illinois, where his brother 
Michael was at work, and after a short visit at 
that point he started on foot looking for land. 
He walked across the State of Itjwa when there 
was one stretch of thirty miles without a house; 
then one house, and another stretch of fifteen 
miles without one. He traveled alone the most 
of tiie way to Council Bluffs, where he expected 
to remain, but did not, as he iieard so much of 
the great Platte Valley. He kept walking on, 
and finally located in Fremont, Dodge County. 
After having been here five 3'ears, he returned 
to Philadelphia, and on February 10, 1803, was 
united in marriage to Catharine Scott, daugh- 
ter of Henry and Mary (Thompson) Scott, na- 
tives of Ireland, as was also Catharine. She came 
to America when a young woman, and remained 
in Philadelphia until the date of her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of six 
children : Thomas, Minnie J., Maggie, Eliza- 
beth, Jemima and Edward. 

Mr. and ^Irs. Johnson are both exemjjlary 
members of the Presbyterian Church, and 
politically, he is identified with tiie Kepublican 
party. . 

JOHN 11. KKPKOW,of West Point, came 
to Cuming Count}', in 1808. He was 
born in I'aerwalde, near Iierlin, Prussia, 
October 11, 1818. He was reared to man- 
hood and received his education in that local- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ity. He was married in Prussia, January 27, 

184:8, to Miss Henrietta Brandt, of the same 
place. The date of her birth was April 20, 
1825. In 1S()8 they came to America, landed 
in New York and from that point went to 
Mayvilie, Wisconsin. After remaining there 
three months, thej^ came to West Point and 
laid claim to a homestead in Sherman town- 
ship, upon which he built a frame house, 16x24: 
feet. He improved the land and remained six 
years, when he removed to West Point, and has 
since lived upon the income of his hard earnings 
in earlier years. Mr. and Mrs. Kerkow are the 
purentsof the foUowingchildren, seven of whom 
are living: Earnest, died at the age of thirty- 
seven years ; Augusta, wife of Herman Kloke; 
Gustave, a real estate dealer of Fremont, Ne- 
braska ; Wilhelra, a saloon-keeper of Scribner, 
Nebraska; Franz, died at the age of twenty- 
tliree years; Bertha, wife of Ed. A.. Blunck, in 
real estate business at Hot Springs, Soutli 
Dakota ; Amelia, wife of Dr. Chas. Oxford, of 
AVest Point ; Paulina, wife of Adolph Fischer, 
and Ilobert, a jeweler. 

In politics, Mr. Kerkew is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic party. The family are 
members of the German Lutheran Church, and 
are highly respected in the community in which 
thev have lived so many years. 



HERMAN KLINGBEIL, located on Sec- 
tion 33. Cuming township, came tc 
Cuming County in the spring of 1878 
and located on tiie farm he now occupies, then 
consisting of eighty acres of wild land, upon 
which he placed substantial improvements, in- 
cluding good buildings, an orchard of sixty 
trees, and a grove of three acres. He also has 
a fish pond G0x335 feet, stocked with carp. 
The pond is supplied with water by living 
springs. He has since added to his land until 
he now has one hundred and twenty acres, 
seventy-five of which are under the plow and 
the balance in pasture and hay land, and all 
surrounded bv a good fence. 



Our subject was born in Pi-ussia, Germany, 
October, 1850, the son of Michael and Augusta 
Klingbeii, whose tliree children were named : 
Herman, ^lichael and OthelTa. 

Herman remained in Germany until twentv'- 
five years of age, when he came to America, 
landed in New York and then went to Minne- 
sota and worked in a saw-mill near Still AVater 
for three years, and then worked one 3'ear in 
a brewery. He also worked three months at 
grubbing, perha]« the hardest work he ever 
did in his life. He finally found his way to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, worked six months 
and then came to Cuming County. 

He of whom we write this notice was mar- 
ried Februarj', 1878, to Minnie, daughter of 
August and Mary Lucking, whose three chil- 
dren were: Frederick, Minnie and Catharine. 

Mr. and Mrs. Klingbeii have no children. 
In religious mattei's they are both members of 
the Lutheran Church, and jiolitically, he is a 
Democrat. 



JOSEPH KRAUS, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 28, Union township, came to Dodge 
County in the autumn of 1881, and in 
partnership with his brother, Leopold 
bought all of Section 33, and tlic north half of 
Section 32; also thesoutheast quarter of Section 
28, and the northeast quarter of Section 34. 
Therewere some improvements on Sections 2S 
and 32. On Section 28 there were two small 
frame houses and one hundred and forty acres 
of breaking. On Section 32 there was fifty 
acres broken and a house upon it. Kraus I5ros. 
use all of Section 33 for pasture and meadow 
land. They still own their land togetlier, but 
farm and handle their stock separately. Our 
subject owns one hundred and twenty acres of 
improved land in Saunders County. lie built 
his |)resent residence in 1889; the main build- 
ing being 18x20 feet, with an L 14x10 feet, 
witii another addition 10x12 feet. He handles 
about one liundred head of cattle annually, and 
keejjs Bfteen" head of hor.ses on the place. 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



He was born in Germany, March lY, 1852 
the son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Kopf) 
Kraus. In 1854 the family came to America 
and located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, 
where the father rented land for a time, but 
subsequently bought a farm, which he tilled 
until tliey came to Nebraska in 1869, and took 
a homestead of eighty acres and where our sub- 
ject remained until he was of age. The father 
and mother both died in Saunders County. 
They were members of the Roman Catholic 
Church. The father came to America with no 
means and raised a family of nine children, and 
at the time of his death he owned six hundred 
and forty acres of land in Saunders County. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Butler 
County, Nebraska, January 28, 1883, to Miss 
Anna Earchleaf, a native of Bohemia, who ac- 
companieil her parents to America and settled 
in Butler County, Nebraska, about 1878. Her 
parents now live in Holt County, Nebraska. 
Her fatlier's name is Josejjh and her mother's 
Barabra (Blecha) Earchleaf. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kraus are the parents of five children : Odolph, 
Leopold, Elanora, Heramina (deceased) and 
Elsa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kraus are members of the Ro- 
man Catholic Church, and in political matters 
he votes the Democratic ticket. 



TIMOTHY O. KANE, a farmer i^esiding 
on Section 8, of Grant township, came 
to Cuming County in the spring of 1883. 
He first located on his father's farm and 
remained there two years, then went to his own 
place — a half section of wild land. Here he 
turned the ])rairie sod over, built a frame house, 
barn and accompanying out-buildings ; also 
provided a hydraulic well with wind-power, 
])lanted a grove of two acres, and an orchard 
of fifty trees. He now has four hundred and 
eighty acres of land, tiiree hundred of which is 
under cultivation and all enclosed with a fence. 
His last purcha.se was in 1892 of one liuiulred 
and sixty acres. 



Mr. Kane is a native of Cook County, Illi- 
nois, born in April, 1854, the son of Owen and 
Margaret Kane, natives of Ireland, whose seven 
children were : Bridget, Timothy, Mary, Mar- 
garet, Owen, John and Daniel. 

Timothy O. remained with his parents until 
1883, in Illinois, then came to Nebraska. He 
was united in marriage, February, 1885, to 
Anna O'Connell, daughter of Richard and Mar- 
garet O'Connell, natives of Ireland, whose 
seven children were: Margaret, Ellen, James, 
Anna, Patrick, Ilannaii and Sarah. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kane are the parents of five 
children : John, Maggie, Eugene, Raymond and 
Mary. Both our subject and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic Church. Polit- 
ically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, 
and has been a member of the board of super- 
visors for the past four years. 



GEORGE KING, a representative farmer 
of Grant township, Cuming County, 
residing on Section 27, located a home- 
stead of one hundred and sixty acres, where 
he now lives, in the spring of 1868, and at the 
same time he entered eighty acres adjoining it. 
Here he commenced breaking u]i the prairie 
sod, and built a shanty twelve feet square in 
which he managed to live for five years as a 
bachelor. He then built his ])rescnt I'esidence 
20x22 feet. His place is also provided with a 
good class of out-buildings, a beautiful grove 
of three acres, and an orchard of seventy-five 
trees. Of the three hundred ;ind twenty acres 
he now owns, one-half is under the plow'. He 
remained on this place seven years and then 
lived in Omaha six years, emjiloyed in a whole- 
sale grocery house, but since tiien has lived 
upon his farm. He brought five hundred dol- 
lars to thecounty with him as his capital. 

He of whom we write was born in Chautau- 
qua County, New York, in 1845, and remained 
in the Em])ire State until live years of age, 
when his parents removed to Erie County, 
Pennsylvania. He worked two years in a barrel 



i 



NOk THE A S TERN NESRA SKA . 



343 



facton', and came from Penns3'lvania to Ne- 
braska. His parents were INfason B. and Mai-- 
ietta King, natives of New York, whose eleven 
chikiren were: Daniel (deceased), Nathan, 
Helen, Adelbert, Dexter (deceased), George, 
Wesle}', Eva, Bernard, Henry and Gilmorc. 
Six of these children reside in Nebraska, two 
in Illinois and one in California. 

In 1870 Fremont was their nearest market 
point, and our subject was there for a load of 
lumber, put his team in a barn for the night, 
and they were burned with I he barn before 
morning, together with lii.s harness, overcoat, 
vest, watch, etc. 

Mr, King was united in marriage in 1S73 to 
Anna, daughter of Robert and .Margaret Hall, 
natives of England and France respectively, 
whose nine children u'ere named : Doyl (de- 
ceased), Henry, Mary, Maggie, Robert, an 
infant (deceased), John, Anna and Charles. 
Four live in Nebraska, one in Dakota and one 
in AVisconsin. 

Mr. and Mrs. King are the parents of five 
children: Maretta, Walter, Blanche, Mason 
and Almon. 

Politically he is a supporter of the Republi- 
can party, believing that it best serves the 
interests of the American people. 



CHRISTIAN KROGER, one of the en- 
terprising agriculturists, residing on 
Section 8, Hooper township. Dodge 
County, came to these parts in the fall of 1867, 
and first located in Cuming township, where he 
took a homestead of eighty acres, which he 
improved, including the erection of a frame 
house 16x2-1 feet and a " homestead barn," etc. 
lie lived in the original house thirteen years, 
when he built a more commodious one. In 1861 
he erected a barn 24x36 feet and bought an- 
other eighty acres of land. He had an artificial 
grove of five acres and a small orchard on his 
|)lace. In 1883 he sold out and moved to 
Hooper and engaged in mcrcliandising for one 
3'ear, when he sold and bought the farm which 



he now occupies, which consists of four hun- 
dred and sixty-four acres of partly improved 
land. He has a good class of farm buildings, 
including barns, granary and double-cribs; also 
a grove of five acres and an orchard of seventy- 
five trees. He commenced in Dodge County 
without one dollai-'s worth of ))ropert\', and 
during the grasshopper years the\' destroyed 
nearly his entire crop. Not having any oats, 
he was compelled to feed his horses wheat. 

Christian Kroger was born in the German 
Empire, December, 184:4, the son of John and 
Sophia Kroger, natives of Germany, who hail 
a family of six children: John Jr., Sophia, 
Christian, Catharine, Christopher and Mar}', 
all of whom are living. He remained in his 
native land until twenty-four \'ears of age, 
during which year he landed in New York, 
and from there came direct to Nebraska. His 
early advantages for an education were good. 

He was married in October, 1869, to Sophia 
Rogensock, daughter of John and Sophia 
Rogensock, natives of Germany, whose three 
children were : Sophia, Lena and Henry, all of 
whom are living. 

Our subject and his wife are the |)arents of 
seven children : Herman, Anna, ]\[alinda, 
Louisa, Frederick, Ilarr}' and Ai-thur. 

Mr. Kroger is one of the directors of the 
Farmers' Grain and Stock Company, president 
of the Farmers' Butter and (yheese Factor}', 
and is in possession of a handsome propertj'. 
He has seen many changes in the country since 
he first came to Nebraska, when Omaha was 
his nearest market place. 

Politically, he votes the Independent ticket, 
and in religious matters both he and his wife 
are consistent members of the Lutheran Church. 



AUGUST LAMBRECHT, of Beemertown- 
shi]), was born at Greifenberg, Germany, 
December, 1823. He is a son of William 
and Augusta Lambreeht. Our subject and his 
sister came to America after having attended 
school in his native countrv. He learned the 



344 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



bricklayers" trade, which he followed for many 
years. In 1854 he came to Watertown, "Wis- 
consin, and in 1803 to Cuming County, Ne- 
braska, when there were but about one dozen 
families in the county. lie came overland with 
ox teams, and homesteaded on Rock Creek, in 
what is now Eikhorn township. Upon his ar- 
rival he only possessed seventy-five dollars. 
The family lived in a dugout one year, and 
then moved into a new log-house. They took 
possession of their dug-out March 4, 1864, and 
the first meal of victuals he ate in this house 
he shared with six Indians, who were always 
friendly towards him. In 1865 he built a com- 
bined saw and grist mill, and settlers came from 
along the Platte River, some from even two 
hundred miles away. The mill machinery was 
brought from beyond Council Bluffs, Iowa- 
The original mill was succeeded by a new one 
in 1886, and m 1891 it was removed to Beemer 
village. At one lime our subject owned over 
seventeen hundred acres of land in this countv, 
but has sold off and divided among his children, 
and now divides his attention between gi'ain 
and stock raising. He was postmaster at Bis- 
mark for several years. 

He was united in marriage December 20, 
1846, to Maria Bloedorn, by whom eight ciiil- 
dren were born, three having died in childhood: 
Charles, who now resides on the old homestead ; 
Augusta (Mrs. C. Tillie), Hannah (Mrs. E. Mel- 
cher), Mena (Mrs. E. Fullmer), and Henry. 
f Our suiiject and his wife iiave twenty-two 
irrandchildren living. 



GERHARD MEYER, boot and shoemaker 
at Scribncr, has been in trade at that 
point since June, 1886; he was born in 
Germany, April 9, 1833, and grew to manhood 
in his native country ; receiving a common 
school education, after which he learned the 
slioemaker's trade, which business he followed 
until lie came to the United States in 1857. 
arriving at New York, in which location he 
stayed until coming to Dodge County, as above 



mentioned. He was united in marriage in 
Germany, October 15, 1857, to Kathrina Menke, 
born in Germany January 28, 1833. By this 
marriage union four children have been born : 
Methe. July 16, 1860 ; "William, December 31, 
1861 ; John, January 26, 1803 ; Gerhard, May 
6, 1875. 

Mr. Meyer does business for a large territory, 
and notwithstanding he commenced in Dodge 
County, with scarcely no means, he is to-day 
well circumstanced. 



JOHN J. McCAFFERTY, a hardware 
merchant of O'Neil, Holt County, has 
been a resident since the autumn of 1875, 
when he took a homestead of one hundred 
and sixty acres, now included in the town site 
of O'Neil. He built a log house 14x18 feet, 
which was the seventh on the town plat. He 
planted out trees, set an orchard, which is now 
bearing fruit, also set out evergreens and small 
fruit. He conducted this as a farm for live 
years and then platted it in town lots, and has 
from time to time disposed of the same, only a 
small portion yet remaining unsold. After 
three years of farming, he engaged in the 
hardware trade, in which he is still engaged. 
He came to Holt Countv poor, in a financial 
sense, and was at O'Neil and watched it grow 
from a single sod house to its present size. 

Mr. McCafferty is a native of Ireland, born 
February, 1848. He is a son of N. P. and 
Mary McCafferty, whose five children were: 
Bernard, Patrick (deceased), John J., Michael 
and Bridget, our subject being the only one in 
America. He came to this countr}' in 1804, 
remained in Canada six months and in New 
York two years, after which he went to Illinois 
and worked as a water boss on a railroad and 
from that was promoted to superintendent's 
clerk. He also railroaded in Missouri, after 
which he returned to Europe and was engaged 
in the Franco-Prussian War. After three years 
he returned to America, was in the licjuor traf- 
fic in Illinois one vear and then went to Col- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



8S5 



orado in search of gold, and finally found his 
way into tlie Ulack Hills and was taken from 
that section by the United States Cavalry for 
trespassing on Indian Territory. lint after 
the\' had got fairl\' out of the lilack Hills 
country, they were turned loose, and he came 
to Holt County, with " his hair grown out 
tlirough his hat." In his youth he received a 
fair education. He was in St. Micliael's Col- 
lege, Toronto, one \'ear, but not being able to 
stand the rigid discipline of tliat institution he 
ran away. 

He was united in marriage December, 1880, 
to Mary A., daughter of C. J. and Mary Mur- 
phy, natives of Ireland, whose two children 
were : Mary and P. C. (deceased). By this 
marriage union the folk wing children were 
born : Mary, John P., Neill F., Bridget IL, Eva 
L. (deceased), Bernard, ilichael, Joseph B. and 
Anna. 

Mr. and Mrs. McCaffert}' are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and politically he is 
strongly Independent of all parties, and thinks 
that we as a nation suffer from our ])artisan 
zeal. 

HANS MILANDEPt, a Tarmer living on 
Section 23, of Cleveland township, 
came to Cuming County in the 
autumn of 1887, and first located on his pres- 
ent farm which was all wild land, upon which 
he made substantial impi'ovements, erected 
good buildings, planted out an orchard and an 
artificial grove. He now has sixty acres under 
the plow, while the balance is in pasture and 
meadow-land, all surrounded by a good 
fence. 

lie of whom we wrote this biogi'aphical 
notice is a native of Sweden, born March, 
1839, the son of Nels and Elizabeth Johnson, 
whose four children wei'e named : Hans, Olof, 
Elizabeth and Olwia. These children all took 
the name of Johnson, except our subject, who 
lived in Sweden until 18G8, and then came to 
Attierica. He landed at New York Harbor and 
from there went to Ilockford, Illinois, where 



he remained six months and then went to 
Boone, Iowa, where he clerked in a store and 
worked in a mill, remaining in the place twelve 
years. He then went to Sac County, pu>-c!iased 
a farm, and lived there eight years, and then 
removed to Cuming County, Nebra.ska. 

He was in the Swedish army before coming 
to this country and had good educational ad- 
vantages, graduating at Alsburg College, after 
a three years' course. He was married in June, 
1865, to Louisa, daughter of Lars Pearson and 
wife, natives of Sweden, whose children 
were named: Peter, John, Elizabeth, Cora, 
Charlotte, Fretcha and Eric 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
nine children, only one of whom is still living. 
Both our subject and his wife belong to the 
Swedish Mission (yiiurch, and politically, he is 
Independent. 

JOHN MONNICH, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 1, of Everett township, was born in- 
Dodge County, his parents being early 
settlers in the county. (See sketch of 
Herman Monnich.) 

Our subject was born in March, 1802, the son 
of Gerd and Anna Monnich, natives of Ger- 
manv, whose five children were: Mary, Her- 
man, John, Dora and Bernard. 

Mr. Monnich was married in March, 188-t, to 
Florence Mack, daughter of Warren and Mary 
Mack, natives of New York, whose seven chil 
dren were: Florence, Grace, Charles. Static, 
Herbert, Morton and James. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with three children : Carrie, born May 7, 1885 ; 
]\Iaurice, born March 1, ISS'.t; Linnie, born 
Fel)ruary 9, 1892. 

In their religious faith Mr. and Mrs. i\Ionnich 
hold to the Presbyterian doctrine. In his polit- 
ical choice he is a Democrat. 

Upon the death of his father the estate was 
divided, and our subject received 472 acres of 
land as his portion. U|)on this land he placed 
substantial improvements, including good build- 
ino;s and fences. He has an orchard of 900 



346 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



trees and a grove of five acres of artificial 
timber. His place also contains a saw-mill, for 
sawing lumber and ]rckets. The place bears 
ever}' evidence of oi'der and tlirift, and to be 
the possessor of so handsome a property is in- 
deed to be independent. 



MILTOX McLAUGHLIX, the subject of 
tiiis sketch, came to Cuming County, 
Nebraska, on the 2rl:th of December, 
1874. Pie is a native of Carroll County, Ohio, 
where he was born and reared to farm life until 
he was twenty-two years of age, when he went 
to Carrollton, the county seat of Carroll County, 
and commenced reading law in the office of 
Mr. Cyrus A. Shober, where he remained for 
two and one-half 3'ears, and was then admitted 
to practice in the courts of Ohio. At about 
this time he was appointed one of the assessors 
of internal revenue for the district in which he 
resided, and exercised the duties of that office 
for about two 3'ears. At the close of the War 
of the Rebellion, his brother, James R. Mc- 
Laughlin, returned from the army, in which he 
had sei'ved the four years previous, and at his 
solicitation formed a partnership with him and 
engaged in the hardware trade at Carroll- 
ton, and remained in the trade until the 
summer of 1S69, when they sold out their 
business, and the subject of this sketch removed 
to Cedar County, Iowa, and entered upon the 
practice of law, where he practiced with fair 
success until his removal to Cuming County, 
Nebraska. On the first day of January, 1875, 
he formed a partnership in the practice of law 
with Judge J. C. Crawford, at West Point, in 
Cuming County, and remained in partnership 
with liim for five years, advancing at once to 
the head of the profession in Cuming and 
surrounding counties, and enjoj'ed a large, 
lucrative and successful practice. At the end 
of the five \'ears he severed his partnership 
relations with Judge Crawford and entered 
upon the i)ractice alone, and has since that 
time maintained his high characteras a lawyer 



and practitioner, and has enjoyed the confidence 
and respect of clients and citizens in a marked 
degree. As a trial lawyer he has had great 
success, having been employed on one side or 
the other of nearly ever}' case of imjiortance 
tried in Cuming County since he became a 
member of the bar of that county. 

His gi-andfather. James McLaughlm, settled 
in eastern Ohio, about twenty-five miles west of 
Steubenville, on the Ohio river, in 1801, to which 
place he, in company with his brother, Robert 
McLaughlin, and two or three of his neighbor 
boys, whose hearts were as brave as his own, 
emigrated from Washington Countv, Pennsyl- 
vania, and each located 160 acres of land in the 
heart of a vast timbered section, where the foot 
of a white man had never before trod ; and 
with axes and mattocks and strong arms hewed 
down the trees and grubbed out the underbrush 
and soon there appeared, from out the wilder- 
ness, as man}' beautiful farms, upon one of 
which his grandfather lived and died and where 
one of his sons still resides. 

The father of this subject was born on the 
old homestead in 1811, and was reareil to man- 
hood under the influence and care of a mother 
whose intellectual, moral and Christian character 
has marked each succeeding generation which 
followed her. At the age of twenty-four years, 
he married Elizabeth Robins, a daughter of one 
of the pioneers antl neighbors of his family, 
anil was blessed with six children, the oldest 
of whom, ]\[artha McMillan, now resides at 
Norfolk, in this State; James R., at Blair, Ne- 
braska; Sarah R., and Nancy J. Whitcraft, 
together with the mother, who is still living, 
reside at Carrollton, Ohio, and the youngest, 
J. Wilson, who resided and was engaged in 
business at Wisner, in this State, until 1888, 
when he removed to San Francisco, California, 
and died in September, lS9o. 

A peculiar trait of all tlie ^IcLaiighlin ances- 
tors was their belief in, and adherence to, all 
tlie tenets of the Christian religion as exem- 
plified by the Calvinistic schools. They came 
of the old stock of Scotch Presbvterians of 




t:^^JU^0^J^^^^^^ 



T^<X>^??-V-/ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



349 



Scotland and North of Ireland, and tliej' 
together with the children of eacli generation, 
including the subject of this sketch, were 
•' bniught up strictly at the feet of Gamaliel, 
and educated in all the law and the jirophets." 

Our subject was united in marriage in Car- 
roUton, Ohio, to Miss Luella Kenned\% daughter 
of Josejjh G. and Hannaii Kennedy By the mar- 
riage union of her parents, eiglit children were 
born, three of whom still survive : Melissa, wife 
of John B. Pearce, of Carrollton, Ohio ; Clara, 
wife of lion. John McCall, of Nevada, Iowa, 
and Luella, the wife of our subject. 

Mr. McLaughlin and his wife have been 
blessed with two children: Emma and Clara. 
Tlie last named married George Korb, a hard- 
ware merchant of West Point, while tiie former 
still remains with her parents. The mother 
and her two daughters are members of the 
Congregational Church at West Point ; Emma 
having been organist since she was twelve years 
of age. 

The McLaughlins, in politics, were Whigs, 
having been followers and admirers of Henry 
Clay ; but upon tiie organization of the Repub- 
lican party they all drifted into that party and 
have remained, together with their descendants, 
Republicans ever since that time. 



HON. ANDREW M. PETERSON, of Sec- 
tion 35, Garfield township, came to 
Cuming County in the spring of 1868, 
and located on the farm he now occupies, or 
rather upon a quarter section of wild land, 
whicli he claimed as a homestead. Here he 
iniilt a small frame house, hauling tiie lumber 
from Omalia. This he thinks was the first 
frame house in Garfield townsliip. From time 
to time, he adtled to his buildings and finally 
built his present residence, which is constructed 
of brick, which is 29x34 feet, two stories and a 
l)asement. He has shedding for one hundred 
and twenty five head of cattle, also gootl barns, 
a feed-mill house and tool-house. His farm is 
graced bv a thirtv-acre grove and an orcliard 



of two hundred and twenty trees, a majority 
of which are bearing. He has since added to 
his land until now has seven hundred and 
eighty acres, five hundred of which is under 
cultivation. Upon coming to the county, he 
had about one thousand dollars in money, 
and for the first few years saw hard times 
which were increased l)y the grassho])per 
plague. 

Our subject was born in Sweden, November 
2, 1834, the son of Matliias and Mary Peter- 
son, natives of Sweden, whose seven children 
were: Andrew M., Caroline, Charles J. A., 
James W,, Alfred A. A., Gustave M. and 
Frank J. These children all live in America, 
except Caroline. The parents are both de- 
ceased. He of whom we write remained in 
Sweden until he was twent^'-four years of 
age, when he came to America. He worked 
out by the month on a farm for two years, 
near St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois. The 
next two years he worked in DeKalb County, 
of that State, and finally' enlisted in Compan_y 
C Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, and was mus- 
tered into service at St. Charles, under Cap- 
tain Butts. They were sent to St. Louis, and 
placed on the trail of General Pi'ice, and later 
were skirmishing with the bushwliackers in 
Missouri, and was in several eagagements, 
including Osage River, Jefferson City, Lex- 
ington and at the battle where General Mar- 
maduke was made prisoner. Fe was in the 
service two j'ears, dis barged at Springfield, 
Illinois, after which he rented land tiiree 
3'ears in DeKalb Count}', and then came to 
Nebraska as above related. 

He of whom we write was united in mar- 
riage April 10, 1864, to Anna Peterson, 
daughter of George and Maria (Jassen) Peter- 
son, natives of Denmark, whose children 
were : Jacob, Anna C, Hans, George, Andrew, 
Mathias, Lewis, Peter, Charley and Henry. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents 
of seven children, born as follows: Mary, 
April 4, 1860; Charles A., November 15, 
1867; Emma D., ^Sfarch 0, 18(19 : I'eter J., 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



December 23, 1870; Anna S., May 5, 1872, 
died May 10, 1872; William L., February 4, 
1875; Franz K., December 2, 1878, and Rosa 
A., August 15, 1882. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican, and 
in religious matters the family are members 
of the Methodist Church. He is a member of 
the Kuights of Pythias Lodge at West Point 
and Grand Array of the Republic. He is a 
prominent man in the county, having repre- 
sented it in the legislature in 1881. He was 
treasurer of Cuming Count v in 1880-7. 



RAY NYE, whose name stands at the head 
of the Nye & Schneider Company, at 
Fremont (the history of which concern 
is given elsewhere in this volume), will form the 
subject of this notice. 

lie is the son of Theron Nye, and was born 
in Fremont, Nebraska, October 7, 1861, and 
succeeded his father in business, in 1885. Our 
subject's parents, Theron and Caroline M, 
(Colson) Nye, an extended family sketch of 
which is given elsewhere, were among the pio- 
neers of Fremont. 

Our subject received his educational training 
in the e.Kcellent public schools of Fremont, and 
at the age of fifteen years went into his father's 
office, and became an assistant on his father's 
books and general business ; and was connected 
m such capacity until 1881, when he became a 
member of the firm, and four years later suc- 
ceeded his father, who was one of the founders 
of the business, and took first jilace in the con- 
cern, in which he is now president. Having 
been reared by one of the sturdy and successful 
pioneers, our subject was very naturally chosen 
for so important an office, and now that his 
father has retired from the activities of life, 
the saying is appropriate in this connection, 
that " the workmen fall, but the work goes on " 
and in Ray Nye, as one of the principal factors, 
the large business interests of the firm have 
suffered no loss, as the vigor and activity of 
young manhood gives to it new strength. Wv. 



Nye is a first-class business man, and is already 
po))ular, per force of his executive ability, both 
in and out of the institution with which he is 
connected. 

At the time the change of firm, the Nye, 
Wilson, Morehouse Company was made to 
N\'e & Schneider Company, Messrs. Wilson 
and Morehouse retired, their interests being 
purchased by Ray Nye and R. B. Schneider. 

Mr. Nye is treasurer of the Fremont street 
railway, and stockholder of the same ; director 
of the Firet National Bank, and a stockholder 
in the Nebraska Binding Twine Company and 
the Fremont Brewery. He is also interested in 
Fremont city property to a considerable extent. 

Politically he is an ardent supporter of the 
Republican party. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternity, belonging to the Fremont 
Lodge No. 15, A.F. & A. M.; Signet Chapter 
No. 8, and Mt. Tabor Commandery No. 9.; is 
King of Signet Chapter. 

Mr. Nye was united in marriage, November 
22, 1883, at Shel)oygan, Wisconsin, to ]\[iss 
Annie End, a native of Wisconsin, and the 
tlaughter of (ieorge and Maria End. Her 
father is president of the Bank of Sheboygan. 
Mr. and Mrs. Nye are the parents of one child : 
George Theron, born August 30, 1884, and 
died June 20, ISSf!. 

In looking over the names of the boys who 
have been reared and educated in Dodge 
County, one linds but few, if any, who have 
improved their opportunities for becoming 
prosperous business men, and useful members 
of good society, to the degree that Mr. Nye, has. 
And as his father, pioneer Theron Nye, was a 
leader in all that was jirogressive and good, in 
the past history of the county, it is not pre- 
dicting too much, to say that our subject will 
emulate the virtues, so characteristic in his 
father's life. 



DAVID NELIGH, one of the early pio- 
neers of West Point, came to the 
county in the fall of 1863. He was 
born June 10, 1825, the son of John and Eli/a- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



beth (Peterman) Neligh. Our subject p^rew to 
manhood and received his education in the dis- 
trict schools, sometimes having to go four 
miles. Later on, he went to Lehigh County 
Pennsylvania, where he worked in an iron 
foundry for fourteen years. He was united in 
mari'iage in 1847, to Miss Mary Jane Crawford, 
a sister of Judge J. C. Crawford, of West 
I'oint. In 1S63 he left his home in the Key- 
stone State and went to Savannah, Missouri, 
there took a stage for Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
and in the night while upon their way with 
their children the stage was upset and all went 
over. Mrs. Neligh broke her arm in three 
])laces. Wlien the stage Avent over the king- 
bolt pulled out and the horses with the front 
wheels went on. After things were righted 
up again, they came on to Glen wood, where 
our subject's wife had her arm dressed. They 
then came to Omaha and remained four weeks 
with Mr. Neligh's brother — William. Their 
next niDve was to West Point, where Judge 
Crawford had moved. Our subject's family 
lived in the West Point house from September, 
1SC3, about one year, when Mr. Neligh built a 
house near the depot, the same being 16x24: 
feet. This was headquarters for all the peo])le 
who came to this place. In 1871 he built his 
l)resent beautiful home. Mr. Neligh carried 
the mail for a number of \'ears from Fremont 
to West Point. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neligh were the parents of the 
following children : Jeremiah, born January 
28. 1848 ; Joseph F., David H., George H.. 
John D., Maggie, Ambrose E., Eddie and Min- 
nie, twins, born May 26, 18r>6; Thomas, born 
August 6, 1868; D. P.., born Fel)niary 14, 
1873. 

When j\[r. Neligh came to Cuming County 
but little improvement had been made in the 
coimtry, and West Point was only a hamlet. 

Mr. Neligh is a supporter of the Republican 
jiarty and a member of the Evangelical Luth- 
eian church. He has always been an indus- 
trious worker and an upright citizen, of whom 
the world has none too many. 



JENS NIELSEN, uf Section IS. unMiship 
24, Humbug precinct, Stanton County, 
was born in Denmark, October 23, 182."), 
the son of Nels Mikkelson and Else W\V- 
kelson, natives of the same country', who were 
the parents of seven children, all taking the 
name of Nielsen. Their names were : Mikkel, 
Jens, Martin, Christian, Niels (deceased), Fred- 
erick and Carl. 

Our subject remained in Denmark until 
thirt3^-six years of age, and then came to 
America, coming direct to Omaha, where he 
remained six 3'ears, working as a wagonmaker. 
We next find him in Stanton County. He came 
to this country a poor man, and hail served in 
his native country in the war between Denmark 
and Germany. He saw many hard-fought bat- 
tles during his tliree years service. At one 
time a ball was waddeil into his hair, but he 
escaped without injury. 

lie was united in marriage July. 1855, to 
Ann Kestine, daughter of Paul and Anna 
Maiie Jensen, she going by llje name of 
Paulsen. 

Her parents had four children : Jens, .Vnna 
Kestene, Peter and Maren. 

Mr. Nielsen and wife are the parents of 
three children: Niels, Mikkel, Paul and a 
daughter Else deceased shortly aftei- coming to 
this county. 

Upon coming to Nebraska, he located on his 
present farm which was then a one hundred 
and sixty acre wild tract. Here he built a rude 
sod house, 12x16 feet, and in this abode lived 
three years, when he built a comfortable frame 
house, which served him seventeen j^ears, when 
he built his present commodious residence. 
His place is provided with a good barn, granar}'. 
dug wells with wind-power attachment, and a 
system of farm water-works. He also has an 
artificial grove of six acres and a small orchard. 
He now owns a half section of land, one hun- 
dred and seventy acres being under the plow, 
and two hundred and forty acres enclosetl by a 
fence. At first his nearest trading point was 
Fremont, and the nearest mill was located at 



353 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



West Point. In the seventies he met with 
considerable loss by the grasshopper ravages, 
and in 181>1 iiis wheat crop was destroyed by 
hail. 

DIl. EDWIN PERSOX, a physician and 
surgeon practicing at Dodge, came to 
the Elkhorn Valley in 1873. He was 
born in Northampton County, Pa., on May 16, 
ISM. 

The family were of French origin, and came 
to America at an early day. The grandfather, 
Isaac Person, settled in Northampton County, 
Pennsylvania, where the father, William Per- 
son, was born December, 1812. lie then grew 
to manhood, and married Miss Mary Lerch, ijy 
whom eight children were born: Amanda, wife 
of Henry Elery; Stephen, who was a member 
of the One Ilunilred and Twelfth Pennsylvania 
Regiment during the Civil War; Edwin, the 
subject of this sketch ; Mary A., who died at 
the age of sixteen years ; William, a physician 
of Monroe County, Pennsylvania; Kittie, wife 
of Joseph Keener, of Pennsylvania ; Lena, wife 
of Charles Remel, of Monroe County, Pennsyl- 
vania ; Sylvanius, a physician at Stanton, Ne- 
braska. 

The father died in 18s7 and the mother in 
1891. They were members of the German 
Reform Church. 

Edwin grew to manliood in Pennsylvania, 
receiving an academic education. He enlisted 
in 1863 in the Fortj'-seventli Pennsylvania 
Infantry. He was mustered into service at 
Easton, and was in the Red River Campaign, 
when a part of the Nineteenth Army Corp was 
sent to the Army of the Potomac under General 
Sheridan, and participated in the battle of 
Cedar Creek, Winchester and Fisher's Hill, and 
saw Sheridan on his twenty-mile ride to Win- 
chester. He was at Savannah and did guard 
duty, being mustered out at Charleston, South 
Carolina, December 2.5, 1865. After he returned 
from the army he taught school in Pennsylvania 
winters anil woiked at tiie carpenter trade up 
to 1873, and then cametoWest Point, Nebraska, 



and farmed three years, when he commenced 
the study of medicine, attending the Kentucky 
Sciiool of Medicine in 1878. In tiie fall of that 
year he attended the Louisville Medical College, 
graduating from the Kentucky School of Medi- 
cine in June, ISSO. He located at Clean, Colfax 
County, Nebraska, and at Scribner in the spring 
of 1885, renuiining there until the fall of 18S6, 
and then moved to Dodge, where he started the ii 
first drug store of the place. || 

The doctor was first married in Northampton 
County, Pennsylvania, to Miss Mary Bearinger, 
by whom he had five ciiildren : Rosa, wife of 
Henry L. Beard, of Omaha ; Ida, wife of Dr. 
F.J. Frink; Alexander, a teacher; Cora, of 
Dodge, Nebraska, and Edwin at home. The 
motherof these children died in Cuming County, 
Nebraska, in 1878, and in 1SS3 tlieir father 
married Miss Lo.vinia Wetzel, daughterof p]noch 
Wetzel, a native of Pennsylvania. 

The doctor is a friend of education, and has 
taken an active part in all tiuit pertains to it 
in his county. AVhen he came to the county 
many of the people lived in dug-outs or sod 
houses. The country' was full of wolves, whose 
dismal yelp could have been heard in almost 
any direction, and Indians prowled about over 
the prairies, as if giving a farewell look at their 
old hunting-grouuds. 

The doctor has accumulatetl considerable 
weakh, is the owner of six hundred acres of 
improved land in Dodge and Stanton Coun- 
ties, besiiles bank stock, town proj^erty, etc. 



JOSEPH PUFFER, a resident of Cuming 
County, residing on Section 17, of Wis- 
ner township, was born in Jefferson 
County, New York, June 16,1821. He 
is a son of Asa and Lydia (Barnes) Puffer. 
His great-grandfather was a Scotchman, while 
the grandmother was a Welshwoman. They 
came to America early in the eighteenth cen- 
tury and settled in Massachusetts. Isaac Puf- 
fer, the grandfather of our subject, was born 
about 1740. lie was a captain in the Conti- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



353 



nental Ann\', and took part in tlie battle of 
Bunker Hill, Siege of Boston and numerous 
other engagements. He was tlie fatlier of 
seven children : Isaac, Asa, Thomas, Eben- 
ezer, Josiah, Sallie and Polly. The eldest, 
Rev. Isaac Puffer, was a prominent Wesle\'an 
minister. Tliomas Puffer became a bridge 
contractor and mill wright, and built a large 
bridge over Black Elver at Carthage, New 
York. The bridge was considered a triumph 
of engineering skill at that time. 

Sarah (ilerriam) Puffer, grandmother of our 
subject, was the niece of a prominent stage 
contractor of Rome, Xew York. 

Asa Puffer had eleven children : Isaac, 
James, Asa, Charlotte (Mrs. L. Hithcock), 
Lydia (Mrs. J. Rogers), Joseph, subject of this 
sketch ; Sarah, Wesley, Levi, Frederick, Luther 
Mary and Abigal. He was a carpenter and 
mill-wright by trade, and in 1828 moved to 
Smith Falls, Canada, and took a contract get- 
ting out timber on the Ridean Canal, remain- 
ing until the cholera epidemic in 1832, when 
he moved to Lewis County, New Jei'sey, and 
died there July 27, 1841:. When Joseph v/as 
fifteen j'ears old he left home and went to 
Smith Falls, Canada, v.here he worked as a coal 
burner. In 1842 he went to Ravenna, Ohio, 
where he engaged in farming. He was mar- 
riad in that section October C, 1843, to Jerusha 
A. Barnes, a native of that town. Four chil- 
dren were born of this union: Francis W., 
Ransom W., DeWitt W. and Lucious \V. 

In 1855 Mr. Puffer removed with his family 
to Gasco, Wisconsin, where he cleared up a 
farm in the big woods, and in 1876 moved to 
Beemer township, Cuming County, Nebraska. 
The following spring he moved to Philipps 
County, Kansas, where his crops were repeat- 
edly destroyed by drouth, and in 1883 he re- 
turned to Nebraska and purchased his present 
I'ar-m in Wisner township. He has a small 
nursery, with which he is doing a good bus- 
iness in fruit trees and shrubbery. April 11, 
1890, his out-buildings and personal property 
were destroyed by fire. Mr, Puffer was reared 



in the Campbellilc religious faith. In 1840 he 
assisted in surveying and building the state 
road from Sacket's Harbor to Crown Point) 
New York, receiving sixt\'-two and one-half 
cents per da\' for his work. 

FREDEPvICK PILGRIM, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 30, Pebble township. Dodge County, 
was born in Prussia, German}', Decem- 
ber 14, 1842, and came to America in 1852. lie 
landed in New York and went from there to 
Wvoming County, in the State of New York, 
and went to work on a farm. He remained in 
the vicinit}' until 1801. In April of that year 
he entered the Union Army and served until 
October 5, 1865, participating in thirty-seven 
tlifferent battles and engagements, including 
Five Forks, Virginia, Winchestei-, Harper's Fer- 
ry, Antietam, Union, Jefl'erson, (.hancellors- 
ville, Gettysburg, Williams' Port, Boonesboro, 
Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Mal- 
vern Hill, Meadow Ridge, Hanover Court- 
Ilouse, White Oak Swamp, Cedar Creek, and 
man}' other severe struggles. After his .service 
in the army he returned to New York and con- 
ducted a saloon for three years, and in 1809 
found his way to Dodge County, Nebraska, and 
took an eighty-acre homestead on Section 30, 
of Pebble township. 

In 1880 he purchased sixty acres adjoining 
his homestead. Ilis farm is all well improved, 
contains an orchard and good buildings. 

Our subject was married in Attica, New York, 
in 1867, to Malinda Eypper, who was born in 
Springfield, Ohio, December 18, 1843. She was 
the daughter of Henry Eypper. The parents 
were born in Germany and came to America 
about 1839, and both died in Springfield, Ohio. 
The mother died in 1850, and the father in 1880. 

He of whom we write this sketch is a mem- 
ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. Polit- 
ically, he votes the Republican ticket. 

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Pilgrim : Annie, married Joso))h Roubinck, a 
farmer near Clarkson, Nebraska; and Carrie, 
who died at the age of nine years. 



854 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



NICHOLAS EALPH, a farmer located on 
Section 6, of Cuming township, came to 
Cuming County in the spring of 18S9, 
and located on the farm he now occupies, which 
consisted of 155 acres of partly improved land. 
He erected a good class of buiklings, planted 
out a grove of four acres and set an orchard of 
seventy-five trees. lie now has 100 acres under 
the ]ilow, while the balance is in pasture and 
meadow land. 

Our subject was born in Germany in the 
month of March, 1835. He is the son of Abra- 
ham and Catharine rial|)li, natives of the Ger- 
man Empire, and who were the parents of three 
children. Niciiolas remained in his native 
country until he was fifteen years of age, and 
then went to sea on board a merchant vessel, 
and remained two years, landing at Australia, 
where he remained eight years, during which 
time he occupied himself at gold-mining, team- 
ing and fanning. He next made a trip around 
the world on a sailing vessel, which consumed 
one hundred and thirty-live days' time. He 
landed at Hamburg, and remained in Germany 
about ten months, and then went back to Aus- 
tralia, remained about one year, and went to 
New Zealand, and there he remained five years, 
emi)loyed in the gold mines. We next find 
him back in Hamburg, Germans', where he 
lived twenty years and followed farming, after 
which he came direct to Cuming County, Ne- 
braska. His early ojiportunities for obtaining 
an education were good, and his extensive 
travels have made him a well-posted man. He 
has been in nearly every important city of the 
globe, and has viewed the various volcanoes, in 
all their awful grandeur, at Sicily, Naples and 
other points. 

Mr. Ralph was united in marriage in Decem- 
ber, 18G7, to Dorath}' Tietgens, the daughter of 
Henry and Catharine Tietgens. of Germany, 
whose two children were Dorathy and Frede- 
rica (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. Italph are the i)arents of nine 
children, born in the following order: Alfred, 
born December 0, ISCS; Hcnrv, born August 



30, 1870 ; Catharine, born June 12, 1872 ; Mary, 
March 13, 1877; Charles, born February 11, 
1883; Frieda, born November IC, 1887; Ellen, 
born April 17, 1888, and two died in infancy. 
Our subject and his estimable wife are both 
consistent members of the Lutheran Church, 
and politically he votes the Indepemlent ticket. 



VERY REV. JOSEPH RUESING, pastor 
of St. Mary's Catholic Church, at West 
Point, was born at Paderborn, West- 
phalen, Germany, December 28, 1852. After 
completing his classical studies in the college of 
his native city, called gymnasium theodorianum, 
he went to Muenster and took a four years 
course of philosophical, historical and theolog- 
ical study. He was ordained May 24, 1877, at 
Osnabruek, and the following September came 
to America to the Diocese of Newark, which 
comprised at that time the entire State of New 
Jersey. He was appointed assistant pastor of 
the Church at J^Iont Clair, New Jersej', and in 
November of the same year transferred to St. 
John's Church of Newark, the oldest in the 
State. In I\Iarch 1879. he was appointed 
chaplain of the boys' reform school at Denville, 
New Jersey, where he attended the Rockaway 
Church. In May, 1880, he was appointed 
pastor of Jamesburg and missions where he 
built a church and a pai'ochial house. His 
literary work waschieHy in articles contributed 
to church papers and a book, the title of which 
is "The Priest at the Sick and Death Bed." In 
August, 1884, our subject accepted Bishop 
O'Connor's invitation to come to Nebraska, 
where he was appointed to the parish of West 
Point and its missions. West Point district at 
that time comjirised Hooper, Scribner, Ridge- 
ley, Crowell, Wisner, Stanton, Norfolk and 
Creighton. Our subject's first work in West 
Point was tiie completion of the fine parochial 
scliool anil convent, wiiich Rev. Horn had com- 
menced. In a short time, all the money nec- 
essary was raised, and on January 22, 1885, he 
dedicated the school and introduced the Sistei's 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



345 



of St. Frances from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, as 
the teachers. There was an attendance of one 
hundred and ten pupils. In 1885, he built an 
addition to tlie cliurch at Wisner and provided 
ciiurch furniture. In 1SS6, funds were col- 
lected to build a church at Hooper. The 
church at West Point as well as tiie pai'sonage 
were much improved and investment, statuary 
and church furniture provided, representing 
neai'ly four thousand dollars in value. The 
same j'ear the invitation of Bishop O'Con- 
nor to Father Huesing was complied with, and 
he frequently visited Chadron, to centralize and 
organize the Catholic emigration. The cliief 
work of Father Kuesing's pastorate, however, 
is the building of a large commodious church at 
West Point, which cost in the neighborhood of 
twenty-three thousand dollars. It is 56x132 
feet and built of brick. He is known for his 
aversion to church debt and thus succeeds in 
))romoting the material interests of his charge. 
He was made dean of the West Point Deanery 
in 1891, which contains the counties of Cuming, 
Dodge, Washington, Burt, Cojfax, Stanton, 
Madison and Knox, 

Regardless of religious belief Father Iluesing 
has endeared himself to West Point and sur- 
I'oundins: communities. 



CHARLES H. SNIDER, one of the earliest 
settlers of Madison County, Nebraska, 
will form the subject of this biograph- 
ical notice. He was born in ]\Ianon County, 
Ohio,, September 17, 1S14. 11 (> is tiie son of 
John J. Snider, a native of (iermany, but 
came to America when young, and served live 
years as an apprentice, ship carpenter and 
joiner. Subsecjuentl}^ he moved to Ohio, where 
he became accjuainted with and married Julia 
A. Sears, a native of Vermont, who was boi'u 
in ISW. 

In 1852 they emigrated to (Jrant County, 
Wisconsin, where he worked at the trade of 
carpenter and joiner, and also farmed. He re- 
mained in the '• Badjrer " State until 1880, when 



the family removeitl to Madison County, Ne- 
braska, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. 
John J. Snider are the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, seven of whom still survive. The chil- 
dren are : Charles II., of this sketch ; Harriet, 
wife of Robert Rouse, of Meadow Grove, Ne- 
braska; Ezen M., the wife of G. M. Stratton, 
of Clay Center, Kansas ; Emma, widow of 
Charles Adams, who died in Boscobel, Wiscon- 
sin, in 1885 ; Jane, wife of Anson Newbury, of 
Cherry County, Nebraska ; Phoibe, deceased 
at the age of live yeais ; Permilia, wife of 
James Chesin, both deceased ; Charlotte M., 
deceased ; Eliza, wife of George Lambert, of 
Norfolk, Nebraska; Adolph, of iladison 
County. 

Charles H. was educated in the district 
schools, and in the month of August, 18G2, 
when the hand of treason threatened the life of 
this nation, he enlisted as a member of the 
Twentieth Wisconsin Volunteers. He was 
mustered into service at Madison, and sent 
from there to the front, and was engaged at 
Prairie Grove, Arkansas, defeating the rebels. 
In June, 1863, he went toVicksburg; was on 
the extreme left, participating in the siege and 
cajiture of that place. Afterwards, he went 
up the Yazoo river, captured Yazoo City and a 
large amount of cotton. lie then went toMill- 
iken's Bend, and was with the Thirteenth Army 
Corps. They were at Port Hudson some time, 
but were driven awaj' on account of sickness, 
said by some to be cholera. They were at New 
Orleans when General Grant severed the Army 
of the Gulf. From New Orleans they went 
to Texas, landing on the ground where Gen- 
eral Taylor landed during the Mexican War. 
They captured old Fort Brown, and I'eturned 
to New Orleans antl took part in the siege of 
Fort Morgan, in Mobile bay, and also assisted 
in taking Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley, and 
while there the city of ]\[obile was surrendered, 
where they received news of Lee's surrender. 
Our subject's regiment was mustered out at 
Galveston, Texas, July U, 1865, receiving 
tlieir linal discharge i)apers at Jfadison. Wis- 



356 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



consin. Mr. Snider was wounded at Prairie 
Grove in his side, several bullets piercing 
through his clothing. He was reported killed, 
as iiis overcoat was found with a bullet-hole 
through the neck. He was discharged from 
the service as a second sergeant. 

He remained at home two ^-ears, and in 1867 
was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Gardner, 
daughter of Joseph Gardner, of Xew Bruns- 
wick. In the fall of 1871 they came to Mad- 
ison (JounlVj Nebraska, where he claimed a 
homestead and timber claim, and fought grass- 
hoppers for three years, when he proved up on 
iiis homestead and sold his timber claim to his 
father. 

His first house was a dug-out, without a floor 
except the naked eartii. Later on he built a 
log house, also a barn, and made other valuable 
improvements upon his premises. 

In ISSC he moved to Tilden, where he en 
gaged in the general merchandise lousiness for 
a year and a half and kept the Tilden Hotel for 
two years. lie was also engaged in the agri- 
cultural implement business for three years. 
At the present time he is engaged in the flour, 
feed and exchange ijusiness. 

Mr. and Mrs. Snider are the parents of seven 
ciiildren : Alden (died at the age of two vears), 
Sherman, Charlotte M., George W., Laura 
Belle, Charles A. and Glendora. 

He is a member of Governor Harvey Post 
No. 182, of the Grand Army of the Republic, 
of which he was adjutant for five years. Polit- 
ically, lie supports tiie Ilepublican party, and 
is justice of the peace, and has held other offices. 

When Mr. Snider first settled in Madison 
County no settlers had yet taken claims on the 
table lands, he being the first to do so. All 
was new and wild in that portion of Nebraska; 
deer, elk, antelope and other wild game was 
found in great abundance. Norfolk was but a 
hamlet at that time, and Columbus was his 
chief trading point ; it took four days to make 
the round tri]). But things have all changed 
since then, and our subject iias lived to see the 
country well developed. 



WALTER A. SWEET, of Maple Creek 
precinct, Stanton County, residing 
on Section 17, township 21, range 3, 
has been a resident since 1888, during which 
year he bought a ijuarter section of land, and in 
the autumn of IS'.M bought another (juarter ad- 
joining it. Prior tocoming to Stanton County, 
he lived on a one hundred acre farm in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, upon which he lived six 
\'ears and then sold out. 

Mr. Sweet W'as born in Ashtabula County, 
Ohio, March 27, 18.50. He is the son of Francis 
M. and Catharine (Androus) Sweet, who had a 
family of two children : Walter A. and Came- 
lia G., now Mrs. Joseph Andrews. The father 
died when our subject was a small bo\', leaving 
him ignorant as to his ancestry. 

He was united in marriage in 1869, to Amanda 
R. Eaton, who was born in Mills County, Iowa. 
By this union six children were born : Ervin 
(deceased), Emma (deceased), William, Joseph 
W., Arthur and Ralph. In his wife's parents' 
family there were nine children. The mother 
now lives in Emerson, Iowa, and the father at 
some point in the West. 

Politically he of whom we write affiliates 
with the Republican party. He has held the 
office of justice of the peace, two years ; road 
supervisor two years, central committeeman two 
years and school director four 3'ears. He belongs 
to the Modern Woodmen of America, ant! 
stands high in the community in which he lives. 



SIMON N. CHUDOMELKA, of Section 
27, Montere}'^ townshiji, Cuming 
County, was born in Bohemia, in 1860, 
and came to America in 1871. He landed at 
Baltimore and came direct to West Point. He 
was but eleven years old when he came to this 
country. His father bought the right of a 
homestead in Dodge County. Our subject 
lived with his father after coming to this 
county five years, when his father purchased 
the place our subject now lives upon and he 
moved to it. He has a good class of improve- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



357 



raents, including an orchard, five hundred 
grape vines, and a grove of eight acres. Ninety 
acres of his place is under cultivation, the 
entire place being surrounded by a wire fence. 
He has ten acres of clover pasture and all 
shows him to be a man of thrift and order. 

In 1S85, he was united in marriage to Yal- 
burga Ilaraple, to whom four children have 
been born : Robert, Frolian, Julia and 
Frank. 

In our subject's parents' family there were 
seven children: Frank, Mary, Simon N., Anna, 
John, Joseph and Thomas. 

Mrs. Chudomelka's father and mother were 
natives of Bohemia, and emigrated to America 
about 1875, with a large family of children: 
Raymond, Klot\', Alexander, Christian, Sophia, 
Yalburga, Mary, Fannie and Frank. These 
children are all living in this country. 

Mr. Chudomelka and his familv are mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic Church, and polit- 
ically he votes the Democratic ticket. 

Ilis father had only three hundred dollars 
when he came to Nebraska, and now possesses 
a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres 
and each of his sons as much or more land. 
The father also owns a creamery in Colfax 
Count}^ besides other property. His land in 
Dodge County was flooded by the Elkiiorn 
River, so that his crops were destroyed four 
vcar.s out of live. 



HERMAN SUHR,of the lirm of Schnack 
iV- Suhr, agricultuial implement dealers, 
at Scribnei', a history of whose business 
appears elsewhere in this work, is a native of 
Germany, born January 14, 183G, and is a car- 
penter by occupation. May 27, 1864, he became 
the husband of Anna A. Frerichs, who was also 
a native of Germany. In 1867 they landed in 
New York, and from there went to Iowa 
County, Iowa, where he followed brickmaking 
one summer and then bought a farm of eighty 
acres which he cultivated until the autumn of 
1871, when he sold and came to Dodge Countv. 



Nebraska, and settled on land he had previousl}' 
purchased in Cuming township. He remained 
there on the farm until the spring of 1882, 
wiien he rented his farm and returned to his 
old home in Germany, on a visit, returning the 
following autumn. He still continued to work 
his farm until the spring of 1889, when he 
rented it and removed to Scribner, where he 
lived a retired life for a time, but being of a 
restless disposition and always accustomed to 
work, he went into partnership with Henry 
Schnack, in the agricultural machinerv busi- 
ness, which he still follows. 

Mr. Suhr is a member of the German Lutheran 
Church, is a stanch Democrat in. his political 
belief and has held various township ofiices. 
He is one of the large land-holders of Dodge 
County, owning five hundred acres of farm 
land. He is a business man, and can write and 
speak both the English and German languages. 

The hand of aflliction was laid upon our sub- 
ject by tlie deatli of his companion, who died 
February 4, 1891, at Scribner. Tiiedate of her 
birth was May 20, 1840 ; date of her marriage 
1864, having been a companion on the road of 
life for twenty-seven years. This was a severe 
blow to Mr. Suhr. 



JA]\[ES II. SODEN, a retired farmer living 
at Wisner, came to Cuming County, in the 
spring of 1872. He was born in Ontario 
County, New York, October 15, 1837, the 
son of Joseph and Ann (Parks) Soden, natives 
of England. Mr. Soden was first married in 
England, and while upon his voyage across the 
ocean, his wife died, leaving one child, Jabez, 
who died in the Civil War. The father of our 
subj?ct located at Geneva, New York, where he 
married Miss Parks. He was a farmer and in 
a short time went to Canandaigna, Ontario 
County, New York, where he reared a family 
of four children : James II., of this sketch ; 
Joseph, John, of Geneva, New "\'ork, and 
Stephen, who enlisted in the Eleventh New 
York A'oluntcer Infantrv.at the time of the 



358 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Civil "War, and was killed at the battle of 
Gettysburg. Our sul)ject's father and mother 
died at Canandaigua, the mother in 1S48, and 
the fatlier in ISCi. They were members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

lie of whom we write was reared in Ontario 
and Wayne counties, New York, receiving- his 
education in the district schools. He was 
married in New York, in 1860, to Miss Sarah 
Wilson, a native of Ontario County. The year 
1861 he spent in Canada and then returned to 
New York. 

In 1872, he came to Cuming County, Nebraska, 
locating in Blaine township, where he pur- 
chased a quarter section of wild land, which he 
improved, and added to until he now has six 
hundred and forty acres. His first house was 
a 12x1^ building, but his present dwelling is a 
twostory structure forty feet square, with an 
L; he also lias another house 16x32 on the farm. 
A beautiful grove of twenty-five acres adds 
value and beauty to the premises. In March, 
1892, he moved to Wisner, where lie is leading 
a retired life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Soden are the parents of six 
children: Mina, wife of A. J. Pollock, of Lake 
County, Colorado; Howard, married Miss Ma}' 
Lotton, of Randolph, Nebraska; Monroe, who 
resides on the old liomestead ; Jacob and Henry, 
also on the homestead ; Mar}', wife of Alfred 
Clarke, of Creighton, Knox County, Nebraska, 
now living on the homestead. 

Mr. Soden is a Republican in his political 
choice, and the famih' worship al the Methodist 
Episcopal Church of which his wife is a 
member. 

Mr. Soden has the honor of being an ex- 
soldier of the Union army, having enlisted in 
18ti2, as a member of the Fourteenth New 
York Heavy Artillery. He was mustered into 
service, at Ilochester, where he laid in rendez- 
vous two months and was then sent to Staten 
Island, New York, remained six months and 
was sent to Alexandria, and joined l]urnside's 
army at the time of the Battle of the Wilderness ! 
and followed up with many skirmishes, and | 



joined General Butler, in front of Petersburg, 
Virginia. Was thereat the time the fort was 
blown up. He was shot through both thighs, and 
was sent to the field hospital for a few days, 
and from there to Davids Island hospital; 
transferreil to Washington, December IG, 
1864 ; discharged August 21, 1865. 



JOHN STEXVERS, of Section 34, Cuming 
township, settled in Cuming County in 
the spring of 1882, locating on the farm 
he now occupies, which at the time con- 
sisted of one hundred and sixty acres of wild 
land, upon which he placed substantial improve- 
ments, including good buildings, an orchard of 
one hundred and fifty trees, and a grove of four 
acres. His present farm comprises twohundred 
acres, one hundred and ten of which is under 
cultivation, the whole surrouniled by a good 
fence. 

Our subject was born in Holland, June, 1851, 
the son of Arend and Johanna Stenvers, na- 
tives of Prussia and Hanover, respectivel\'. 
The\' were the parents of the following seven 
children : Arnold, Albert, Lvdia, John, Morris, 
Johanna!), Gesina. These children are all liv- 
ing in America except Arnold. Our subject re- 
mained in his Fatherland until eighteen years 
of age, when his parents emigrated to the New 
World. From New York city they came to 
Harrison Countv, Iowa, and rented land near 
Dunlap for two years, and then came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska, where his father bought a 
quarter-section of wild land and improved the 
same. It is now owned by Morris Stenvers, 
coming into his possession after his father's 
death. 

He of whom we write this notice was married 
in January, 1882, to Gesine Yon Essen, the 
daughter of Henry and Anna Von Essen, na- 
tives of Germany, whoso children were : Gesine, 
Herman, Mattie, Matilda and Maggie, all of 
whom live in America. ]\[rs. Stenvers \yas 
born June 20, 1860, and emigrated to America 
with her parents March 7, 1870. 



NOH THE A STERN NEBRA SKA . 



359 



Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
three children : Augusta, born November 10, 
1882; Anna, born August 9, ISSi, and Johan- 
nah, September 30, 1886. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stenvers are consistent mem- 
bers of the Lutheran Ciiurcb, and his political 
choice he is a Democrat. 



JOHN X. SOMMEI'v, a farmer of Section 
30, Pebble townsliip, now deceased, was 
born in Germany, August 9, 1827, and 
landed in New York City, in Jul)', 1867. 
lie went from there to Oshkosh, "Wisconsin, 
where he worked as a shoemaker for one year 
and a iialf, and came to Fremont, JSTebraska, 
April 15, 1869. He walked out to Section 3,0 
of Pebble township, looked at an eightj'-acre 
tract of government land, went back to Fre- 
mont and filed upon the same. The following 
August, he moved his family to the ])lace and 
began to make improvements. In the autumn 
of LS82, he bought forty acres moi'e land. May 
9, ISSi, he closed his e3'es to the scenes of this 
life, and another pioneer homesteader was at 
rest. The deceased was married in Germany, 
in Juh'^, 1853, to Sophia Bernklay, who still 
resides in the homestead above named. By 
this marriage union eleven children were born : 
Rosa, Margeret (deceased), Anna S., Henry 
(deceased), Barbara R., John A., one died in 
infanc}', Emma J., William 11., Mollie (de- 
ceased) , and Frederica M. 

Our subject was a Lutheran in his religious 
profession, and politicall}', he voted the Demo- 
cratic ticket. He willed the farm to his son 
John A., with a provisional life-lease to his wife, 
John A. paying the other heirs a certain por- 
tion m cash. 

The first house that Mr. Sommer had on the 
homestead was a sod dugout, in which the 
family lived for seven years. He hauled his 
grain to Fremont, and was compelled to be on 
the road day and night in order to make the 
trip. To add to other pioneer troubles, his 
crops were eaten b\' the grasshoppers for five 



years. He did not have a dollar in money 
when he located on his homestead, and his only 
team was oxen. His daughters had to work 
out for their livinir. 



OSCAR R. THOMPSON, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Cuming County 
residing on Section 33, of Blaine town- 
ship, will form the subject of this memoir. He 
was born in Nordreland, Norway, June 10, 
1867, and was about one year old when the 
famih' emigrated to America. Nine weeks 
were consumed in making the vo\'age from 
Christiana to Quebec. At the last named place 
the familv were quarantined for one month on 
account of the measles. While there JIathias 
Thompson made himself some watchmaker's 
tools, which constituted his sole possessions 
when he arrived at West Point. Oscar and his 
bi-others carried on the farm while the father 
worked at his trade, that of watchmaker and 
jeweler. Schools were not as plentiful and not 
as well eqipped then as at this day, but our 
subject has acquired a fair education. Since 
his father's death, November 19, 1885, lie has 
carried on the farm, which now comjiriscs four 
hundred and fiftv acres, some of which has been 
added since his father's death. He keeps a herd 
of about one hundred and fifty head of cattle, 
and is now breeding black Norman horses. 
During 1892, he completed a large barn upon 
his premises. At the time this family came to 
Blaine township Richard A. Thompson, uncle 
of our subject, was living in a log-cabin, having 
settled on the river bank in 1865. Diii'ing the 
winter of 1868-69 two hundred Indians en- 
camped near their cabin, and the following 
spring were ordered by the Government to re- 
move to the Reservation. A 3'oung chief of the 
tribe desired a scalp to take with him as a 
trophy. With several other warriors he entered 
the Thonn)son family's cabin, but after holding 
a prolonged pow-wow they went away and 
within an hour killed and scalped another set- 
tler five miles distant. The band were after- 



360 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



wards arrested and sent to State's prison. Rich 
ard A. Thompson had no neighbor within seven 
miles when he settled within that vicinity, he 
being the last settler in the Valley going north. 
Oscar R. is a Republican in his political 
choice ; he belongs to the Masonic and Wood- 
men fraternities, and is one of the energetic 
agriculturists of Cuming County. 

HON. SAMUEL H. THATCH, ex-probate 
judge and state senator, now retired 
at Battle Creek, Madison County, was 
one of the pioneers of Nebraska. He is a native 
of Tennessee, born March 28, 183(3. When 
seventeen years of age, he went to northern 
Georgia and remained until the spring of 1861, 
when he went North and enlisted in the Third 
United States Infantry and was assigned to the 
Indian Department, being sergeant of his com- 
pany. In 1865, he came to the Territory of 
Nebraska, and in 1867 (the year the State was 
admitted into the Union) became a resident of 
Madison County. He was united in marriage 
in Cuming County in 1868, to Miss Martha M. 
Barnes, of Cuming County, Nebraska. The 
year prior to his marriage, he availed himself 
of tiie homestead act and took land in Norfolk 
township, upon wiiich he built a log-cabin, all 
lumber having to be hauled from Columbus or 
West Point. Their milling was done at Logan 
Creel4mil]s. He lias lived to see vast changes 
in Nebraska. His first corn he paid ninety 
cents i)er bushel for at Fremont and since that 
time he has raised and sold vast quantities. 
He remained on tiiis homestead for twenty-two 
j'ears, making a good and substantial home. 

Politically, Mr. Tiiatch is a Jacksonian Dem- 
ocrat, and was honored by being the first 
county clerk of Afadison County, being elected 
at the organization of the same. In the autumn 
of 1809 he was re-elected and in 1871 was 
elected to the office of probate judge ; served 
until the autumn of 1873 and in 1875 was again 
elected county clerk, making an efficient officer 
and dealing honorai)ly with his constituents. 



He was honored in 1882 by being elected 
to represent his district in the State Senate. 
He of whom we write may well be classed 
in the list of those whom we, as Americans, 
point to with pride, as "self-made men." His 
education has come chiefly by hard study and 
close observation and experience. After the 
war, in January, I860, he was cutting wood on 
Wood River, near Kearney, and was to receive 
three dollars ))er cord, but the following year 
the Union Pacific Railroad was built and the 
fort was abandoned. One day when he was 
hauling wood, he heard firing on Wood River, 
two miles above him. He went to Kearney 
and while on the way back, he beard that there 
were two men killed, so he hurried back, think- 
ing he would find his mother and brother 
killed. He got a half dozen men together with 
arms and went up to that point, but never saw 
an^'thing of the Indians. They returned to the 
Wood camp, where thev recruited up and then 
went to Kearney and soon after came to Madison 
County. In the winter of 1868, about the time 
the county was organized, I. N. Taylor came 
to establish the county seat at Millville, on 
Taylor Creek, and there were but six votes in 
that section of the county and about tiiirty five 
in and around Norfolk', but by a little stiategy 
the county seat was secured at Norfolk. 

Mr. and Mrs. Thatch are the parents of seven 
children: Alice, wife of George Souvgnier of 
Madison County ; George, a photographer ; 
Lulu, 13elle. Fannie, Josephine and Leona. 

Our subject removed to Battle Creek in 1892, 
and is a popular man among the peoiile, for the 
part he has taken in the upbuilding of Madison 
County. 

MICHAEL TRUCKS, located on Section 
18, of Grant township, came to (timing 
County in the fall of 1882, and settled 
on the farm he now occupies, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty acres of partly improved 
land, upon which he ))laced good improve- 
ments, including a story and one-half house, 
barn, granary, shedding, etc. Also has a by- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASJCA. 



861 



draulic well, one hundred and twent\'-three 
feet deep, with a wind-mill and an excellent 
system of farm water- works. Ills grove of 
eight acres of artificial timber, and an orchard 
of fort}' trees adds both beaut\' antl value to 
the farm. He has one hundred and thirty 
acres under cultivation, and all surrounded by 
a good fence. 

He of whom this biographical notice is writ- 
ten is a native of Ohio, born November, 15,1836, 
the son of Michael and Catharine Trucks, na- 
tives of Pennsylvania, wiiose nine children 
were : ]\[ary, Kichalas (deceased), Lucy A. 
(deceased), Harriett (deceased), Abraham (de- 
ceased), William. James (deceased), Michael 
and Henr\'. 

Michael lived in Ohio until twenty-two 
years old, then came to Scott County, Iowa, 
and lived until 1861, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany C Second Iowa Cavalry, under Captain 
Henr\' Egert, and was mustered into service at 
Davenport. They were then sent to St. Louis, 
and assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps 
under General Rosecrans. He took part in 
the engagements at Corinth, Coffey ville, Cold 
Water Forks, Deer, Franklin and Nashville, 
and was discharged at Davenport, Iowa, in 1865. 
He went to Marshall County, Iowa, where he 
purchased eighty acres of land, which he tilled 
until the spring of 1881. and then moved to 
Carroll Count\', where he purchased a quarter 
section of land, upon which he lived until he 
canie to Nebraska. 

He was united in mari'iage January, 1867, to 
Charlotte E., daughter of Tobias and Mary 
Hendricks, natives of West Virginia, whose 
eight children were : John (deceaseii) Chaiity 
(deceased), Ilenson E., Rachel, Catharine, Ruth, 
Charlotte and Rebecca. 

Mr. and Mrs. Trucks are the ])arents of 
three children : Edward II., (Jharlcs II. and 
Mary E. 

Politically he votes the Republican ticket. 
He is a member of the Cilrand Army of tlu; 
Republic, and both himself and wife aie mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 



ISAAC VAIL, of Section 33. township 24, 
Elkhorn precinct, Stanton County, will 
be the sul)ject of this biographical notice, 
lie was born on North street. Westminster 
township, London District, Ontario, April 7, 
1820. He is the son of William and Mary 
Davis Vail ; his grandfather, Isaac Vail, came 
from England to Canada, soon after the Revo- 
lutionary War. Six of his brothers came at 
the same time and settled in the United States. 
Their father owned a large tract of land upon 
which a portion of the city of London, England, 
now stands; his given name is supposed to have 
been Isaac, also. After his death the heirs 
sold the estate for about one million dollars and 
then came to this country. 

Thomas Davis, maternal grandfather of our 
subject, came from Tipperary, Ireland ; he built 
a saw and grist mill and founded the village of 
Davis Mills, in the eastern jiart of Ontario. He 
loaned money to the Canadian Government, to 
carry on the War of 1812. 

Mrs. Mary (Davis) Vail was born at that 
place. Mr. and Mrs. William Vail were the 
parents of thirteen children, two of whom died 
in childhood. The names of the living are: 
Arron T., Margaret (Mrs. J. Baily ) Hannah, 
(Mrs. II. Albee); James Edward, Isaac, Laney 
(Mrs. S. Davis); Jerushy (Mrs. J. Moore), 
JohnT., Mary (Mrs. J. Sutton), Ellen (Mrs. 
H. Davis) and George. 

Isaac received but a limited education, and 
in ISil: removed to Mt. Morris, Illinois, where 
he engaged in farming. Three years later he 
returned to Canadu, and in 1860 returned to 
Inlet, Lee County, Illinois, and in April, 1871, 
came to Stanton County, Nebraska, and home- 
steaded his present place. He built a sod house 
as a temporary residence, and drew lumber 
from West Point to build the upright of his 
present residence. When he settled, his near- 
est neighbor was one mile away and all was 
new and wild in the region around about him. 
Ileno.v owns one hundred and si.xty acres of 
valuable land, and has but recently given forty 
acres to his daughter and one hundred and 



362 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



twent\' acres to his son. He is breeding fine 
horses and short horn cattle, also Jersey' red 
swine. 

Mr. Yail was united in marriage, August 21, 
1845, to Mary Ann, daughter of John and 
Mary (Powell) Gray. The former was born in 
Tipperary, Ireland, and came to America about 
ISIG. Tiie parents were English people. His 
father, Thomas Gray, owned a large estate in 
Ireland. Mrs. Mary A. Vail was born at Lon- 
don, Canada, and by her marriage union four 
children were born : George E., Mary J. (Mrs. 
Tennant), Stephen M., Margaret (Mrs. P. 
Newell). 

Politically, Mr. Yail is an enthusiastic Re- 
publican, but not an office seeker. Both he and 
ins wife are members of the Free Will Baptist 
Church. 

William Vail, the fatiier of our subject, and a 
brother, Stephen, served in tiie Canadian Mili- 
tia during the War of 1S12, and were at the 
battle of Stone Ci'cek, and other engagements. 
AVilliam A'ail narrowly escaped capture at 
Stone r!r(M'k. 



STEPHEN N. VAIL, the son of Isaac Vail, 
wliose sketch ajipears above, was born in 
London, Canada, October 10, 1858. He 
was but two years of age when the family re- 
moved to Illinois, and fourteen years old when 
they came to Nebraska. Tiie year after he had 
reached his majority he left home and went to 
Lee Centre, Illinois, where he learned the car- 
penter's trade, and tliree years later, in 1883, 
returned to Stanton County, and has since car- 
ried on the homestead for his father. 

He was united in marriage February 21, 
1884, to Lucy F., daughter of John and Rebecca 
(Wallitch) Sanders. Her parents were Pennsyl- 
vania (iermans. Mrs. Vail was born at White 
Hall, Virginia. 

Our subject and iiis wife have three children : 
Ethel M., Edith E., and Helen. 

In his political choice, Mr. Vail is a supporter 
of the llepuljlican i>arty. 



CRITTENDEN B. VROMAN, a farmer of 
Section 15, township 24, range 1, of 
Spring Branch precinct, Stanton 
County, was born near Delaware, Ohio, Janu- 
ary 21, 1849. He is a son of Adam and Sarah 
(Cratty) Vroman, the former of German and 
the latter of Irish descent. Adam Vroman 
died in Webster County, Iowa, September, 
1871, and his wife died in Lee County, Illinois, 
March 29, 1853. Adam Vroman had ten chil- 
dren: Jane, William, Dorrance, David, Ilenr}', 
Charlotte, Lucias and Ellen. The above chil- 
dren were by his first wife. Those by his 
second wife were : James C. and Critten- 
den B. 

When Crittenden B. was one year old the 
family removed to Lee County, Illinois,. where 
his boyhood days were spent upon a farm. 
About 1865 the family moved to Webster 
County, Iowa, and two years later he 
left home and went to Harden County, 
Iowa, and alter remaining there one 
year returned to Lee County. Illinois, and in 
the spring of 1871 came to Stanton County, 
Nebraska, taking his homestead the following 
year. He now has two hundred acres of land, 
eighty acres of which is under the plow and 
thirty acres planted to a grove and an orchard. 

He was united in marriage November 19, 
1877, to Alice C. Hunter, a native of Illinois, 
and the daughter of Thomas and Mariali 
Hunter. Their children are : Hiram Burdette, 
John Roscoe and Anna Jane. Mrs. Alice C. 
Vroman died in Hardin Count}', Iowa, October 
26, 1887. 

Politically, he of whom we write this notice 
is a Republican and is a highly respected citi- 
zen of his precinct. 

He commenced without capital anil the sec- 
ond season he was in Nebraska he bought a 
yoke of o.xen and did breaking to i)ay for them, 
hence did not break much of his own land until 
the third year. For three \'ears, during the 
grasshopper ]iliigue, his crojjs were destroyed, 
but after the disappearance of these winged 
pests he was (]U!te successful at farming. 



l^OR THE A S TER.\ 



JOIIi\ A. WILSON, one of the early set- 
tlers of Nebraska, now a retired resident 
of Madison County, was born in Itoss 
County, Ohio, October 25, 1836. The 
Wilson family are of Scotch-Irish descent. Tiie 
,'rreat-grandfatiier came from the north of Ire- 
land and settled in Pennsylvania where he soon 
afterwards died, leaving three sons. The grand- 
father was John Wilson, who settled in Kings- 
ton, at an early day. He married Miss Lucy 
Taylor, by whom there were eleven children 
born, among whom were : James, a physician 
of lo'.va; Robert, a physician of Indiana; John, 
a physician of Washington, Fayette County, 
Ohio ; Isaac C, a farmer of Greenfield, Ross 
County, Ohio ; and Louisa, who married 
Joseph Lunbeck, of South Salem, Ohio. The 
father of our subject was William T., born in 
Ross County, Ohio, in 1803, and was married 
in 1831, to Miss Jane McCoy, the daughter of 
Colonel Joseph McCoy, of the War of 1812. By 
this marriage union five children were born: 
Mary E., wife of Addison Adair, of Madison 
County, Nebraska ; Joseph M., a soldier, who 
first enlisted in the Twentieth Ohio, in the time 
of the Civil AVar, and re-enlisted in the Eighty- 
first Ohio. He was at the battle of Pittsburg 
Landing and siege of Corinth and was dis- 
charged July, 1862, for disability ; John A., 
our subject ; Lavenia C , died in 1863 ; William 
H., died in 1S65, in Marion County, Illinois. 
In the fall of 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Wilson moved 
to JMarion County, Illinois, where he died in 
1865, after which Mrs. Wilson came to Ne. 
braska, in which state she died in 1889. She 
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. 

The subject of this notice was educated in 
Greenfield Academy, Ohio, and enlisted in the 
Union Army in 1861, as a member of Eighty 
first Yoluntary Infantry, belonging to Com- 
pany C. He participated at Pittsburg Land- 
ing, Siege of Corinth and at Town Creek ; also 
at luka and at the second battle of Corinth 
and was at Gun Town when his regiment 
captured twenty-six prisoners over which their 
colonel i)laced a colored guard, to the great 



dissatisfaction of the pri-soners. Returning to 
Corinth the regiment remained some time, but 
in October, 1863, moved to Pocahontas, the 
regiment going to LaGrange, Tennessee, in 
November, to vote for Lincoln. April, 1864, 
they went to Chattanooga, remained a few 
days, and was sent to Snake Gap where they 
met the rebels in force. May 11, 1864, they 
drove the rebels back, fighting all day until ten 
o'clock at night. On the 15th of May, the 
regiment crossed tiie river on pontoon bridges, 
met the rebels, when a sharp fight ensued and 
our subject was wounded in the head and in 
the right hand ; also struck on the leg. He 
was color bearer at the time, and when struck 
it knocked him down, the flag falling over him. 
At first lie thought a splinter had struck him, 
but when he found a hole in his pantaloons 
and his shoe full of blood he realized what had 
happenecl. He was carried to the rear and 
taken to the hosjiital, where his wound was 
dressed and after two days was sent to Resaca 
where he laid in the depot a da3' or two, was 
then placed in a box car and sent to Chatta- 
nooga, and after two weeks went to Nashville, 
and three weeks later to Totten hospital at 
Louisville, Kentucky, where eiysipelas set in, 
near causing the loss of his life. As soon as he 
was able he was transferred to Illinois; he was 
sent to Camp Butler, received a furlough and 
returned home. He was discharged September 
27. 1864, at Camp Butler. He carries the rebel 
ball in his leg to-day. 

In 1869 Mr. Wilson came to Norfolk, where 
he built the first storehouse of the place and 
also worked on the first dwellings of the place. 
He then returned to Columbus, Nebraska, and 
remained during the summer of 1870, and then 
went to his homestead near Norfolk, where he 
spent his time until 1874. May, 1872, he mar- 
ried Miss May Gardner, daughter of William 
and Ellen Gardner, natives of Tazwell County, 
Illinois, where she was born. By this union 
one child was born : Jennie, March 4, 1873. 
Mrs. Wilson died July 15, 1875, and Mr. Wilson 
in January, 1883, was married to Miss Esther 



364 



NOR THE A STERN NEBRA SKA . 



Palmatere, daughter of George and Kemma 
(Filkens) Palnuitere. By this union two chil- 
dren were born : May E., March S, 1886, and 
George A., June 17, 1888. 

Politically Mr. Wilson is a stanch supporter 
of the Republican party, and in religious 
matters is a member of the Presb\'terian 
Church- 

Wiien became to Nebraska all was yet new 
and wild. Ilis nearest trading point was Col- 
umbus, forty-two miles away. It was after his 
settlement in Madison County and during the 
years 1874-75-76 that the grasshoppers scourged 
the country, causing considerable privation and 
distress among the settlei'S. 

In 1879 Mr. Wilson moved to a pre-emption 
in Platte County. In 1883, after he had made 
final proof of this place, he made a tour of the 
West, visiting San Francisco, Victoria, British 
Columbia, Port Townsend, Seattle, Tacoma and 
Portland, returning via Northern Pacific Pail- 
Roatl in 1885, to Madison County, where he has 
since lived. 

WALTER T. WATTLES, president of 
the Commercial State Bank of Neligh, 
Antelope County, will form the sub- 
ject of this notice. lie was born at Cortland, 
New York, May 30, 1853. Ilis parents were 
James and Betsy (Whiting) Wattles, who are 
natives of New York. The Wattles family are 
of Scotch descent. The father of our subject 
is a retired farmer. The Whiting family are of 
German extraction. When W. T. Wattles was 
twelve years of age the familv removed to Clin- 
ton, Iowa, and from tiiere to Glidden, where he 
attended the public school and also the Iowa 
State Agricultural College. In 1878 he pur- 
chased the Glidden Sentinel, published it a year 
and one-half, and in 1880 went to Ulysses, Ne- 
biaska, where he was |)rincipal of the public 
schools one year, and then followed book-keep- 
ing one year for Spelts v^- Klosterman, grain and 
live stock dealers of David City, Nebraska. In 
1883 he became a partner of the firm, and re- 
moved to Bell wood, where he lived seven years. 



In 1890 he became a stockholder and president 
of the Commercial State Bank of Neligh, which 
position he still holds. He is also a stockholder 
in a grain and live stock company, and deals in 
real estate. lie owns one farm of two hundred 
acres near Neligh, which is devoted to breeding 
Galloway and Jersey cattle. lie alsoowns other 
tracts of land. 

PoliticalU', he is a life-long Republican, and 
is a memberof the orders of Knights of Pythias 
and Modern Woodmen of America. 

Mr' Wattles was married August 2i, 1879, to 
Edna, daughter of James and Rachel Vought, 
of Glidden, Iowa, but now of Neligh. Mrs. 
Wattles is a native of Michigan, liorn in 1859. 
Their two children are: Vera R. and Bert. 

Mr. Wattles came to Nebraska without means 
and has made a success of life. 



JULIUS WENDT, of Section 29, Garfield 
township, ranks among the earliest i)io- 
neers of Cuming County. He came in 
the spring of 1869, locating on a portion 
of his present farm, taking advantage of the 
homestead act in the securing of a quarter sec- 
tion of good land, upon which he made valuable 
improvements from time to time. The first 
eight years, however, he lived in a sod house, 
10x14 feet. At that time there were but two 
houses at West Point and two at Oakland, with 
but one house between those two points, his 
own and Samuel Miles sod house. Later on 
our subject provided his place with a frame 
house, a good barn and granary and also added 
to the value of the premises by setting out a 
grove of five acres of timber and an orchard of 
one hundred trees. His present farm contains 
a half section of choice land; one hundred and 
sixt}' acres uniler the plow, and nearly all 
enclosed by a substantial fence. At an early 
day, our subject endured great privations and 
was compelled to i)ractice self-denial. lie came 
to the counti-y poor and he relates tiiat he had 
barely enougii money to buy a sack of secoml 
grade (lour. Logan Creek mill was tiie nearest 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



365 



point at which he could obtain flour. He also 
suffered no little loss b\' the giasshoi)pers in the 
seventies. 

He of wiioin we wi'ite was born in (xci'many, 
Februaiy, 1835, the son of Jolin and So|)hia 
Wendt. natives of tiie same countrv and whose 
four cliildren were: Sopiiia, now deceased; 
John, Elizabeth and Julius. 

Julius remained in his native country until 
twenty-four 3'ears of age, when he came to 
Greenfield County,'W'isconsin, where he worked 
in tiie timber by the day for two years and 
then came to Cuming County, Nebraska. When 
he was a boy he did not have good schooling 
privileges. 

Mr. "Wendt was married in June, 1860, to 
Mary Sass, daughter of John and Frederica 
Sass, of Germany, whose six children were: 
Caroline, Mary, John, Frederica, Minnie and 
Charles. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
seven children: Bertha, born May 2, 18G7; 
Emma, October 4, 1869; Julius, Jr., February 
4, 1871 ; Mary, September 16, 1872 ; Rudolph, 
April 8, 1875 ; Anna, July 3, 1877. and Otto, 
December 5, 1882. Fred, born January 23, 
1863, is a son of Jklrs. Wendt by her first hus- 
band, William Shrader, who died in Germany, 
after ivhich she married Mr. Wendt. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wendt are members of the 
Lutheran Church and in politics he is a Demo- 
crat. 



MATHIAS P. MILLER, JR., a citizen of 
Cuming County, residing on Section 
36, of Cuming township, has been a 
resident of that vicinity since the spring of 
1877, when lie located on the farm he now 
occupies, which at that time consisted of eighty 
acres of wild land, upon which he built a frame 
house 14x20 feet, in which he lived five 3'ears 
and then made an addition to the same. He 
also has a good barn, granary and general out- 
l)uildings. lie has a grove of five acres and an 
(jrchard of seventy-five apple trees, two hun- 
dred anil fifty grape vines, besides an abun- 



dance of small fruit. He has since added to his 
land until lie has two hundred and twenty-five 
acres, one hundred and sixty of which arc 
under the plow, wiiile the balance is in jiasture 
and meadow land. 

That the reader may be actjuainted with our 
subject's earlier life, it should be stated in this 
connection that he was born in Germanv Sep- 
tember, 1852, tiie son of Mathias P. and Maria 
Miller,^ natives of Germany, whose four chil- 
dren were as follows: Maria (deceased), Sine, 
Jane and Mathias P. 

Mathias P. remained at his (Jerman iiome 
until fifteen years of age and then went to 
IIam])urg and enlisted before the mast as an 
apprentice and went on a voyage at sea. He 
first went on a passenger sailing vessel, taking 
them eight weeks to cross the ocean. He next 
went aboard of a steamship, and was engaged 
as a sailor for five years, during which time he 
made a trip to the East Indies, one around 
Cape Horn to Chili and Peru, and later sailed 
on the Pacific coast. In 1871 he landed in 
New York Harbor and ran away from a Ham- 
burg vessel. He soon found his way tt) the 
Great Lakes and was then engaged three years 
in Cleveland as a stone cutter. We next find 
him in San Francisco, engaged in boating u)> 
the Stockton and Sacramento rivers where he 
remained three years, going from there to 
Cuming County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Miller was united in marriage in Mav, 
1878, to Anna Ivlingbeil, daughter of Carl and 
Dora Klingbeil, natives of Germany, whose 
seven children were: Teresa, Emma, Helen, 
Augusta. Anna, Herman (deceased), Emil. 

He and his wife are the parents of two chil- 
dren : Einil, born February 2, 1881, and Wal- 
ter, born August 9, 1885. 



DONALD MATIIESON, proprietor of the 
hotel at Pilger, Stanton County, has 
been a resident since April, 1884, when 
he built a house 16x32 feet, two stories high, 
which he u.sed as a private dwelling, lie also 



866 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



purchased a quarter section of land, five miles 
from Pilger, which lie iiad ijroken up and 
otherwise improved. lie still owns this 
property. After two years he rented the 
above mentioned house, and built a hotel 26x 
42 feet, the same being the only hotel in the 
village. 

Mr. Matheson, was born in Scotland, Feb- 
ruary 27, 1839, the son of Murdoch and Eliza- 
beth j\[atheson, whose eight children were : 
Donald, Siby, Anna, John G., Alexander, 
James, Kenneth, and Farquer. Our suljject 
remained in Scotland until he was one year 
and one-half of age, when his parents came to 
the United States, and located in Wisconsin, 
while it was yet a territorv, they taidng Govern- 
ment land. Donald remained ac home until he 
arrived at his majority, when he made a trip 
through the South, including Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. He 
returned to "Wisconsin, April, 1861. He voted 
on the ordinance of secession, in Arkansas, in 
March, 1801, it being carried in favor of 
remaining in the Union. In August, 1862, 
he enlisted in Company I Twenty-eighth Wis- 
consin Infantry, being mustered into service 
at Milwaukee under Captain A. F. Shiverick. 
He was sent to Columbus, Kentucky and from 
there to Helena, Arkansas, and so on to the 
Yazoo Pass. He belonged to the Sixteenth 
Army Corps, and was in the engagements at 
Fort Pemberton. Was also at the battle of 
Helena, Little Rock, Mt Elba, Spanish Fort, 
and Fort I'iakelv. He served his country three 
years and one month, receiving an honoralile 
discharge at Madison, Wisconsin. During all 
of that great conflict, our subject was never 
wounded, taken prisoner or in the hospital, or 
away from the regiment. After the close of 
the war Mr. Matheson operated a threshing 
machine two seasons in Wisconsin, after 
which he went into the hotel business at Eajrle 
Waukesha County, Wisconsin. After two 
years in that business, he returned to Wal- 
worlh County, purchased a farm and remained 
there until lie came to Nebraska. 



Mr. Matheson was united in marriage March, 
1870, to Anthelia, daughter of Albert and Char- 
lotte Mitchell, natives of Ohio, whose two 
children were: Anthelia and Lovell. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
five children : Gladvs, Troy (deceased), Ray, 
Sibbieand Katie. 

Mr. Matheson is a member of the Masonic 
fratei'nity, belonging to Lodge No. 41 
East Tro}', Wisconsin. Politically, heaffiiliates 
with the Democratic party. While his advan- 
tages for obtaining a liberal education were 
not first-class, by his extensive travel, his army 
career, and the fact that he is a great reader, 
has made him a well informed man. 



QTEPIIEN K. WARRICK, cashier of the 
>^ Battle Creek Valley Bank, of Battle 
Creek, Madison County, Avill form the 
subject of this notice, ili-. Warrick was born 
in Grayson County, Virginia, July 2, 1868. He 
is a son of Geoi-ge W. and Elizabeth (Stone) 
Warrick, of English descent. At the breaking 
out of the Civil War our subject's father was 
opposed to the Federal troops invading \'ii'ginia 
soil, hence joined his fellow countrymen in a 
resistance of the Union troops, really being 
forced into the Confederate army. Mr. and 
Mrs. George W. Warrick were the parents of 
fifteen children, twelve of whom are still living: 
Margaret E , wife of M. J. Jackson, of Wythe 
County, Virginia; Elizabeth J., wife of L. K. 
Cornett, of Elk Creek, Virginia ; John W., lo 
cated at Meadow (-rrove, Nebraska, where he 
has charge of the lumber, grain and coal busi- 
ness of F. J. Hale; Laura A., wife of F. JL 
Young, of Grant, Virginia; Nannie C, wife of 
Charles Jackson, of Wythe County, Virginia; 
James E., a physician, located at Whitewood, 
South Dakota, a graduate of the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Mary- 
land ; Ste])hen K., the subject of this sketch ; 
Virginia E., at home ; George E., William A., 
Horace G., and Edward II., all at home. The 
parents of these cliililren are still living, and 




^/3 y^^>cy-i>^,.,-<^L^ 



NOR THE A STERN NEBRA SKA . 



■are both members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Cliurch, ami are prominent workers of that de- 
nomination. 

Stephen K. received his education at the com- 
mon schools and in an academy. lie followed 
teaching- for a time, but in 1S8S came to Battle 
Creek, Nebraska, and worked upon a farm. In 
the fall of 1S8S he clerked at Meadow Grove, 
Nebraska, and April 15, 1889, entered the 
Farmers and Drovers Bank at Battle Creek, 
Nebraska, where he remained until October 28 
of the same year, and then accepted the posi- 
tion he is now filling, that of cashier and man- 
ager of the Battle Creek Valley Bank, which 
was organized that year. 



LORD B. BARBER, located on Section 3G, 
of Bancroft township, came to Cuming 
County in the spring of 1874, and lo- 
cated on a quarter section of school land, upon 
which he built a house, which was the first 
frame building in the township. In reality it 
was moved from Burt County on bob sleds, lie 
built an addition to this house which served 
him six years, and he then built his present 
residence, which is 24x32 feet. He also built 
a good barn, granary and cribbing, and put in 
a system of water-works, supplied by wind-mill, 
lie has a grove of five acres and a small or- 
chard. This land was leased by our subject 
for the first six years, when he purchased it, 
and added thereto, until he now has two hun- 
dred and eight}' acres, one hundred and twenty 
of which is under cultivation, and the whole 
tract surrounded b\' a fence, lie has a di'iving 
pai'k on his ])lace, which is now leased to the 
Driving Park Club. His place is within the in- 
corporate village of Bancroft. When the rail- 
road was being built through, he deeded to the 
company seventy acres of land and the right-of- 
way, and tlie company laid out the town, and 
owned a half interest in the same. Subse. 
(juently our subject platted a forty-acre addi- 
tion. He has been agent for the company for 
the sale of their lots, ever since the town was 



platted. He ©f whom we write this notice was 
born in Ohio, seven miles from Cleveland, 
Novembers, 18-13. He is the son of Lawrence 
and Relief Barber, natives of Massachusetts and 
Vermont respective!}'. Their seven children 
were : Luc}' A. (deceased), Laura B., Jerome, 
Antonette (deceasetl), Harriett E. (deceased). 
Ford B. our subject, and Albert G. 

Mr. Barbel', lived with his parents until he 
was nineteen 3'ears of age, when he enlisted in 
Company D Eighty-eighth Ohio Infantry, as 
a member of the three months service. He 
was mustered in at Columbus, Ohio, and re- 
ceived his discharge at the same place, at the 
end of four months. November 5, he re-en- 
listed in Company F Tenth Ohio Cavahw, 
under Captain E. V. P. Day, and was mustered 
in at Cleveland, was sent to Tennessee, was in 
the Atlanta (Campaign, and was with General 
William T. Sherman on liis famous ''March To 
The Sea." He was taken prisoner at Bear 
Creek, Georgia, and was incarcerateil at Sa- 
vannah and Macon. He was paroled in about 
two weeks and went to Annapolis, Maryland. 
He received a wound in a cavalry charge at 
Bear Creek and was finally discharged at 
Camp Dennison, Ohio, June 30, 18G.5. He 
remained in the Buckeye State one year 
and then came West, and January 1, 1867, 
located a homestead in Burt County, Ne- 
braska, but made Omaha his headquarters 
for eight months. He then located on his 
homestead, and soon started a grocery store 
on the place, which was adjoining the town 
plat of Lyons. He operated this store about 
three 3'ears. In 1872 he sold the claim, and in 
the spring of 1874 came to Cuming Count}-. 

He was united in marriage, April 3, 1873, to 
Susan A., daughter of John and Deborah Wat- 
son, natives of ]\Iaine. 

Five children have been born to our subject 
and his wife: Stella F., John L., Wade W. 
Ford B., Jr., Walter II. 

Our subject and his estimable lady are con- 
sistent members of the Baptist Church. He is 
a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 



370 



A' OR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



Politically, he has always been a. Republican, 
but at the present writing is a Prohibitionist 
and is one of the United States Court Com- 
missioners. 

WILLIAM C. IIECKER, one of the pio- 
neers of Dodge County, has been 
identified with its interests since 1858, 
as it was in the autumn of that year that he 
took a homestead of eighty acres, upon which 
he erected a cottonwood cabin 10x12 feet, in 
which he lived for five years. He was a single 
man at that time. He soon made substantial 
improvements upon this place. In addition to 
carrying on ids farm, lie also engaged in mer- 
chandising at Fontanelle, for it was near that 
place where he affected his first settlement. 
He remaineti in trade near that point for two 
years, and then moved to Hooper. 

Mr. Ilecker was born January 11, 1838, the 
son of William F. A. Ilecker, both parents being 
natives of Prussia. Our subject came to Amer- 
ica in 1852, landing at Quebec, Canada, fi'om 
which place he went to Chicago, and there 
learned the tailor's trade, working at the busi- 
ness for about two years. The next four years 
he spent in Dubuque, Iowa, where he learned 
the baker's trade. From there he went to Ne- 
braska. 

Mr. Ilecker was united in marriage May 4, 
1870, to Elizabeth Heller, daughter of Matthew 
Heller, who was the father of eight children : 
Caroline, August, Susan, Margaret, Elizabeth, 
Mary, William and Casper. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ilecker are the parents of three 
children: Mary F., born April 28, 1872; 
August E., born February 12, 1874; William 
C, January 21, 1879. 

In 18G1 Mr. Ilecker answered to his country's 
call by enlisting in Company C Second Iowa 
Cavah'}', and served through and re-enlisted, 
remaining until the end of the Civil War. In 
August, 18G5, he returned from the service to 
his old iiome at Fontanelle. In 1871 he em- 
barked in trade at lloojier, but owing to sick- 
ness in his family and the great grasshopper 



plague he was obliged to give it up. The finan- 
cial cloud has cleared away and he now owns 
considerable propcrtv, among which is the 
brick post-office building, two residences, a 
store building and a complete line of family 
groceries. He is postmaster of the place, the 
office being attended to by his daughter, Miss 
Mary. 

Mr. Ilecker, one of the van-guard of pioneers 
in the Elkhorn Valley, stands very high in the 
community in which he has lived so long. It 
has been his good fortune to watch the Star of 
Empire on its western course. He has viewed 
the wild plains of Nebraska when they were 
j'et the home of the Indian ; he has welcomed 
a generation of newcomers to the Elkhorn Val- 
ley ; has worn the loyal blue to jirotect the flag 
of his country as only the brave and patriotic 
will. He has lived to see a great Territory 
come under the Sisterhood of States, which 
now ranks high among her sisters. Her domain 
is crossed and I'ecrossed by a network of rail- 
ways, over which the bounties of the soil are 
conveyed to otlier ))arts of the world. With all 
the hardships and early experiences of this pio- 
neer, he may well count life a success, sur- 
rounded as he is to day with the comforts of 
life and a highl3' esteemed citizen of one of the 
best portions of the Elkhorn Valley. 

The following was clipped from the local 
paper : 

•' W. C. Ilecker, wiio has served tlii'ee years 
as postmaster, is an old citizen of the town, and 
has been a respected and valuable citizen of 
Nebraska since 1858, locating at that time at 
Fontanelle on a homestead. In 18G1 he an- 
swered to his country's call, enlisting in the 
Second Iowa, Company C, and served all 
through, re-enlisting as a veteran. Mr. Ilecker 
escaped imprisonment, but the balls flew too 
thick to be able to dodge all of them, and ilur- 
ing the battle of Fort Donelson he was woumled. 
In August, 1865, he came back to his favorite 
residing place and to his old Fontanelle home, for 
you know the 'best part of going away is the 
coming back again.' Six voars later lie came 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



to Hooper and began the store business, but 
owing to sickness in liis family and tiie plague 
of grassliopjiei's was obliged to give it up. lie 
now owns considerable property here, among 
which are a brick post-otfico building, 22x26, 
two residences, and a store building 24xo0, with 
a complete stock of groceries. Here you will 
iind fidl lines of choice family groceries, finely 
flavored teas, coffees, spices, all the varieties of 
sugar, canned goods, dried and fresh fruits of 
all kinds, those raised in this section and those 
raised in other States and countries, and any- 
thing else the heart of man could desire is to 
be found. He also keeps all the leading brands 
of tobacco — in fact, anything you can expect 
in a first-cUiss exclusive grocerv. His son 
August Hecker. a promising young man in his 
nineteenth year, has charge of the store and 
keeps things in good shape. He takes all kinds 
of country produce in exchange for goods, and 
by strict adherence to reliable business prin- 
ciples enjoys a large trade. 

"The post-office has three hundred and sixty 
call boxes, fifty lock boxes, and is a money 
order office. When the government inspector 
was here last he said the office had increased 
twenty per cent, since it had been under his 
management. Miss Mary, a daughter of Uncle 
iSara's boy, is deputy postmistress, and does the 
greater part of the office work, and we found 
her a very agreeable and accommodating young- 
lady, anil would consider her a fine illustration 
of the ability of our fairer sex. The time is 
fast a})proaching when woman will stand on an 
equal footing with man all over the world — 
not as in some countries a slave, and in others 
a mere plaything whose only thought is that 
her whims and caprices are humored." 



THEODOIIE H. WINDHUSEX, a far- 
mer of Section 1-f, I^'erett township, 
came to Dodge County in the spring of 
1S71, and for one yeai- worked out by the 
month, when he bought eighty acres of land, a 
piirt of his t)resent farm, upon which he built 



a two-story brick house 18x28 feet, with sub- 
stantial barns, granary and cribbing. He 
provided his place with an orchard of lifly 
trees, and planted a grove of two acres. From 
time to time he has prospered, and has added 
to his land until he now has four hundred 
acres. He has seen many of the hardships co- 
incident with the newcomer's life, and felt the 
loss and want occasioned by the gi'asshopper 
))lague. 

Mr. AVindhusen was born in Germany, Janu- 
ary, 1848. He was one of a family of live 
children : Matilda, Theodore, Diedrich, John 
and Gesine. Theodore remained in his native 
country until nineteen years of age, when he 
came to America. The first two years he spent 
in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where he worked 
by the month on a farm. 

He was married Ma3', 1872, to Anna Wenke, 
the daughter of John II. and Margareta Weidce, 
natives of Germany, whose three children 
were : Henry, Anna and John G. 

Mr. and Mrs. Windhusen are the parents of 
two children : Henry, born in 1874, and Carrie, 
born in 187C. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Windhusen are members 
of the Luthei'an Church, and politicalh', he 
votes the Democratic ticket. 



JOHN H. AVENKE, a farmer living on 
Section 14, of Everett township, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1800, 
and located on the farm he now occupies. 
He first took an eighty-acre tract, where he 
made a dug-out 12x14 feet, in which he lived 
two years. He brought eight hundred dollars 
to the county with him, and now owns one 
hundred and twenty acres of well improved 
land. He of whom we write was born in Ger- 
many. February, 1810, the son of Herman and 
Catharine Wenke. He remained in Germany 
until fifty -three . years of age, and then 
came to Nebraska. He was a soldier in 
the German army and was a ship-builder by 
trade. 



NOR THE A STERN NEBRA SKA 



He was united in marriage in 1847 to Mar- 
garet Munderlo, wlio i-eared a family of eight 
children. Our subject and his wife have been 
blessed with tiiree children : Ilenrv (deceased), 
Anna, and John G. 



FREDERICK WICKERT, SR., a prosper- 
ous farmer of Section 2-1-, Sherman town- 
sliip, Cuming County, was born in Ger- 
many in 1820, and came to America in 1868, 
coming direct from New York to Cuming 
Count}', Nebraska. He located a homestead 
on Section 23, upon which he lived eleven years, 
when he bought the place upon which he now 
lives, paying fifteen dollars per acre for the 
same; he now has a fine orchard, and an arti- 
ficial grove of ten acres. He has eighty acres 
under cultivation, and the balance in pasture, 
ha\' and timber land. 

He was united in marriage in 1850, to Mary 
Ruell, by which union tliree children were 
born : Fred, Ferdinand and Frank, all living in 
Cuming County. 

Mrs. Wickert died in 1891, which was the 
greatest affliction of his life. His farm is now 
operated by his son Frank. The family belong 
to the German Lutheran Church, and in polit- 
ical maltei's, lie is a supporter of the Republican 
party. 

His son Frank was born in Germany, and 
came to America with his jiarents when ten 
years of age. In 1884, he was married to 
Alvina Kurtz, whose parents live in western 
Nebraska. They have two children : Otto and 
William. h\ 1885, Frank went to Box Butte 
Count}', located a homestead which he proved 
up, in about one year, but lived there live years, 
and tiien came liack to Cuming County, and 
took charge of his father's farm, where he 
makes it his home. 

When his father first came to this county, 
his first farm work was done with an ox team, 
and all their supplies were obtained at Fre- 
mont. For four or live years, their crops were 
materially injured by grasshoppers. 



WILLIAM L. WAINSCOTT, a resident 
of Stanton County, living on Section 
21 of Butterfly precinct, where he 
owns eighty acres of land, is a native of Indi- 
ana, born September 4, 1855. He lived in the 
Iloosier State until he was twenty-one years of 
age, and in 1878 came to Nebraska, and in 
company with an uncle carried on a rented 
farm. In 1879 he took a homestead in Stanton 
County, but after three years sold his right, 
went to Holt County, took a preemption claim 
and soon sold that, after which he returned to 
Stanton County. His farm is provided with a 
good frame house, barn, granary and other out- 
buildings. He also rents one hundred and 
forty acres of land, which he carries on in con- 
nection with his own. For three years after 
his settlement the grasshoppers desti'oyed 
nearly all of his crops, but as the country de- 
veloped he has been quite successful in the har- 
vesting of abundant crops. 

Politically, he is a Republican, and in relig- 
ious matters is a member of the United Bretlii'en 
Church. 

Mr. Wainscott was married December 26, 
1880, to Floretta Bowman, to whom six chil- 
dren have been born : Coila M., Lloyil W., 
Blaine, Mary J., Emma Z. and baby. 

Our subject's parents were John and Jane 
Wainscott, natives of Kentucky and Ohio ; both 
are deceased. They reared a family of live 
children: John, William L., our subject; 
Cynthia A., Mary N. and Ilulda J. 

Mrs. Wainscott's parents were natives of Ohio 
and Indiana. W. L. Bowman, her father, 
moved to Nebraska in 1868 and still lives in 
Stanton County. Their twelve children were: 
Floretta, Luther W., Frank M., Andrew J., 
Minnie M., Charley (deceased), Matilda A., 
Arizona V., Clieever, William R. S., Byron 
(deceased) and Fannie P. 

HENRY WILLEY,a representative farmer 
of Lincoln precinct, Stanton County, 
residing on Section 19, township 24, 
will form the subject of this notice. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



373 



lie was born near Caldwell, Ohio, September 
T, lSi4r. His parents were John and Meliiula 
(Tliurlay) Willey, both natives of the Buckeye 
State. Tlie father came to Stanton County in 
1S85, and died two years later, and his wife 
now lives in Guthrie County, Iowa. Mr. and 
Mrs. John Willey's children were: Asher, 
Marshall, Milton, Sarah (now Mrs. J. Ilarkins), 
Melinda (now Mrs. J. Jackson), Henry, 
Thomas B., Safronia (Mrs. J. Stratton), Eliza 
(Mrs. P. Tatterson). 

Ilenr}' spent his boyhood days on a farm. 
He spent one year at the shoemaker's trade, 
and when nineteen years of age left home and 
went to Guthrie County, Iowa where he re- 
mained until 1879, at which time he came to 
Stanton County and took a homestead in Spring- 
Branch precinct, which he still owns. In 1890 
he bought a farm in Lincoln precinct, where he 
now resides. He is the owner of four hundred 
and ninety acres of land, two hundred and 
sevent\'-live of which are under cultivation and 
devoted lai'gely to stock raising. 

Mr. Willey was united in marriage February 
21, 1869, to Rebecca J. Reed, who was born in 
Jackson township, Muskingum Connt\', Oliio. 
Iler parents were Joseph and Priscilla (Talley) 
Reed, both American born. Our subject and 
his wife are the parents of the following chil- 
dren : Otis, Loren, Othel, Anna, Ida, Carl, 
Bertha, Otto and Maud. 

rolitically, Mr. Willey affiliates with the 
Democratic part\', believing as he does that 
this party best represents the general good of 
the American people. 



AUGUST FERDINAND ZUHLKE, a 
farmer of Section 14, Neligh township, 
came to Cuming County in the spring 
of 1877, and commenced working b}' the day 
witli a threshing machine, and doing other farm 
labor, such as he could lind to do for tlic first 
year. He then went to Burt County' where he 
rented lanil for five years and then purchased 
one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, now 



a part of liis present place. Upon this he erected 
good buildings, dug a well and provided a sys- 
tem of water-works operated bv wind- 
power ; set a grove of two acres and an orchard 
of seventy trees. He has since added to his 
land until he has two hundred acres, one 
hundred and twenty-five of which are under the 
plow, and the balance in pasture and meadow 
land. Upon coming to the county, he had four 
hundred and fifty dollars in money. Among 
the losses which he met with was two horses 
which ran away, broke their limbs and had to 
be killed, but for the most part he has been 
successful in Nebraska. 

He was born in Germany, November, 1852, 
the son of Fred and Louisa Zuhlke, natives of 
Germany, whose nine children were: John 
(deceased), Fred, Louisa, William (deceased, 
August, William, Minnie, August Ferdinand, 
and Julius. Seven of these children are living 
and five are in America. Our subject remained 
in his native land until he was twenty-five years 
of age and then came to America, landing at 
New York Harbor, and from there came direct 
to Cuming County, Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage December, 1873, 
to Ernstina, daughterof William and Caroline 
Ruge, natives of German\% whose threechildren 
were : Minnie, William and Earnstina. All 
living and two residing in America. 

Mr. and Mrs. Zuhlke have had ten children : 
Albert, Emma (deceased), Emma. Rertha, 
Otto, Edith, Martin, Alexaniler, Fernand 
(deceased) and Ferdinand (deceased). 

Our subject and his wife are members of tlic 
German Lutheran Church and politically he 
affiliates with the Democratic parly. 



JOHN T. ZORN, who is a resident of Section 
13, Cotterell township, came to Dodge 
County in the spring of 1872 with his 
parents, who settled on a farm in Platte 
township, where he remained with his parents 
until the spring of 1870, and then went to farm 
ing on his own account, renting for four 3'ears 



374 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



in Platte township, and then bought the farm 
he now occupies. At first he bought two 
hundred and forty acres of wild land, upon 
wliich he built a house, 16x2-i feet, also provided 
a good barn and out-buildings, later on, as he 
couUi affoi'd it. lie added to his original tract 
of land, until he now has three hundred and 
twenty asres, seventy acres of which is under 
cultivation, while the balance is in pasture and 
meadow land. 

John T. was born in Uurkle}' County, Vir- 
ginia, April 9, 1854, and when four years old 
his parents moved to Logan Count}', Ohio, 
where they lived ten years and then moved to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. His parents were 
Joseph and Amie J. (Richards) Zorn, both 
natives of Virginia, and who are now living in 
the western part of Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage in Dodge County, 
Nebraska, October 12, 1879, to Miss Mary 
Hooper, the daughter of Eichard and Elizabeth 
(Goodman) Hooper, who was born November 
2-1, 1862. Our subject and his wife are the 
parents of four children : Baby, died in infancy ; 
Clara 13., deceased ; Grace and liobert. 

Politically, he is a supporter of the Independ- 
ent movement and is a man who stands high in 
the communitv in which he lives. 



ANTON RISSE, a farmer living on Section 
3, townsiiip21, range 6, of St. Charles 
township, Cuming County, was born in 
Germany, March 29, 1819. and came to this 
country in 1879. He landed at New York and 
came from there to Schuyler, Colfax Count}', 
Nebraska, and subsequently to Olean, of the 
same county, remained a few days and then 
went to West Point, near which place he worked 
on a farm for two years, after which he rented 
a farm for three years, and then bought the 
place he now lives upon, which consists of two 
hundi'ed and forty acres, for which he paid fif- 
teen dollars per acre. He has a good story and 
oneiialf house, and general good improvements 
upon his place. He has one hunderd acres un- 



der cultivation, the remainder in pasture and 
timber land. 

He was united in marriage in ISSl to Thersa 
Risse, to whom has been born seven children : 
Mary, Katie, Frankie, Lizzie, Anton, Joseph, 
and Margareta. 

His father and mother were both born in 
Germany, and are now deceased. Mrs. Risse's 
parents reside in Missouri. In political matters 
he is a Democrat, and in his religious convic- 
tions is a Roman Catholic. 



JOHN J. SCHADEMANN, a farmer living 
on Section 7, St. Charles township, Cum- 
ing Count}', was born in Germany, March 
20, 1829, and came to America in May, 
1852, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, and 
went from there to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 
and worked two years on the railroad and at 
farm labor and then went to St. Louis, where 
he followed steamboating two months, then 
went to Galena, Illinois, near which place he 
worked on a farm for three \'ears. He then 
bought a yoke of oxen and came overland to 
Cuming County, Nebraska, locating on Plum 
Creek, and was driven off by the Indians 
within a few weeks. He took part in the en- 
gagement of the whites against the Pawnee 
Indians at Moore's house on June 29, 1859, 
where seven Indians were killed and several 
others wounded. He then went to Fpntanelle 
with other settlers, where he enlisted about 
July 5, in one of the companies composing the 
expedition against the Pawnees, which was 
commanded by General Thayer. This expedi- 
tion followed the Indians to Battle Creek, in 
Madison County, where a treaty was made 
with the Indians, they surrendering a number 
of those most guilty in their raid on the white 
settlers. After this had occurred our subject 
returned to his land, and in 1860 filed on a 
quarter section at the land office in Omaha. 

In 1S62 he enlisted in Company A Second 
Nebraska Cavalry, aiul served until October, 
1863. 



NORTHEASTERX XI BRA SKA. 



".75 



For his first wife our subject married Sojihia 
Toeile, a native of Prussia. Thev were united 
in marriage in the year 1860. Ilis cliildren's 
names b\' this marriage are : Ernst and 
G eoi"ge. * 

For his secontl wife he mai'rieti. in 1870, 
Mariah Fullner, a native of Prussia, ijy wliom 
the following children were born: \Villiani, 
Carl, Julius, Henr\", Minnie, Martha. 

Both his and his wife's parents are deceased. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party, and in his religious profession both he 
and his wife, together with the family, are 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

His present farm consists of six hundred 
and twentj'-eight acres. He has a good orchard 
and a good class of buildings. In all, lie has 
under cultivation two hundred acres. 



JOHN G. H. TEEBKEN, of Section 34, 
Bismark township, Cuming County, was 
born near the city of Oldenburg, Ger- 
many, March 24, 1852. He is the son of 
John C. and Anna (Oltmans) Teebken. The 
former died in 1S82 and the latter in 1889. 
They were the parents of ten children — two 
sons and eight daughters — our subject being 
the only one in America. Tlie first fourteen 
years of our subject's life did not vary much 
from other German \'ouths. He attended 
school and worked with his father at black- 
smithing at intervals, and then left home and 
began life as a body servant to the chief secre- 
tary' of the Grand JJuke, or ruler of Oldenburg, 
(Graf von Monnig). Later he worked in a 
brewery, but in 1869 he came to Marengo, 
Iowa, where he worked at farm labor. In 
1881 he came to Scribner, Nebraska, near 
which place he rented land one season, and then 
i)ought wild land which forms a part of his 
l)resent farm, wliich now contains five hundred 
and sixty acres. Ilis residence is one of the 
best farm houses in the Elkhorn A'alle\'. He is 
extensively engaged in stock raising and feed- 
ing ; he usually keeps over one hundred head 



of cattle. He is a stockholder in the State 
Bank at Wisner. 

Politically he is a Democrat, always taking a 
great interest in public affairs. For two years 
he represented the township on the board of 
supervisors. He was also justice of the peace 
for several years and is now town treasurer. In 
educational matters he is quite active,and is giv- 
ing his children a good educational opportunity. 
He belongs to the German Lutheran Church, 
and was a liberal contributor towards the 
church building erected in his township. 

He was united in marriage December 3, 
1871, to Gesine Luschen, a native of Olden- 
burg. Our subject and his wife have three 
living children and three deceased : Fritz, ac- 
cidentally drowned ; Johanna, Anna, Emnui, 
died of diphtheria; John, died of scarlet fever, 
and Mary. The older children are being edu- 
cated in German as well as English. Since 
Mr. Teebkin first located, farm land in his 
neighborhood has increased from four to live 
hundred percent. When he arrived in Jfaren- 
go, Iowa, he had seventy-live cents in mone}' 
left, and owed thirty-five dollars of his j)as- 
sage money, which he afterwards sent back to 
the old country. But he has come to be one of 
the most prosperous and i)rogressive farmers of 
Cuming County, Nebrasl^a. To one wiio 
comes from the Old World without means, and 
builds for himself a home in a new prairie 
country, and finally becomes wealthy, there 
must be attached no little credit. And be it 
said of the German people that they furnish a 
large per cent of the successful farmers and 
business men of this countrv to dav. 



JULIUS TIIIELE, ex-county clerk of Cum- 
ing County, and now a furniture dealei' 
at West Point, will form the subject of 
this biograpiiical notice. 
Mr. Thiele came to the county m the spring 
of 1SC7. He was born in Berlin, Prussia, April 
26, 1859. His parents were Carl Thiele, born 
in Berlin, and Doratha (Miitzkus) Thiele, of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Prussia. They came to America in 1861, and 
were the first to establish the family name in 
America. They landed in New York City, 
where the father embarked in the mercantile 
business. Before coming to this country, the 
fatiier had worked in his father's brewery, in 
the capacity of manager. He remained in 
business in New York City two years and one- 
half. He then moved to Watertown, Wisconsin, 
and engaged in the produce commission busi- 
ness. In 1866 he came to Nebraska, and 
settled on the present site of Norfolk, when 
there was not a settler near him ; all was one 
perfect prairie wilderness. He came with 
teams, in company with about seventy-five 
families, wliich made up a colony, all of whom 
settled in that vicinit\'. The same summer he 
removed to Pilger, near Humboldt Creek, 
where ho took a homestead, upon which he 
built a sod house, as there was no lumber to be 
had. The father died in August, 1866, on the 
homestead, and it was almost impossible to get 
lumber enough to make a coffin with which to 
lay him away under the wild prairie sod. 
Mrs. Thiele with the family removed to Logan 
Creek, Dodge County, and in 1867 married 
John Meyer, who was engaged in the mercan- 
tile business. The same season they removed 
to "West Point. Mr. Meyer started the second 
store in the place, and continued until Novem- 
ber 20, 1ST2, when Mi-s. Meyer died. By her 
first marriage, there was but one son, he being 
the subject of this sketch. B}' her last mar- 
riage, one daughter, Clara, was born, who is 
now deceased. Mr. John Meyer moved to 
Sioux County, Nebraska, i)rior to his death. 

He of whom we write this notice was edu- 
3ated in the common schools. He was but 
about thirteen years of age when his mother 
died, and he was employed with L. G. Bley, 
with whom he remained about eight 3'ears, 
when he received the nomination by the 
Democratic party for the office of clerk of the 
district court, to which office he was elected in 
the autumn of 1883, serving four years. At 
that time the Jvei)ublicans had a majority of 



seventv-five, at the general election for state 
and national officers, but our subject received 
five hundred and twenty majority, thus show- 
ing his popularity, regardless of political party 
lines. In the fall of 1887, Me was nominated 
and elected as county clerk and re-elected in 
1889. His term expired January 7, 1892. 
March 1, 1892, he purchased an interest in his 
present business. 

In the spring of 1877 he, in company with a 
few others, formed a Black Hill outfit and on 
arrival at Niobrara River they joined another 
party. The two parties combined, went into 
the Black Hills. The object they had ingoing 
was to secure some sort of work at a remunera- 
tive consideration, but upon getting there 
found twenty-five applications for every situa- 
tion. He remained there until the latter part 
of June, 1877, when his mone\' run short and 
he was compelled to return accompanied by 
seven others ; Mr. Thiele trying all the way 
back to get work, not caring to return home 
so soon. While upon the way they traveled all 
day and night, wiiich saved them from being 
surrounded by the Indians. They saw a band 
of Indians at a distance one daj', and did not 
stop for supper, but continued their journey 
until about midnight, when a fearful rainstorm 
came up and lasted until two o'clock. As soon 
as it ceased to rain they hitched up and re. 
sumed their march, and thus escaped the 
Indians. There was but one good gun with the 
whole party, but when they saw an Indian 
they would all pick up a club and draw it up 
in imitation of a gun to make the best showing 
they could. At that time they were at least 
one hundred miles from civilization. Tlie}' 
finally run short of all kinds of provisions 
except corn meal, upon which they subsisted 
for twenty-three days. Some of the party, 
when leaving, objected to Jlr. Thiele taking it 
along, but it proved the very thing that saved 
them from starvation. 

Mr. Thiele was married March 22, 1881, to 
Miss Martha B. Beckenhauer, who was born 
in Canada, of German parentage, October 12, 



n6r the a s tern 



877 



H(;N. WILLIAM H. ELY, ox-county 
judge of Dodge County, was among 
the earliest pioneers, coming as he did 
November 15, 1850, and has lived in the county 
most of the time ever since. At the time he 
came the country was wild and unsettled, and 
its brigiitness could not have been dreamed of, 
much less realized. 

Mr. Ely was born on the banks of tiie Hudson 
River, fifteen miles below Albany, at New Bal- 
timore, in Green County, New York, August 
27, 1821. His parents were George B. Ely of 
English descent, and Ann YanDyke of the 
Holland Dutch Stock. Our subject's forefath- 
ers came from the Isle of Ely, England, to this 
country, prior to the Revolutionary War and 
were among the patriots of that sti'uggie. He 
married Miss Ann Yanl\vke of tlie Holland 
stock who settled in New Yoi-k. George B. 
Ely and wife are the parents of three children: 
William II., the subject of this sketch ; Lucre- 
tia S. (deceased), and John \ ., of Waukesiia 
County, Wisconsin. Eor many years ]\[r. Ely, 
the father of our subject, was a leading merchant 
of New Baltimore. Pie died in 1830. His 
wife lived to be about ninety years of age, and 
departed this life at Fremont, Nebraska, 
November 28, 1890. Siie was a sincere chris- 



1861. By this union five children were born : 
May, Ella D., Noah Webster, \'iolet S. and 
Ruth M. 

Our subject was a charter member of tiie 
Uniform Rank of Knights of Tythias Lodge, 
has passed all the chairs and was a representa- 
tive to the Grand Lodge in 1882. 

Politically he is a stanch Democrat. He is a 
member of the West Point fire department, a 
stockholder in the Nebraska State Bank and 
owns nearly one thousand acres of land. 

It will be observed by the above sketch 
that success has been achieved by the untiring 
industry of our subject, an examj)le well 
worthy to be patterned after b}' the rising 
generation. 



tian and had been a devout member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. 

Concerning the subject of this notice, it may 
be said that he was educated in the common 
schools, and soon after tlie death of his father 
he removed with his family to Montgomery 
County, New York, where he taught school, 
coming to Dodge County, Nebraska in ISoG, 
and engageil at farm life. He has held various 
local offices in Dodge County, including county 
commissioner, school superintentlent, and was 
sent to the territorial legislature in the winter 
of 1864-05; also held the office of county judge 
for four years. He was in the employ of tlie 
Union Pacific Railroad Company.as an inspector 
of material, etc., for four years, and upon leav- 
ing the company he received a letter from 
Webster Snyder, general superintendent of the 
road, which read as follows: 

Omaha, Nki;., Julv 21, 1860. 
W. II. Ely, 

Dear Sir: In retiring from the manage- 
ment of the Union Pacific Road, I wish to 
express to 3'ou my thanks for tiie fidelity wilii 
which you iiave lal)ored for the interest of the 
company liui'ing your entire service, since Octo- 
ber, 1865. 

I can cheerfully state that you have always 
been sober, industrious and vigilant ; that you 
have inspected over one million dollars worth 
of property for the road, and that your integ- 
rity has never been questioned. 

Very respectfully, 

W. S.NVDKR, Gen'l Supt., 
U. P. R. R. 

Judge Ely was united in marriage ]\lay 7, 
1857, to Miss Eliza Miller, a native of Scotland, 
and the daughter of William and Elizabeth 
(Cochran) Miller, both of whom died in Scot- 
land. Of this family of nine children, six sons 
and three daughters, seven lived to be adults. 

Judge Ely anil his wife are the parents of 
two children : Emma A., educated at X'assar 
College and Nebraska State University. She 
was principal of the Fremont schools for seven 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



years and is now principal at Xapa Cit\', 
California. George M. Ely, a son of our sub- 
ject, is now one of Fremont's leading business 
men, he being engaged in the grocery trade. 

For many years Judge Ely affiliated with 
the Democratic party, but in 188S voted with 
the Prohibition party. The judge was among 
the pioneer band who settled at North Bend, 
Dodge County, and saw many of the hardships 
coincident to pioneer life. He is a man of 
strong convictions of right and wrong, and his 
name may well stand as a synonym for honor 
and uprightness. 

SIRENO B. COLSON, who was among the 
van-guard of pioneers in this portion of 
the Platte Valley, and still a resident of 
the cit}' of Fremont, where he has been an ac- 
tive business man for a third of a century or 
more, Avell inerits the following personal no- 
tice. 

The Colson family linds its origin in Sweden, 
and dates back some two hundred and fifty 
years in this country. Tradition points back to 
the fact that the representatives of the family 
came to America with a colony sent over \)y 
some of the Swedish kings, which located in 
what is now Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 
that the first one we have an}^ ])ositive knowl- 
edge of was John Colson, the great-great-grand- 
father of our subject, who was born in Massa- 
chusetts about 1700, and was killed on the 
frontier at Niagara in the Indian war. The 
next in line was Christopher Colson, who was 
also born in JIassachusetts. His son Abiah, the 
grandfather of our subject, was born in Massa- 
chusetts about the year 1762, and was a black- 
smith by trade. lie served in the Revolutionary 
AVar along the Hudson River, and participated 
in many skirmishes. He was regularly enlisted, 
but during his latter .service, being a good me- 
chanic, was ordered as blacksmith of his 
regiment. His father, Christopher, was taken 
prisoner by the Britisii at the beginning of the 
war and was carried to Halifax, where he died 
in ])rison. Abiah served three years in the 



Revolutionary War, and was discharged honor- 
abh' after three \'ears service. 

He married Sarah Town, it is sui)posed shortly 
aflerthewar. She was of English descent. They 
removed to Oneida County, New York, where 
he lived his later days, and died about the\'ear 
1810. His son, Thomas Payne Colson, the father 
of our subject, was born in Oneida County, New 
York, April 1, 180-i, where he was reared and 
married. He later moved to Hamilton, Madi- 
son County, New York, where he spent some 
twenty-five years of his life. He was thrown 
upon his own resources when ten j'ears of age, 
owing to the death of his father; he worked at 
whatever he could get to do, and finally learned 
the shoemaker's trade, which he followed prin- 
cipally through life, and until after he came 
AVest to Nebraska in 1859 ; he and his son, 
Sireno B., opened a shoe shop, which was the 
first in Fremont. They carried on this business 
about six years. Mr. Colson died in the spring 
of 1865. He married Mary Rice, daughter of 
Joseph and Mary (Burnell) Rice, who were na- 
ti ves of ]\[assachusetts and of English and French 
descent. The mother of our subject is still living 
at the advanced age of eighty-four years. They 
had a family of three children : Sireno B.; Car- 
oline M., wife of Theron Nye; Charity (de- 
ceased), wife of William Iluftalen, who was one 
of the first settlers on the Elklioin. 

Sireno B. was born in Oneitia Count}' Febru- 
ary 3, 1828, and was reared in his native State, 
receiving a common school education, and being 
a hard student his fund of knowledge increased ; 
while working on the shoe bench ever}' spare 
moment of time was improved in reading. Con- 
sequently he has a fund of knowledge that sur- 
passes that of most men of his' age. He com- 
menced to learn the shoe business when he was 
about twenty-one 3'ears of age, learning the 
same of his father. He was always a hard 
woi'ker, and at the age of twelve years received 
as compensation only a shilling a day. He 
continued to work with his fatiier until his 
death. He accom])aTiied his parents AVest in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



business, he beino- the first shoemaker in Fre- 
mont, and was also the first telegrapii operator. 
The otRce of the old Atlantic & Pacific Company 
being located in their shoe shop in 1800 with our 
subject in charge. Upon coming to Fremont 
he entered eighty acres of land on Section 15, 
of Platte township ; this he commenced to im- 
))r()ve at once, breaking sI.k acres the first year. 
He still retains this land, he being the only one 
of the original settlers who have I'etained their 
original claim in the vicinity of F'remont. To 
that tract he has added until he has a ha'f sec- 
tion in one body. lie continued to work at 
shoemaking until 1865. In the spring of 1866 
lie took charge of the railroad depot of the 
Union Pacific at Fremont, he being the first 
ajipointed by that road. He remained in the 
employ of the company three 3'ears, and was 
then elected to the office of county treasurer, 
of Dodge County, serving four years. 

From the very beginning of their residence in 
Nebraska our subject and Theron Nye have 
been associated in business, they establishing 
the Nye-Colson Company, which has grown to 
be one of the largest concerns of its kind in the 
whole country, and which has merged into the 
Nye ife Schneider Company. Our subject is one 
of the largest stockholders of the First National 
I'ank of Fremont, and one of the directors of 
the various other enterprises of the place. He 
has retired from active business outside of loan- 
ing mone}' on a small scale. Politically, Mr. 
Colson is a stanch Republican, and was one of 
four gentlemen who held the first Republican 
caucus ever held in central New York, and has 
been a life-long advocate of the principles upon 
which this party was organized. 

After a very active career he has been able to 
"take life easier," and resides in a palatial resi- 
dence on North Nye Avenue, the same being 
erected in 1880 at a cost of twenty thousand 
dollars. The lawn surrounding his house con- 
tains five acres and joins that of his brother- 
in-law, Theron ^"^Q, The entire surroundings 
show a marked degree of good taste and 
skill. 



He was united in marriage January 21, 18G8, 
to ]\Iiss Francis I. Reynolds, who is a native of 
York State, born at Dansville, July 5, 18-17, the 
daughter of Josiah and Emily (Atwood) Rey- 
nolds, who were of English extraction. Mr. 
and I\[rs. Colson are the parents of three chil- 
dren: Paul, born March 29, 1871; Burnell, 
born September 7. 187-i; and May, born July 
21, 1878. The family are one of culture and 
refinement, and grace the best society of Fre- 
mont. ]\[r. Colson has always been liberal in 
his donations towards christian and benevolent 
purposes. During the past few years he has 
been in feeble health. 

The subject of this sketch has lived a life of 
activity and nobility, which should ever stand 
as worthy of being ])atterned after by those 
who desire to lead a successful, praiseworthy 
career. 



REV. ISAAC E. IIEATON, the first min- 
ister who located at Fremont, Nebraska, 
arrived October 30, 1S5G. He is of the 
pioneer band who sought to establish the 
Christian religion in the wilds of the West 
and has for long years been known as " Father 
Ilea ton." 

He was boi'u in Franklin, Massachusetts, 
October 6, 1808. His parents were Nathan 
and Sarah (Boon) Ileaton. Thelleaton family 
came from England prior to the Revolutionary 
War. His grandfather, Isaac Ileaton, was a 
soldier in that conllict. Nathan and Sarah 
Ileaton were the parents of three children: 
Isaac the subject of this sketch ; Brainard, who 
lives in California, and Abigal, who died in 
infancy. In 1852 the family came to Wiscon- 
sin where the mother died December, 1854. 
The father died at Fremont, Nebraska, October 
30, 1857. Both were members of the Congre- 
gational Church. 

The subject of this sketch was educated at 
the common schools and Day's Academy of 
Wrcntham, A[assachusetts, also attemled 
Brown's Universitv. Providence, illiode Island, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



graduating September, 1832. lie was licensed 
to preach October, 1834. His first call to preach 
was at Acton, Maine. 

!Mr. Ileaton was married June 16, 1836, to 
Miranda N. Metcalf. He was ordained as a 
minister of the Gospel April, 1837, and was 
sent to Wisconsin by the Home Missionarj' 
Societ}', and first located in Dodge County of 
that State, remained a siiort time, after which 
he spent three years in Belmont where he taught 
school and preached the Word. From there he 
went to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, remained 
one year and accepted a call at Mt. Zion, Rock- 
County, where he labored four \'ears. He then 
went to Waterloo, Jefferson County, Wiscon- 
sin, and there preached nine years and then 
came to Nebraska. Tiie first Sabbath after his 
arrival he preaclied a sermon in the house of 
Mr. Marvin. Services were continued in pri- 
vate houses until they could procuie a building 
which was about 1858. Father Heaton was 
pastor of the Congregational Church until 1869, 
since which time he has led a retired life. At 
the time he came to Fremont the Indians were 
their neighbors, and all was yet new and wild. 
He organized the Congregational Church at 
Fremont with seven members, and left it in 
1869 with a membership of forty-five. Today 
it is the largest Congregational Church in 
Dodge County. 

Mr. Heaton served as jiostmaster at Fi'emont 
during the Civil War period, imd might have 
hekl the office longer afterwards when it was a 
paying otfice, had it not been for his conscien- 
tious scruples, which would not admit of his 
doing ofiice work on the Sabbath day. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ileaton were the parents of 
three daughters, two are still living: Mary, 
svife of J. J. Hawthorne, of Fremont, and 
hottie H., wife of L. H. Rogers, of Fre- 
mont. 

The subject of this memoir was indeed a 
potent factor as a herald of the Cross in the 
IMatte Valley. The good work that he begun 
will be seen and felt in the >leeds and lives of 
iTcneralions vet unborn. 



HON. JULIUS A. SILL, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 11, Maple township, Jcame to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1872, 
and located upon the farm he now occupies, 
which at that time was a half section of wild 
land, upon which he made substantial improve- 
ments, including a farm house, lSx2<! feet, 
and a wing, 14x16 feet; a barn, 30x32 
a crib, 10x64 feet, and granary, 16x20 
feet. He also dug wells and erected 
a wind-mill and set out an orchard of 
three hundred and fifty trees; besides a great 
amount of small fruit and a grove of an acre 
and one-half. He now possesses four hundred 
acres of land, three hundred and fifty of which 
is under the plow. The Ma])le Creek Christian 
Ciiurch is located on his farm, and one of the 
best schools in the county on the opposite side 
of the road from his place. His farm is all well 
fenced, and bears every evidence of thrift and 
order. He has never failed of a crop since he 
has been in Dodge County, although he suffered 
some loss from grasshoppers. 

He of whom we write was boi-n in Tazewell 
County, Illinois, December 23, 1847, the son of 
Horace L. and Mary W. Sill, natives of New 
York, whose eleven children were : Ellen E., 
Maria A., Minerva, Barintha, Jerome, Horace 
L., Jr., Julia, Julius A., ("harles W. Katie, and 
and Dudley. Our subject lived in Illinois with 
his parents until he arrived at his majority, 
teaching school after he was eighteen years of 
age. For four years prior to his coming to 
Nebraslca, he operated a farm. His early ojipor- 
tunities for obtaining an education were good. 
From the common school he went to Eureka 
College where he remained four years and 
graduated in the normal and commercial 
courses. In all he has taught school fifteen 
terms. 

December 20, 1876, marked a new era in this 
man's life, for it was upon that day that he was 
united in marriage to Frankie F. French, 
daughter of rhilamier and Annie French, 
natives of New York and New Jersey respect- 
ivel3^ Her father had twelve children, named 



NORTHEASTER X X! URASKA. 



as follows : Lafayette, Jerome, Mary, Almira, 
Lucene, Frankie F., Vern, Leon, Louie, Cliarles, 
Fred, and Augustus. The first four named 
were onl\' lialf brothers and sisters to our sub- 
ject's wife. Mrs. Sill was a native of Buchanan 
(Jounty, Iowa, and is the mother of tliree 
ciiiklren: Kust T., born November 27,1881; 
Ilarley A., born March 29, 1885, and Frankie 
j\r., born June 1, 1887. 

Politically, Mr. Sill is identified with the 
Republican part}', and represented Dodge 
County in the legislature in the winter of 1880 - 
81 general assembly. Lie has served three 
terms as supervisor from his township. Lie 
behings to Centennial Lodge No. 59, of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both 
himself and wife are members of the Christian 
Church. He is president of the Farmers 
Mutual Insurance Company ; an organization 
formed in September, 1891, which now carries 
about SI 70,000 with business still increasing. 
There headquarters is at Maple Town Ilall. 

ROBEIIT MILLER, a farmer residing on 
Seection 12, of Union township, has the 
honor, as well as the early hardship and 
experience of being an early settler in Dodge 
County, coming as he did in July of 185C, the 
year the county was organized, and for the 
purpose of leaving upon the pages of history 
some record of this man's comings and goings, 
i)oth here and elsewhere, the following sketch 
is published. 

He was born in Scotland March 30, 1824, the 
son of William and Elizabeth (Cochi-an) Miller, 
'both nativesof Scotland. Our subject remained 
at home with his parents in his native land until 
April 17, 1848, upon which day he sailed for 
America in company with Alexander Cum- 
mings. They came direct to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
near which jilace he went to work on a farm, 
continued some time, and in 1849 went to Lake 
County, Illinois, and there I'cmained until he 
came to Nebraska. 

He was married in Lake (Jounty, Illinois, 
•lulv 7, 1850, to Miss Jane Bennett, daughter of 



Kobcrt and Jane (Ilossie) Bennett, also from 
Scotland. Mrs. Miller was born in Scotland, 
April 2, 1829, and accompanied George Young 
and wife to America in 1850, going direct to 
Lake County, Illinois. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of twelve 
children : Jennie II. (I\Irs. William McVicker), 
William, Robert B., Eliza C. (Mrs. Matthew 
McVicker), James (deceased), George A., Mar- 
tha A. (Mrs. John Hart), Frederick S., Alice 
(deceased), Henry, Charles A., Laura M. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
United Presbyterian Church at North Bend, 
and ])olitically he votes the Prohibition ticket. 
For a number of years he was school director, 
but has never taken any active part in politics. 

Of the early experiences of our subject in 
Dodge County it should be related that Mr. 
Miller came to the county in Julv, 185(), with 
his brotlier John and family, (George Young 
and family, George McNaughton and family, 
and William and Alexander Miller, single men 
and brothers of our subject. His sister Eliza- 
beth, now ]\frs. Elv, of Fremont, completed the 
company. On the nigiit of the 3d of July they 
camped but had no supper. The next morning 
they drove to the point where Noi-th Bend is 
now situated, whei'e they found plenty of wood 
and water. Hci'e they cocjked their breakfast, 
anil after looking around made up their minds 
to locate there. Land was not in the market 
at the time, but our subject claimed one hun 
di'ed and sixty acres, upon which he now lives, 
where he built a log-cabin sixteen feet square 
covered with a thatciied roof. They were 
compelled to live out of doors nearly all sum- 
mer as they did not move into their house 
until November 1. One month from that day 
the severest snow and wind storm ever known 
in this countr}' swept over Nebraska. Mr. 
Miller had his house chinked but not plastered 
and he had to do that during the storm. 
Nearly six feet of snow fell on the level, had it 
l)een level, but it appeared in great mountain- 
like drifts, some of which appeareii in the 
month of Mav in 1857. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Miller and his brother John, upon that 
eventful day in December, were at the " barn " 
taking care of their stock; this was directly 
soutli of Mr. Aniler's house about twelve rods. 
They started for the house, having to go 
through about ten feet of snow in a drift, and 
when the}' had gone as far as the\' believed 
they ought to, to reach tlie house, they stopped 
and called aloud to ACrs. Miller, who heard 
their cry, when thev must have been within 
ten feet of the house, and in this way escaped 
l)eing lost. As luck would have it they had 
laid in a liberal sup|)]y of provisions for the 
winter, and it was an easy matter to kill deer 
that winter as the}' could not navigate through 
the snow. At that time their trading-point 
was Omaha, as was their iiost-ofRco, and ox 
teams were employed altogether. 

Mr. Miller was the first man to do any break- 
ing in this locality, which was immediately 
after coming here. He broke a small piece of 
ground and his wife planted it with some garden 
seeds. 

The man McNaughton and family that came 
to the county with our subject became dis- 
heartened after a few days and returned East. 
Tiie rest of the company are all in Dodge 
County now, except William and Alexander 
Miller. William is in Sarpy County, Nebraska, 
and Alexander is in Utah. Mr. Miller has one 
hundi-ed and forty acres of land adjoining the 
town of Xortli Bend, some of which is laid out 
in town lots. 

Thus it will be seen by the above sketch that 
it took- no little courage and faith in the 
country for a man to come to Dodge County 
in 185(», a decaiie ahead of railroads, and un- 
dertake to build for himself a home while the 
Indians and wild game were his most numer- 
ous neighbors. I>ut all these days have passed ; 
and seateil besiile his own homo and fireside, 
this pioneer and his good family ma\' recount 
the trials and hardships of earl}' days, even as 
the victor counts his spoils, for they have made 
a success and are among Dodge County's hon- 
ored well-to-do citizens. 



CHARLES A. BANG a farmer of Sec- 
tion 14, Maple township, became a resi- 
dent of Dodge County in the autumn 
of 1865, when he commenced working in a 
saw-mill, at which woi'k he continued for two 
and one-half years. 

Our subject was born in Denmark, March 21, 
18-12, the son of Hans C. and Mary Bang, who 
had eleven children, three of whom are living. 
Our subject is the only one of the family in 
this country and he remained in Denmark until 
twenty-three years of age, when he came to 
Chicago and worked on a farm near that place 
for about two months and then came to Dodge 
County, lie arrived in this county without 
any money and in fact was some in debt at the 
time of his coming, llis early education was 
received at the common schools. He was 
married May 8, 1808, to Anna M. Simonson, 
daughter of -James and Trena Simonson, whose 
four children were: Gorgan, Hellena, Anna 
M. and Trena. Our subject's wife is the only 
one of tiiese children living in America. 

Bv this union six children were born in the 
following order : Hans, January, 1869; Carl, 
June, 1871; Trena, November, 1872; Laura, 
December, 187-4; Dena, March, 1881; and 
Emory, June, 1885. 

After having been in this country two and 
one-half years our subject returned to Denmark, 
but soon returned to Nebraska, and at once 
engaged in the mill at Noiih Bend. He 
worked thei'c and Fremont a good part of the 
year, and then removed to the farm he now 
occupies, which he homesteaded in 1869. The 
same consisted of eighty acres of wild prairie 
land, upon which he built a house, 12x16 feet, 
which served his. family for sixteen years. He 
built a barn, 24x30 feet, to which he afterward 
made a large addition. Very wisely he planted 
out a two-acre grove and set out a small 
orchard. From time time, as he prospered, he 
purchased more land until he now owns two 
hundred and ninety-three acres, two hundred 
and fifteen of which is under the plow. In 
1888 he built his present commodious farm 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



383 



house which is 16x28 feet, with wings and 
additions which furnish ample room. 

J[r. Bang saw man}' hardsliips in his early 
settlement occasioned by a scarcity of funds, 
together with the grasshojiper years, scarcity 
of fuel, etc. At that time he had to go fifteen 
miles to mill, and paid as high as twenty-four 
dollars for one cottonwood tree, which he had 
to cut and haul twelve miles for fuel. 

Mr. Bang and family are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and in his fiolitical affilia- 
tions he is a stanch Republican. 



FREDERICK MOLLE, proprietor of the 
Snyder brick kiln, came to Dodge 
County, March 21, 1868, and May 3 
located on his jiresent place where he took a 
homestead of eighty acres, tiling the same in 
Omaha of that year. His first abiding place 
on that homestead was a dug-out, 14x20 feet, 
in which he lived two years, and then erected 
a one-story log-house of the same size, and in 
this they lived until 1874, when a frame house 
was built, and in 1889 he erected a two-story 
26x28 building. AVhen he first came to the 
country, our subject devoted his time and 
attention to farming, having at one time one 
hundred and ninety-nine acres of land ; but at 
present only owns one hundred and thirty-six. 
In 18S9, he started a "pressed" brick kiln, 
using a Mascott machine by which he produces 
a brick nearly as good as the famous St. Louis 
l)rick. lie is now anticipating themanufaclure 
(jf paving brick. 

Frederick was born in Brownswick, (ier- 
many, June 5, 1834, the son of Frederick and 
Margaret (Fricke) MoUe. The father was a 
common laborer, who emigrated to America. 
He raised a family of three sons and one daugh- 
ter, all of whom came to this country, but one. 
Our subject came in April, 1854, landed at 
New York, went to Rochester, where he 
worked one year, and then went to Manitowoc 
County, AVisconsin, and lived fifteen years, 
twelve years of which he spent with the Wis- 



consin Leather Company, and three \'ears in 
the United States Army. August 21, 1862, he 
enlisted in Company D Twenty-seventh Vol- 
unteer Infantry, and received his discharge at 
Brownsville, Texas, August 29, 1865. He par- 
ticipated in the battles of Vicksburg; Helena, 
Arkansas, and others. After his discharge he 
was in the emplo}' of the Wisconsin Leather 
Company, until he came to Dodge County, in 
1868. 

He was united in marriage May 26, 1861, 
to Matilda Meyers, daughter of William and 
Margaret (Neuschules) Mevers, who was the 
oldest of a family of five children — two sons 
and three daughters. Her people were natives 
of German}', but came to America when she 
was nine years of age. Her mother died at 
Rapid City, South Dakota, February 19, 1889, 
and her father at our subject's house, Novem- 
ber 12, 1891. 

To our subject and his wife have been born 
tlurteen children : Henry J., Frederick H. 
(deceased), William J., Johanna, Emma 
(deceased), Adolph T., Clara, Ella, Emma, 
Frederick, Malina and Mata (twins), Charles. 
Johanna is now the wife of Charles G. McMul- 
len, and lives on our subject's farm. 

Our subject and his family are identified 
with the Lutheran Church, and in politics he 
votes for the man and not the party, and is a 
member of the G. A. R. Post at Scribner. 



CHARLES SCHUETH, SR., one of the 
earliest pioneers of Cuming County, will 
form the subject of this notice. 
He effected settlement in 1861, and has been 
identified with the county ever since. He was 
born in Westphalen, Germany, May 7, 1815, the 
son of John and Maria (Langer) Schueth. They 
were the parents of ten children : Charles, 
Frank (deceased), Mary (deceased), Casper (de- 
ceased), Julius (tleceased), Henry (deceased), 
Conrad (deceased), Thresa (deceased), Antonia 
(deceased), and Victoria (deceased). The par- 
ents were members of the Roman Catholic 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Church, and both died in their native country. 
Charles, of whom we wi-ile this sketch, was 
educated in the common schools in his native 
country, and was united in mai-riage in 184-1 to 
Miss Margaret Ilagerdorn. November 1, 1842, 
our subject arrived at New Orleans, where he 
remained nine 3'ears, and then went back to 
Europe with his wife and two children, but the 
folhnving year returned to New Orleans, at 
which place he lost *4,500 by fire. After re- 
maining in New Orleans five months he went 
to California and engaged in mining. The 
country was wild and filled with mountain 
lions, and he saw several men killed by them, 
lit worked in the mines about one year, when 
he embarked and went to Australia, making 
two trips. He returned to San Francisco, and 
from there to New Oi'leans again, and from that 
city to Germany, and in 1858 returned to New 
Orleans with his family. His wife died in St. 
Louis, May 9, 1860. She was the mother of 
live children : Julius, of St. Charles township, 
Cuming County, Nebraska; Charles, of Colfax 
County, Nebraska ; Elizabeth, died at the age 
of twelve years, and two died in infarcy. 

In 18G1 he came to Cuming County and took 
a homestead in St. Charles township, upon 
which he built a log house 16x28 feet. In 1864, 
he was appointed postmaster of the St. diaries 
post-olKce, and served twenty-two years, the 
longest of any one in the State of Nebraska. 
His fir'st trading ])ost was Omaha, to Avhich 
jioint he hauled his lirstcropof wheat and sold 
the same at sixty cents per bushel. The follow- 
ing year he raised 400 bushels of wheat, which 
he sold on his place at $1.4U per bushel. He 
made two barrels of wine and sold it in Omaha 
at $1.50 per gallon. As time passed on he 
added to his land until he finally securetl 340 
acres, upon which he built a frame house in 
1873, hauling his luini)i'r from Fremont and 
Omaha. 

Ml'. Schueth was married in 1S6U to Miss 
Margaret Buttrict, near New Orleans. She 
was born January 4, 1844. I5y this union nine 
children were born: Marv, who died in in- 



fancy; Catharine, born December 25, 1802; 
George, born March 19, 1864; Frank, died in 
infancy; John, born March 12, 1867; Barbara, 
died in infancy ; Mary Ann, born June 24, 
1871; Thressa, born March 12, 1870; AVilliam, 
orn May 11, 1881. 
In politics Mr. Scliueth is a Re[)ublican, and 
at an early da}' cast his vote with the Whig 
party, but when the Republican party was 
formed he joined that. It may be said that at 
the present time he votes for the best man re- 
gardless of party. He served as one of the 
county commissioners for sixteen years. He 
has the distinction of teachmg the first school 
taught in Cuming County, in what is known as 
District No. 2. He has lived to see the country 
fully developed with railroads, while school 
houses and churches are on everj' hand. 



HON. PETER F. O'SULLIVAN, editor 
and proprietor of the West Point 
Progress, was born in Toronto, Canada, 
February 22, 1844, the son of James and 
Sarah (Mallon) O'Sullivan, natives of Ireland, 
who came to America when they were young 
people in 1836. The father of our subject was 
a soldier in the British Ami}', and at the time 
of the JIcKenzic Rebellion came to Canada, 
where he purchased his discharge after the 
rebellion had been suppressed. He was married 
near Toronto, and engaged in the mercan- 
tile business in that city. In 1861, he moved 
to St. Clair County, Michigan. At one time he 
was a contractor on the Grand Trunk Railroad. 
After coming to Port Huron he engaged in 
trade, and in 1869 purchased a farm, tilleil tnat 
and conducted a general store. He remained 
there until the time of his death in 1882. Our 
subject's father and mother were the parents 
of six children, five of whom lived to be adults. 
They were as follows: Michael, of Toronto; 
Peter F., the subject of this notice; John V. 
of Port Huron; Mar}', wife of J. Winters; 
Sarah, wife of Mr. Ryan of ^lichigan. Our 
subject's mother died in Toronto, Canada, in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA 



385 



1859, and her husband married Amplia Dunn, 
a native of Montreal, by whom two children 
were born : James and Rena. Mr. O'Sulli van's 
father, in his native country, was a strong 
Nationalist and after coming to America 
affiliated with the Democratic party. 

The subject of this notice was educated at 
tiie Christian Brothers school in Toronto, and 
after coming to Michigan with his fatiier was 
apprenticed to learn the printer's trade, begin- 
ning in the Port Huron Commercial office. At 
the same time Thomas A. Edison worked in 
the same office. Mr. O'Sullivan enlisted in the 
Union Army as a member of Company C 
Twenty-second Michigan Infantry in 1803, and 
joined his regiment near Chattanooga, Ten- 
nessee. He participated in all the engagements 
on the Atlanta Campaign and was orderly at 
one time for General Thomas. He returned to 
Chattanooga and Nasliville with Thomas and 
was mustered out at Murfreesbpro, Tennessee. 
He was also a member of the Twenty-ninth 
Michigan Infantry for a time. He was finally 
discharged from the service at Detroit, Michi- 
gan, after which he went to Chicago, where he 
was engaged on city directory work. In 1868, 
he came to Omaha and was em])loyed In' the 
Omaha Herald for six months, when he in 
compan}' with six others stai'ted the first even- 
ing daily — the Omaha Evening Times, which 
was conducted six months and was succeeded 
by the Bee. Mr. O'Sullivan then wont to Sioux 
City, and founiled the Sioux City Daily Times. 
He operated one year, sold out and came to 
Nebraska and started the Dakota Count\' 2lail 
which he dispr)sed of in 1871. From that date 
to 187-f he worked on the RepuhUcan and Bee 
at Omaha. In 1874 he came to West Point ; 
worked on the Rejmhlican until 1876, when he 
established the Progress, which he still is 
proprietoi' of. In 1888 he was elected as rep- 
resentative in the legislature by the Democratic 
party. For four years he was city treasurer of 
West Point and also school treasurer. He was 
chosen alternate delegate to the National Demo- 
cratic Convention in Chicago in June, 1892. 



Mr. O'Sullivan was united in marriage at 
Sioux City, Iowa, in 1872, to MissMaiw Keevil, 
a native of Ireland. By this marriage union 
five children have been bora: Gertrude, Eva, 
Clement, Raymond and ]\[alachi. 

In religious matters our subject and his 
family are identified with the Roman Catholic 
Church. He was the first commander of the 
" D. S. Crawford " Grand Army Post at West 
Point. 

But few men in the Elkhoi'u Valley have 
had the varied experience in the journalistic 
field that our subject has. He is an able writer, 
always hewing close to the line. Regardless 
of political party lines everyone in the circle of 
his acquaintance is his friend, because of the 
many praiseworthy traits of character he i)os- 
sesses. 

HON. JOHN D. NELIGH, the founder 
of West Point, came to Cuming County 
in March, 1858, and has been identified 
with the county, as well as its county seat, for 
more than one third of a century. To his un- 
tiring industry and perseverance which some- 
times had been against fearful odds, is due 
much of the prosperity and financial success of 
many of the West Point institutions. 

Mr. Neligh was boi-n in Allen township, 
Northampton County, Pennsylvania, October 
9, 1831. His father, John Neligh, was born in 
the same locality October 20, 1792, and lived 
to the age of sixty years, when he met with an 
accidental death by falling down stairs. He 
married Miss Elizabeth Peterman, a native of 
Germany, born in 1796 and emigrated to 
America with her parents in 1800. By this 
union eight chikiren were born, three sons and 
five daughters: Julia, married Reuben Young. 
She died in February, 1892, the mother of ten 
children; William, now a resident of Florida, 
He married Sarah Youndt, by whom eleven 
children were born ; Elizabeth, married Coni-ad 
Hoover. She died after four years of married 
life, leaving one child; David, a resident of 
West Point, married Mary J. Crawford, by 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



whom eleven children were born ; Margaret, 
died in infancy ; John D., of whom we write 
this sketch ; Mar\' Jane, wife of Jonas Kem- 
merrer, of Pennsylvania, b}' whom three chil- 
dren were born ; Hannah, wife of Michael 
Brady, of Elizabeth Port, Xew Jersey, by whom 
three ciiildren were born. The mother of these 
children, the wife of John Neligh, died in 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was buried in 
Petersville cemetery. Both herself and hus- 
band were members of the German Reform 
Church. 

John Neligh, the grandfather, was born in 
the same place as the above, married Miss 
Schnider, and reared a family of nine children. 
The great-grandfather is supposed to have 
come from England to this country and died 
at the age of ninety-three years. 

The subject of this notice wiien fifteen years 
of age hired out to work on a brick yard foi" 
three dollars per month. The following season 
he received twenty-five cents per day for the 
same kind of work, and has been more or less 
engaged in the business ever since. In 185G he 
came to Iowa Cit\', Iowa, and made bi-ick for 
one and one-half years. "We next find him in 
Omaha, then a hamlet of about fift\' houses. 
In March, 1858, he came to West Point and 
engaged in a steam saw-mill, owned by himself, 
J. C. Crawford and George AV. Ilauser. 

Our subject was united in marriage March 
13, 1860, to Catharine Brobst, daughter of 
Solomon and Kate (Iliskey) Brobst, natives of 
Pennsylvania. Bv their union two children 
were born : Amelia, wife of Uriah Bruner, of 
West Point, and our sul)jecL's wife. Mrs. 
Brobst died when Mrs. Neligh was an infant, 
ami her fatlier kept the children for two years 
and then broke up housekeeping, the children 
being cared for l)y a friend. Mr. Brobst then 
married Mrs. Fisii<ji', ijy whom Iks IkuI two 
children. 

In early life our subject was a Whig; in 1850 
he voted for Eiimore, and in 18<!0 for Abraham 
Lincoln. In 1858 he was elected to the office 
of register of deeds of Cuming County, and in 



1860 was ^elected to the oiBce of probate judge; 
in 1862 to the office of county clerk; in 1864 
he represented Burt and Cuming Counties in 
the territorial legislature; in 1865 he was again 
elected county clerk ; in 1806 he was appoiiited 
as probate judge to fill a vacancy, and the same 
fall elected as a member of the territorial 
council; in 1870 he was nominated by the Re- 
publican party to the office of representative. 
As a result of the election a contest arose as to 
who was elected, and Mr. Neligh was defeated ; 
in 1871 he was chosen as a delegate from the 
twentieth district to the constitutional conven- 
tion, and took a prominent part in the same ; 
in 1861 he was appointed postmaster at West 
Point, serving eight years. In educational 
matters he has always taken an active part, 
and was chairman of the board of directors 
for twelve years. The first school house in 
West Point was made of brick manufactured 
by our subject. In 1867 Mr. Neligh, in com- 
))any with others, erected the first Houring-mill 
at West Point, and in 1872 erected the Neligh 
House. He has been the contractor for nearly 
all the brick work in West Point. That he has 
always been a popular man it only needs to 
be added that he was chosen a delegate to the 
national Republican convention held at Phila 
delphia, which nominated U. S. Grant the last 
time. 

In 1869 he was appointed by the governor of 
Nebraska as railroad commissioner for a por- 
tion of the Elkhorn Valley road, to see tliat 
the road was built acconling to law. He has 
always taken an an active ]>art in everything 
connected with the upbuilding of West Point, 
and has held most of the local offices. In 1S7.'5, 
when the place was made a city of the second 
class, he was elected mayor, and reelected in 
187<'>, having served as mayor in all si.x terms. 
In 1871 he was elected bv the legislature as a 
member of the boanl of immigration for Ne- 
braska, and has been president of the Old Set- 
tlers Society ever since its organization, in 1887. 
In 1870 he he!j)ed organize the agricultural as- 
sociation, and was elected president. In 1884 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



387 



he was elected as a member of the Nebraska 
legislature. 

One of the most important enterprises with 
wliich he has ever been connected in West 
Point was the "West Point Manufacturing Com- 
])any, which was organized in 187-1. he being 
made its president two years later. In 1ST6 
he incorporated a company and built the West 
Point paper mills. His present business is 
principally milling and brick manufacturing. 

Mr. and Mrs. Neligh are the parents of live 
children, one of whom died in infancy. Those 
living are as follows: Alice, the first female 
white child born in West Toint, wife of AlexJ 
ander II. Sims, of West Point ; U. S. Grant, 
manager of the West Point liepuMican. lie 
received his education at the high schools of 
West Point ; William T. S., a clerk at Omaha, 
and John S. P., who was the first male graduate 
of the West Point high school, and also a 
graduate of the Art school at Evanston, Illinois. 

By reference to the general chapters of the 
Cuming County history it will be observed 
that Mr. Neligh has been associated with, and 
indeed closely connected with, every branch of 
industry within the county. While he is a man 
of positive convictions, full of sternness and 
sagacity, and has had much to do with men and 
events within the Elkhorn Valley from the 
very earliest date, he has but few personal ene- 
mies. To the man who becomes a pioneer in a 
new country and helps to lay the corner-stone 
of a great and prosperous commonwealth, there 
are ever and anon sharp contests, but tlie man 
of honor and integrit\% though he succeeds or 
fails, usually has the respect of all classes, and 
such is the case with Mr Neligh. Whoever 
peruses the pages of this book in years to come 
cannot fail of realizing the worth of such a 
character, in the (irst one-third of a century in 
the historv of eastern Nebraska. 



(JefRkowsky) Langer. Our subject accom- 
panied his parents to West Point, Nebraska, in 
August, 1808. Here he has grown to man- 
hood and received a liberal education in his 
adopted city. He learned the printer's trade 
in the office which he now owns. He spent 
eight years in . Omaha, where he finished his 
trade, working on various newspapers of that 
city. In June, 1889, he purchased tlie Ttepnli- 
lican^ and in the spring of 1891 received the 
appointment as postmaster at West Point. 
He is secretary of the Board of Trade, and is 
active in all of the business and social circles of 
his town. While living in Omaha, Mr. Langer 
took advantage of the real estate boom, by which 
he realized a profit of five thousand dollars, thus 
giving him his financial start in life. He is the 
youngest postmaster and among the youngest 
journalists in Nebraska, and seems equally well 
qualified for both positions. As an official, he 
understands the postal laws thoroughly, and 
gives the patrons of the office a satisfactorv ser- 
vice. As a journalist he is a clear, forcible and 
interesting writer, and handles the living issues 
of the day in a fearless and praiseworthy man- 
ner. Be it said to his credit, that his newspa- 
per is edited on a higher moral plane than many 
of his co-temporaries. Cuming County may 
justly point to our subject as a good representa- 
tive young man, who has been fostered and 
educated under the free school system, and who 
is now making a practical use of his earl}' day 
schooling, and should his life be spared he will 
ere long take a higher position in the public 
atfairs of the state. 



ANTON J. LANGER, postmaster and edi- 
tor of the West Point Jiej[>uUican, was 
born in Detroit, Michigan, February 16, 
18GC. He is the son of Anton and Catharine 



JOHN J. KING, superintendent of the 
West Point Creamery Association and 
one of the enterprising business men of 
the place, was born in Orange County, 
New York, October 20, 1855. He is a son of 
Thomasand Lamira (Harding) King, of Orange 
County. Thomas King was for many years 
engaged in the banking business at Middleton, 
New York, but later in life he engaged with 



A'OJi THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA 



the Orange County Milk Association, doing 
business at Mickik'ton and New Vork City. 
where tiiey had thirt\' routes. Our subject, in 
1870, was called into service at New York to 
look after the routes and keep the books. In 
1877 he came to AV^est Point to look after his 
father's land, which was a six hundred and 
forty acre tract adjoining the town plat. The 
following year the West Point Creamery was 
built, he being active in its construction, and 
was made its first superintendent, which posi- 
tion he has since held. In 1884, at the time of 
the New Orleans Exposition, Cuming County 
loaded a car of products for an exhibit. The 
county voted fifty dollars which was but a 
small portion of the expense and Mr. King fur- 
nished the balance and had it not been tor his 
action in the matter no exhibit would have been 
made for Cuming Count}'. 

Like many others, Mr. King in his boyhood 
neglected his educational privileges and in latar 
years, seeing the need of it, commenced reafling 
valuable books and papers, by reason of which 
he has acquired a good education, the same 
being of the practical kind. His library is 
probably the largest of any private library in 
the Elkhorn Valley, as it contains about tliree 
thousand volumes. 

The year 1880 marked an important era in 
Mr. King's life, for it was during that j'ear he 
was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Bruner, 
the daughter of Uriali Bruner, a i)rominent 
attorney of West Point, whose personal sketch 
appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and 
Mrs. King have been blessed with one ciiild : 
Kenelm, born December 26, 1881. 

Politically Mr. King is identified with the 
Repuijlican party, but has never been an office 
seeker, as his time and attention have always 
been devoted to business pursuits. He is a very 
successfid business man, has accumulated a 
handsome property, and is in jiossession of one 
of the finest homes in tiie entire Elkhorn Val- 
ley. Coining as he did from the great dairy 
country of Orange County, New York,scliooled 
in the dairy business, he has been an important 



factor in the upbuilding of that department of 
farm life in his adopted country. He stands 
high in the community by reason of his manly 
course in tljc transaction of business. 



HON. JAMES C. CIIAWFOKD, one of 
the representative citizens of the Elk- 
horn Valley, and a resident of West 
Point, settled in Cuming County in the spring 
of 1858, and b}' reason of his long residence 
and close identification with all that has gone 
tosvard building up the institutions of eastern 
Nebraska, he veiT naturally finds a place in 
this connection. 

He was boi'n in Northampton County, 
Pennsylvania, October 23, 1836. The grand- 
father, John Crawford, was born in the North 
of Ireland, of Scotch parentage. He came to 
America in about 1775, and settled near Fleck- 
ville, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. 
He was a soldier in the War of 1812. The 
father of our subject was Seth Crawford, born 
in Northampton County, August 8, 1801. 
He married Mary Muchler, of German descent, 
born November G, 1803. They first settled in 
New Jersey, but subsecjuentl}' moved to North- 
ampton Count}', Pennsylvania. Mr. Craw- 
ford was a weaver by trade and followed that 
business until 1851, and tiien carried on a small 
farm. Mr. and Mrs. Seth Crawford were the 
parents of fifteen children, as follows : Rebecca 
A., born January 24, 1824; Margaret II., born 
November 25, 1825; Elizabetii M., born Jan- 
uary 25, 1827; Mary J., born November 3, 
1828; Valentine, born December 29, lS2y: 
Caroline, born January 27, 1832; Henrietta, 
born September 3, 18.33; Catharine, born Feb- 
ruary 20, 1835; James C, our subject, October 
23, 1836; George AV., born May 8, 1838; Sarah 
M., born November 15, 1840; Rachel S., born 
June 18, 1842; Daniel S., born Was 24, 1844: 
Susannah, born February 27, 184t!; Joiin, born 
February 16, 1848. 

The father, Seth Crawford, died June 11, 
1872. The mother died August 16, 1851). 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



389 



Judge Crawford, of wliom this biographical 
notice is written more especially, received but 
a limited education, as his father's family was 
a large one, and they were not possessed of 
much wealth, so he very early in life learned 
to hustle for himself. In 1S57 he turned his 
face toward the setting sun and came to Iowa 
City, Iowa, where he assisted in making the 
brick for the court-house in that place. In the 
auiunin of that year he came to Omaha, where 
he chopi)ed and hauled cord-wood and rails for 
his board. In March, 185S, he was found in 
West Point without any money and again 
went to chopping cord-wood, which, in company 
with J. D. Neligh, they burnt brick, the first 
made north of Omaha in Nebraska. In 1SG2, 
(luring the Civil "War and Indian troubles, he 
became a member of Company A Second 
Nebraska Cavalry, and participated in the 
Indian AVar of the Northwest, as he had in 
the Pawnee Warfare of 1859. 

He was united in marriage May 11, 1S64, to 
Miss Kate Moore, a daughter of Benjamin B. 
Moore, who was the first settler in Cuming 
County. Mr. Crawford settled upon a home- 
stead, and in connection made brick up to the 
fall of 1870, when he was compelled to give up 
farm life or his law practice, which was grow- 
ing upon his hands. So he decided in favor of 
his profession. lie was the first postmaster at 
West Point as well as the first treasurer of 
Cuming County. 

Politically, he is a strong supporter of the 
Democratic part}', and was twice elected to the 
Slate Senate, and one term in the House of 
Rein-esentatives. He was elected judge of the 
Seventh Judicial District, serving four years. 
In 1872, he was chosen as a delegate by the 
Democratic party to the National Convention 
at Baltimore, and in 1888 a delegate to St. 
Louis, the former convention nominating Hor- 
ace Greely for president and the latter Grover 
(Cleveland. In 1SS9, he was appointed by Presi- 
dent Cleveland,especial disbursing Indian agent. 
The Judge has always taken an active intei'- 
est in AVest Point and surrounding counties. 



He is president of the First National Bank ; 
president of the AVest Point Electric Light and 
Power Company ; president of the Building 
and Loan Association ; president of the AVest 
Point Land and Trust Com]iany. He was 
admitted to the Bar in 18G1, under Judge Pitt 
Kellogg, and in 1873 admitted to practice in 
the Supreme Court, ant! in 1882 to the United 
States Supreme Court. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are tlie ])arents of 
six children : Lottie E., born Decembers, 1867; 
Ida May, born August 7, 1869; George, born 
June 12, 1871, died September 5, 1871 ; Lillian, 
born March 8, 1873 ; Kate, born April 20, 1874, 
died June 22, 1874 ; James C, born August 24, 
1880. 

Judge Crawford is wholely a self-made man. 
as will be observed by reading this sketch, and 
by untiring study and research, he has attained 
eminence as a man of legal and general learn- 
ing. He has one of the finest law libraries in 
the country. He also has the credit of writing 
the brief in the Boyd-Thayer Gubernatorial 
contest, which secured Governor Boyd his seat 
as Governor of Nebraska. 

In conclusion, let it be said that in whatever 
position the subject of this sketch has been 
placed, he has ahvaj's proved himself a man, 
in the true sense of the word. Reared of hum- 
ble and poor parentage, setting out in life when 
a mere youth to battle for himself, he steadily 
achieved success and prominence, per force of 
his perseverance and integrity, with a strong- 
ambition to accomplish something in life worthy 
of the name of an American citizen. Days, 
weeks, months and a long term of years of 
incessant toil, fraught here and there with no 
small degree of hardsliij), has this man come 
into the possession of his well rounded character 
and worldly possessions, and when seated by 
his own fireside in one of the most costly and 
modern residences in the Elkhorn A^alley (now 
in course of construction), Judge Crawford 
may justly look back over life's struggle and 
write above his multiplied deeds, the one 
word — " Success." 



390 



XORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



OTTO BAUMANN, vice-president of the 
West Point National ]5ank, Las been 
identilied with the interests of West 
Point and Cuming County in general since 
1867, and lience verv naturally linds a place in 
this connection. He was born in I'avaria, Ger- 
many, November 3, 1836. 

lie grew to manhood in his native countr\', 
antl learned the trade of miller, which he fol- 
lowed in various localities. In 1865 he emi- 
grated to America, coming b\' the way of New 
York to Akron, Ohio, where he worked in a 
stone quarry. He went to Memphis, Tennes- 
see, and from there to St, Louis, and then to 
Washington, Missouri, and there worked in a 
pork packing establishment. May 1, 1867, he 
came to West Point. He had woiked in 
Omaha in Metz brewery the three months ])re- 
vious. 

He was united in marriage at Omaha in 
February, 1868, to Lena Zepu, a native of 
Wurtemberg, Germany. In 1869 he moved to 
Fremont, Nebraska, and built the Omaha 
House, which was destroyed by fire in 1870, 
by reason of which he lost everything. In 
1870 he purchased the St. Charles Hotel, which 
he kept two years, when he sold out and en- 
gaged in the saloon business; he was also one 
of the firm of Bauinann, Bromer & Co., who op- 
erated a general store. After one year he 
bought the interest of his company and 
remained alone two years. In 1881 he built 
his large brick building, -14x90 feet, two stories 
high, which cost about ten thousand dollars. 
He remained in business until 18S5, when he 
sold his stock, and in May of the same year 
engaged in banking business at "West Point. 

Politically Mr. ]5aumann is a Democrat, and 
has rendered the l)artv good service. He was 
elected mayor in 1881, and has served on the 
city council a number of years. He has taken 
an active jiart in educational matters, and has 
been a member of the school board for sixteen 
years. Upon the re-organization of tiie 
Creamery Association he purchased an interest 
in the same. He is treasurer of the Electric 



Light and Power Compan}' at this point, and | 

was one of the organizers of the same. He is 
also a member of the Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation and was one of its incorporators. He is 
president of the West Point Ih-ewing Associa- 
tion, and has always taken a very active i)art 
in the upbuilding of West Point as a manufac- 
turing place. He has a beautiful brick resi- 
dence on the corner of Lincoln and Bridge ., 
Streets, erected at a cost of four tiiousand I 
dollars. ■ ■ 

Mr. and Mrs. Baumann are the parents of 
five living children, as follows: John, born 
February 17, 1876 ; Menry, born July 20, 1878 ; 
Edward, born October 27, 1881^; Minnie, born 
September 26, 1886 ; and Eunice, born ^larch 
8, 1889. Those who have passed awa}' are: ■ 
Otto, born February 10, 1869, died November I 
14, 1875; Lena, born December 7, 1870, died 
August 7, 1871 ; Fritz, born December23, 1871, 
died September 5, 1875 ; William, born Octo- 
ber 7, 1873, died July 25, 1874 ; Martha, born 
November 5, 1880, died November 26, 1880; 
and Oswald and Ottomar (twins), born Octo- 
ber 8, 1884, died December 30, 1884. 

Mr. Baumann is a member of the Catholic 
Church, while Mrs. Bauinann and family are 
members of the Lutheran Church. 

In the fall of 1S92 the brewing company 
completed arrangements and tiie work i)egun 
to expend twenty thousand dollars which will 
double their capacity. 



WILLIAM A. BLACK.cashier of theFirst 
National Bank at West Point, came 
to Cuming County, April 1, 1885, 
since which tiiiK; he has been closely identified 
with the county's every interest. 

Concerning the Black family, and its earlier 
history it may be said in this connection, that 
the great-grandfather Black, and Peter Black 
theson camefrom the vicinity of Dublin, Ireland. 
Peter was placed at an early age under the care 
of two maiden aunts, who wished him to take 
the profession of a lawyer ; this tiitl not please 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



him, although these aunts inteniled him to be 
their heir. He resolved to escape to the then 
comparatively New World, and try his fortune 
alone. Hence he came to New York and it 
would seem that he must have been somewhat 
of a successful man, from many of the costly 
and rare relics which have come down to the 
[iresent generation from him. Father Black's, 
first home (meaning Peter Black, the grand- 
fatlier of our subject) after his marriage was in 
Lenox where the three eldest childi'en were 
born: Maria, Elias, and Edward. While there 
he engaged'in the dry goods trade in partner- 
ship with a man who, proving treacherous, 
obliged him to give up his business and in 
reduced circumstances return with his family 
to New York City, which was the place of his 
birth and early life. Hetlien commenced work 
at his trade, that of a harness maker, saddler 
and carriage trimmer, in which his wife assisted 
very much in the making of broadcloth 
cushions and trimming with rich satin, then 
used in fine carriage work. After a few years 
of industry and economy they accumulated 
(juite a sum, which they deposited with a man 
supposed to be rich and trustworthy, when sud- 
denly his wealth vanished and they were again 
penniless and with an increased family. The 
father resolved never to work at his trade any 
more. Elias was a scholarly man, studied and 
practiced medicine, but Edward at a very early 
age manifested a love for the water, often 
escaping from home as early as eight years of 
age, going to the bay or river, gazing with the 
most eager delight out upon the ocean, and 
could scarceh' be induced to go home and some- 
times was found only after an anxious search. 
This natural love of the sea kept apace with his 
growth and at a very early age, probably 
twelve years, he sailed as a cabin boy under a 
captain of their acquaintance to Glasgow, hop- 
ing to cure him of this, to them, objectionable 
mode of life. Although the captain said it was 
the most tempestuous voyage he had ever made, 
Ed ward loved the sea none the less, and followed 
it while he lived. 



When the British were about to take posses- 
sion of New York, many of the inhabitants 
secreted their most valuable articles, and grand- 
mother B.lack deposited her silver, valuable 
l^apers, and other precious things in a large 
cedar chest and had it buried on Long Island, 
wliere it was discovered, broken open,and robbed 
of every thing, and thus vanished her cherished 
hopes of proving the identity of her family in 
the person of her grandson Edward, who she 
thought strikingly resembled her husband, the 
elder Edward, and by whom she hoped to 
recover the fortune which was to have been his, 
had he remained with his aunts. The cedar 
chest is still in the possession of Mrs. Hitch- 
cock and family, and has the marks of violence 
plainly visible upon it. (The above was written 
by Win. P. Black for a sort of family history.) 
The same person also writes: "My grandfather 
was nineteen years old when he left Ireland, 
and my grandmother was very desirous that my 
brother Edward should go among his grand- 
father's folks in Ireland, in hopes that he might 
get some of the property which had belonged 
to aunts of his grandfather. It seems to me 
those aunts must have died long before. I don't 
know at what age he mai'ried ; he married a 
widow Hancock, who had one son, by her first 
liusband, and one child by her second marriage, 
which was my father, Peter Black. My grand- 
mother's first son's ciiristian name I do not 
know. Mygrandmother Black died at my father's 
house in Troy, New York. I don't remember 
much about her, only that she appeared like a 
digniiied lady. I remember that it was told me 
that one of her parents uas French, and the 
other Dutch. My brother Elias became con-* 
sumptiveand went to Kio .Janeiro, for his health 
and soon died. Edward was killed at sea in 
the AVar of 1812, while engaged in acticm on 
bcjard the privateer ''Comet.'' lie was 
represented as a brave officer. The British 
Man of War was captured and brought 
to New Orleans whei'e a Lieutenants com- 
mission awaited him. He was made a 
ca[)tain of a merchant vessel before he was of 



893 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ajjo. Etlwnrd left a widow and two children. 
The widow niiirried again. Tiie names of iiis 
cliildroit were : Kiias, and I.ydia." This stale- 
niont was made l)v Mrs. IVter Uitciicock, wiio 
was an annt of the subject of this sketch, living 
in IV-ny, New York, and came from lier niotlier 
to iior, and was fiirnisiied AV. 1*. Black, Decem- 
bei- 25, 1S77. 

The proper subject of tills skelcii, William 
A. Itlack, was born in Manchester, Vermont, 
December 30, 1S42, the son of AVilliam P., a 
native of New York t'itv', whore ho was born 
in ISOl, and at the ago of six years went to 
Manchester, Vermont, and there grow to man- 
hood. Ho entered the Manchester bank in 
18:i2, and held the position of cashier for lifty 
two years in the same institution, llo was 
united in nuirriage in 1820, to Jliss Sarah A. 
Aiken, who was born at Bedford, New Hamp- 
shire ami was a relative of "Zach" Chandler. 
Her grandfather Peter Aiken, was a 
soldier in the lievolutionary AVar, and 
served with much tlislinction. I'eter Black, 
his grandfather, served as a marine and 
held the position of cajjtain. Mr. and Mrs. AV. 
P. Pilack are the parents i)f six chddren : Har- 
riett A., ilied at the age of six years ; .lames P., 
cashier of the Factory Ponil National P>ank of 
Manchester Centre, \'ern\ont; Sarah E., witlow 
of Jforton ("^ushman, a resilient of Now 
York ("ity ; Charles E., a book-keeper in 
New York ; AVilliam A., the subject of 
this sketch ; Helen, a resident of Manchester, 
Vermont. 

AVilliam P. Black, was a AVliig in early life 
and in later years a lie|>ublican. 

William A. Black was educated in his native 
village and at the age of nineteen enlisted in 
the Fourteenth VeiMuont A'olunteer Infantry, 
as a member of Company C, and was mustered 
out at Braltleboro, N'ermont, serving aboutone 
year. He participated in the battle of Gettys- 
burg, one of tho hardest fought of the Civil War. 
As a banker, Mr. Black is thoroughly posted, 
having been engaged in the business prior to 
coming to West Point in 1885. He was made 



cashier of the First National Bank at West 
Point and has held the position ever since. 

Ho was united in marriage in 1879, to Miss 
Lizzie H. Chadwick, a native of New York, by 
whom one son and two tlanghters have been 
born : one of whom is living, Helen Sarah. He is 
a member of the Masonic fraternity, including 
Chapter No. 4(!. 

Politically, he is a stanch supporter of tho 
Republican party. 



URIAH BUUNEli, an attorney at AVest 
Point, is one of the pioneers of Cuming 
County, and by reason of his prominence 
in public all'airs very naturally finds a place in 
the history of the Elkhorn A'alley. 

He is a native of the " Keystone" State, born 
September 2,t, 1830. Of his ancestry it may be 
said that prior to the Revolutionary AVar three 
brothers came to America from Saxony. Cer- 
many, settling in Pennsylvania and Maryland. 
The graiul father of <nir subject settled in Penn- 
sylvania and was asoklier in the AVar for Inde- 
pendence. His name was John Andrew Bru- 
ner. He lived in Northam|)ton County, Penn- 
sylvania, and was a farmer by occupation. At 
the ago of eighteen lie enlisted as a private in 
the Revolutionary AVar, ))articipating in numer 
ous battles, including ]^ong Island, where the 
retreat of the American forces was cut otf by 
the liriltish ; and he with his musket strapped 
to his back, swam across an arm of the Bay of 
Long Island Sound, llo was with General 
AA'^ashington's forces, when he crossed the Del- 
aware River on Christinas night and took Tren- 
ton. He ilied at the age of liftyfour years on 
his farm in Springfield township, Bucks County, 
Pennsylvania, which territory was detached 
from Northampton (bounty. 

The great-grandfather of our subject was 
Andrew Bruner, who emigrated from Saxony 
to America with two other brothers and settled 
in Northampton County. I'ennsylvania. One 
of his brothers settleil in central Pennsylvania, 
but subseipiently moved to A'irginia, where 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



many of the descendants lived. The other 
biollier went with Daniel Boone's party to 
Kentucky, where he married and settled. An- 
drew ]>riiner, above referred to, was a miller by 
trade, and erected the llrst grist-mill in all that 
section of country. It stood on the banks of a 
small stream, a tributary totiie Delaware, form- 
ing a junction forty miles north of Philadel- 
liliia. This mill was afterwards burned by the 
Indians. 

John G. Uruner, father of .mr subject and 
the youngest brother in his father's family, 
was born in Northampton Count\% Pennsylva- 
nia, and married Judutli Erdman, who was 
born March 15, 1808, and died June 15, 1891, 
aged eighty-three yearsand three months. They 
were the parents of eleven children, eight of 
whom grew to maturity, and all are now living 
in Nebraska. John G. Bruner died at West 
Point, January 19, 1886, aged eighty-three 
years, six months and twenty-six days. The wife 
of Mr. Uriah Bruner was the daughter of Solo- 
mon Brobst, who died October 2, 1865, aged 
lifty-four years. The names of the children of 
.John (i. Bruner and wife are as follows : Car- 
oline Mohr, of Arlington, Nebraska; Uriah, 
the subject of this sketch ; Kate E., wife of Jolin 
Itilcy, of Schuyler. Nebraska; Belle, wile of 
Jacob Schwartzlander, of Omaha ; Prof. James 
B., formerly principal and superintendent of the 
Omaha schools, where he still resides ; Charles 
E., who enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment, 
served with honor and is now a real estate 
dealer at Omaha and a member of the city 
council ; John J., a government store-keeper at 
Nebraska City, was also a sold ier from Pennsyi 
vania,and wassercvely wounded at the Battle of 
the Wilderness ; Thomas C, real estate dealer 
at Omaha, who was a soldier in the Civil War, 
]iarlicipating in the battles of Antietam and 
(iettysburg, doing valiant service. The fatiier 
of this family, John (\. Bruner, was a man of 
more than ordinary ability. In 1856 he left the 
I )enioci'atic party, of which he was a member, 
and was a presidential elector for Fremont on 
the Republican ticket, but in 1860 he returned 



o the Democratic party. He settled at Omah a 
in 186-t, and subsequently at West Point, where 
he died. 

Oursul)ject's early life was spent in his native 
count}', where he received a common school 
education, after which he attended an academv 
and followed school teaching for a time. In 
1853 he entered the law oiHce of Elisha Forrest, 
and was admitted to the Bar August 30, 1855. 
The year 1852 marked a new era in his life, for 
it was during that year he chose a life com- 
panion in the person of Miss Amelia Brobst, born 
in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, September 21, 
1832. May 6, 1856, Mr. Bruner, following the 
advice of his own judgment, came West, land- 
ing in what is the city of Omaha upon that da}'. 
He hung out his law shingle in the place which 
then had only about fifteen hundred popula- 
tion. Two years later he pre-empted a farm 
west of the post-ofHce, which he improved and 
finally sold for six thousand dollars. While upon 
this place he also operated a grocery store in 
Omaha, and was one of the company to build 
the first grist-mill west of the Missouri Iliver 
and noi'th of the Platte ; iie and John D. Neligh 
constructed the first mill dam across the Elk- 
horn River. In 1869 he was made receiver of 
tiie United States Land Office, and in 1870 
moved his family to West Point, where he, in 
company with Joiin I). Neligh and Frank Kipp, 
opened tin; lii'st bank, which was subscciuently 
succeeded by the West Point National P>ank. 
He held the position of receiver for four years, 
and was employed in the National land office 
at Washington for two years, but for the jiast 
sixteen years has been entirely engaged in the 
])rosecution of the legal profession, lie has a 
large, well selected law library, takes the poj)- 
ular law journals and keeps himself thoroughly 
posted in regard to all legal matters. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party, and in religious matters the 
Bruner family have long l)een identified with 
the Lutheran Church. 

Our subject and his wife, are the parents of 
ihc following children : Amelia Phoneta, born 



394 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



June 21, 1854, wife of James Monroe; Law- 
rence, born March 2, 1850, now a professor of 
the State University, teachin;^ etymology ; 
Edgar G., born February 4, 1858; Iludson F., 
born October 23, 1859; Ida M, born October 
12, 1S61, wife of J. J. King, superintendent of 
the West Point Creamery : Lillie C, born Feb- 
ruary 29,1864; Ellen Judith, born November 
21, 1868; Frank T., born October 4, 1870, died 
November 8, 1874 ; Amy C, born February 18, 
1875. Ellen and Amy are at present attending 
the Nebraska State University. 

Great has been the transformation in 
Nebraska, since Mr. Bruner became a resi- 
dent, for then all was wild and new, and he 
has lived to see counties organized, villages 
and cities spring up, and a Territory become 
one of the foremost States in the Union, while 
a network of railroads cross and re-cross each 
other, penetrating ever}' nook and corner of 
the great commonwealth. To meet this pio- 
neer is but to be inipi'cssed with the fact that 
you are in the presence of a true gentleman, 
and who counts his friends throughout the 
Elkliorn Vallev bv the one word legion. 



ANDREW R. ISAACSON, a farmer 
residing on Section 8, Wisner township, 
Cuming County, was born near Ogden, 
Utah, January 11, 1864. lie is a son of 
Andrew G. and Christena Isaacson, the for- 
mer a native of Sweden, who came to America 
in • 1862. His death occurred at Ewing, 
Nebraska, April 4, 1891. His wife now 
resides at Bliss, Nebraska. They had six 
children : one (Mrs. Newbigging), besides our 
subject who lives in Wisner township. 

When our subject was a lad of seven sum- 
mers, jthe family removed to Omaha, and in 
1882 to Wisner township, and purchased a 
farm. AVliile in Omalia, he successfully 
learned tiie carpenter's and bricklayer's trade. 
In 1887, he purchased a farm in Slanton County, 
and two years later returned to Wisner, and in 
1891 purchased his present farm, where he 



makes a specialtv of raising Poland China 
hogs and cross bred Durham and Jersey 
cattle. _ 

lie was married February 5, 1889, to Annis 
PufTer, by which union one child has been 
born : Ransom. 

Politically, he of whom we write this notice 
affiliates with the Republican party, and in 
religious matters he is a member of the Pres- 
byterian Church. 



HUGH RILEY, a faimer of Section 2, 
Logan township, of Cuming County, 
was born in Philadelphia. When five 
years of age his parents moved to Dubuque, 
Iowa, where ho lived until 1881, when he came 
to Cuming County and stopped south of Pan- 
croft, in Garfield township, and there woiked 
for three years upon land which he sold for $20 
per acre, and then pui-chased 160 acres of wild 
land, where he now lives. In 1888 he built a 
story and one-half frame house, set out a small 
orchard and a grove of two acres. He now has 
100 acres under cultivation and the remainder 
in pasture and hay land. 

Our subject was united in mai-riage in 1869 
to Mar}' A. Sweenev, by whom nine children 
have been born: Michael, Alice, James, Mary 
A., Margaret, Emma, Susie, Agnes and Ilugli P. 

Our subject's father and mother were natives 
of Ireland, and emigrated to this country in 
1848. They first stopped at Philadelphia for 
one and one-half veais, and then moved to the 
pineries of northern Wisconsin. After three 
years they removed to Iowa, in which State 
ihey died. They reared a family of six chil 
dren, our subject being the oldest. The follow- 
ing is their order: Hugh, Anna (deceased), 
Mary, Mathew, John and Maggie. 

Mrs. Riley's parents came from Ireland to 
this country at an early day and settled in 
Iowa. They are now both deceased. They had 
a family of live children : Mary, Agnes, Susan, 
Ellen, Martin (deceased). Our suhjoc-t's wife 
also had a half brother, Louis, and a half sister. 
Katie, 




c^-l;%Sf^.^^^^-^t^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



307 



Among the losses sustained by our subject 
since coming to Nebraska maj^ be named nearly 
one hundred head of swine, wliich died of chol- 
era in ISS-i-So, and the loss of his wheat ciop 
in 188S by black rust. 

Politically, he is a Democrat, and he with his 
family belong to the Eoman Catholic Church. 



ALLEN D. BEEMER, proprietor of the 
town site bearing his name in JBeemer 
township, Cuming County, is a native 
of Pennsylvania, born near Scranton, December 
19, 18i2. He is the son of Elias and Phoebe 
(Allbright) Beemer. The great-great-grand- 
father of our subject was a native of Germany, 
came to America and settled in Sussex County, 
New Jersey, about 1770. His death occurred 
a few years later. Henry Beemer, the grand- 
father of our subject, married Mary Spangen- 
burgh, a native of Holland, who settled near 
Scranton in 1819, his death occurring in 18()3, 
at the age of eighty-one 3'ears. He opened up 
a large farm in that vicinity and reared a fam- 
ily of ten children: Elias, Alexander, Jane 
(Mrs. J. Milton), Mattie (Mrs. W. Philo), 
Jesse, Adam, Lucelta (Mrs. PL Collen), Siilney, 
Lydia (Mrs. D. Place) and Amsi. Of these 
children three now reside in Lee County, Illi- 
nois, one (Mrs. Philo) in Ohio, and the others 
in Pennsylvania. Elias Beemer still resides on 
his farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania. 

Mrs. Phoebe Beemer was born at Barton, 
New York. Her grandfather was a native of 
Germany. Elias Beemer's children are : Allen 
D., Jennie (Mrs. D. Llollister), George, Horace, 
now of Laramie City, Wyoming; Ella (Mrs. 
William llollister), Samuel and Oakley. 

Of these all except Horace and Allen reside 
near the old homestead. 

Allen D., the subject of this sketch, received 
a limited education. He remained on his fa- 
thers farm until seventeen years of age, when 
the Civil War broke out, and August 31, 1801 
he enlisted in Company K of the Eleventh 
Pennsylvania Cavalrv. He was promoted 



from corporal to sergeant September 1, 1864, 
and was mustered out with his company 
August 13, 1865. Of the company of one hun- 
dred and three men to which he belonged, only 
a few returned. Our subject took part in the 
battles of Seven Pines, Cold Harbor, sieges of 
Petersburg and Richmond; was at Appomattox 
and many other engagements. At Black 
Water he received a saber wound in the right 
knee. After the close of the war Mr. Beemer 
kept a hotel at Franklin, Pennsylvania, and a 
livery stable at Scranton. In 1868 he came to 
Nebraska, spent one year in traveling about 
the state, and the following year located at 
West Point, where he engaged in the hotel 
business as proprietor of the West Point House, 
and later the Neligh Hou-se. He also dealt in 
grain and live stock. In 1885 he removed to 
Beemer (which was named in his honor) and 
began to deal in real estate. The present vil- 
lage has all been built upon land which he 
owiuid at that time. The bank building, print- 
ing office, hotel and livery barn were built by 
him. 

Our subject is an enthusiastic Republican, 
and was elected sheriff of Cuming County for 
four years— fronv 1880 to 1884. He has also 
filled numerous town and local offices, always 
taking a lively interest in public enterprises. 
He is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- 
public, the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and 
Odd Fellows fraternities. He is now past 
master of the local Masonic Lodge and belongs 
to the Knight Templars Commandery at Fre- 
mont. 

He of whom we write tliis notice was united 
in marriage November 19, 1874, to Miss Belle 
Ackerlev, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, daughter 
of Isaac and Mary (Leach) Ackerley. She re- 
ceived her education in the public schools and 
Belvidere and Kingston colleges. Their home 
has been blessed by three children: Romey 
(deceased), Luree, and Alleene (deceased). 

Mr. Beemer is a courteous gentleiiuin and a 
capalile successful business man who commands 
the respect of a large circle of acquaintances 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



His executive ability lias been manifested in 
Cuming County upon more than one occasion 
in the past. In Jlr. Beemer the Keystone 
State sent forth a son who wore the loyal blue 
as a solilier, and one who in times of peace is a 
valuable acquisition to any community. 

WILLIAM RINGER, one of the repre- 
sentative farmers of Wisner town- 
ship, Cuming County, whose farm 
home is on Section 28, was born at Stargadt, 
Pommern, January 28, 1836. He is a son of 
William Ringer. His mother died when he 
was but two weeks old. Of his parents' eight 
sons, one (Albert) now resides at Omaiia, and 
another (Edward) at Neligh, Nebraska. When 
a small bov our subject began Avith his father 
working at brick-making. In 1872 he came to 
West Point and engaged as a laborer. His 
first work was done in helping to build the 
court-house. The following 3'ear he home- 
steaded a quarter-section of land in Wisner 
township, the same being his present farm. 
He built a small log-house and began to make 
improvements, altiiough he possessed but five 
dollars in money and had no team. His first 
and third crops were destroyed by grasshop- 
pers, but he was not the kind to be disheart- 
ened, but kept pressing onward, believing 
that deliverance would come. He now owns 
four hundred and eighty acres of choice land, 
with good improvements and all well stocked. 
His present residence was built in 1881, of 
brick, which he burned on his farm ; for seven 
years he carried on a brick-yard, from the pro- 
duct of which many neighboring buildings 
were wholly or partially constructed. 

Our subject was united in marriage Januarj' 
2. 1802, to Anna Fink. They have ten living 
children: William, Charles, Gustave, Augusta 
(Mrs. J. Wagner), Amelia (Mrs. W. Winke), 
Emil, Henry, Theodore, Ofto and Bertha. 

Politically, Mr. Ringer afiiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters is 
connected with the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church. 



REV. J AS. P.. FITZGERALD, rector of 
St. Patrick's Church at Fremont, was 
born in Java, Wj'oming County, New 
York, December 22, 18-^8. His jjarents were 
John and Elizabeth (Kinney) Fitzgerald, na- 
tives of King's County, Ireland, the former 
emigrating to America in 1830, and the latter 
one year later. Both landed at Quebec and 
went from there to New York Cit\', wheie 
after three years they were married bj' Father 
Hughes, afterwards Archbishop of New York. 
Going thence to New l!runswick, N. J., they 
spent two years at that place, removing then 
to Java, New York, at a time when that 
neighborhood w<\s an almost inaccessible will 
derness. Java is located about thirty-five 
miles from Buffalo, which at the time of Rev. 
Fitzgerald's birth was but a small village. A 
priest from New York City visited the place 
yearly, and Irish emigrants soon filled that 
part of Wyoming County. Our subject is of a 
family of thirteen children, all of whom lived 
to be adults. Their names are : Edward, John, 
Mary, Anna, Thomas, Daniel, William, James 
B., Francis, Lizzie, Christopher, Joseph and 
Teresa. Of these John, Thomas, James B. 
and Christopher have been ordained priests 
and are all living. The father of our subject 
died in 1891, aged 85 years, the mother having 
died in April, 1879. 

Father Fitzgerald attendeil the public school 
at Java, New York, until his seventeenth yeai', 
and then for four years prior to entering 
college, he lived in Iowa and Nebraska. He 
finished his college life at St. Joseph's college, 
Bardstown, Kentucky, excepting one 3'ear at 
Niagara University. He studied theology at 
St. Thomas Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky, 
and was ordaineil there I^July 1880, by Rt. 
Rev. W. Geo. McCloskey. 



HERMAN SCIIULZKUMP, JR., whose 
farm home is on Section 28. Cuming 
township, came to Cuming County in 
June, ISOf), in com|>any with his parents, who 
locatetl four miles south of West Point, ivhere 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



the fatlier took a liomestead of eighty acres, 
and there built a log-cabin and the customary 
straw stable. After four years the fatlier sold 
that place and located on Cuming Creek and 
our subject remained at home until twenty- 
eight years of age, when his father gave him 
one hundred acres, comprising part of the farm 
he now occupies. It was partly improved, to 
which he has made valuable additions. lie now 
has three hundred acres of land in all, two 
hundred being in cultivation. 

He of whom we write was born in Germany, 
October, 1854:, the son of Herman and Caroline 
Scliulzkump, he being their only child. He 
remained in his native land until eleven years 
of age, when his parents emigrated to Balti- 
more and on up to Omaha by way of St. Louis, 
and from that place to West Point. 

He was m;irried May. 1878 to Louisa Edier, 
daughter of John P. and Mary A. Elder, natives 
of Germany, whose three children were: John 
P.. Jr., Elizabeth and Louisa. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schulzkump are the pai'ents of 
four children, born as follows : Elizabeth, Jan- 
uary 19, 1879; John D., February 2, 1881; 
Frederick. June 13, 1S8G, and Lillie, May -1, 
1890. 

He and his wife are members of the Lutheran 
Chui'ch. 

Politically he is a Republican, has assessed 
his township and is its present school director. 



JAMES M. DOTY, whose farm is situated 
on Section IG, township 24, Stanton 
County, in what is known as Humbug 
precinct, came to that locality in the 
spring of 1885, located on a half section of wild 
land upon which he placed substantial improve- 
ments, including a farm house, twenty-four feet 
scjuare, one story high. He also set a grove of 
three acres, provided wells, etc. Subsequently 
he added one hundred and sixty acres moi'c to 
his hind and now has three hundred and 
thirty acres under cultivation. In the summer 
of 1891 bail destroyed nearly his entire crop. 



Mr. Doty is a native of Johnson County, 
Iowa, where he was born December, 1857. His 
parents, Luther and Mary Doty, natives of 
Ohio, had si.x children: Mesinna (deceased), 
Sarah, James ?J., Truitian E., i\[iniiie and 
Ertel C. 

James M. remained with his imrents until 
twentv-two years of age and tiien removed to 
Pottawattamie Count}'. This was in 1876 ; and 
he engaged in farming and continued nntil he 
came to Nebraska. 

He of whom we write this notice was united 
in marriage January, 2G, 1881, to Nettie, 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Sim])son, 
natives of New York, whose eight children 
weiie : Nicholas, Emmet, Euretta, Elnora, John, 
Albert, Nettie and Grace. 

Mr. and Mrs. Doty are the jiarents of three 
children: Ivan, born March 31, 1882; Glen, 
born January IS, 1S91, and Lloyil. born A])ril 
23, 1892. 

Mr. Doty affiliates with the Independent 
party, and belongs to the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows. 

IRA BURNIIAM, a farmer of Section 1, 
Humbug precinct, came to Stanton County 
in the spring of 18SG, and first rented land 
near Pilger, l>ut after five years j)urchased the 
farm he now occupies, which at the time con- 
sisted of eighty acres of wild land, upon which 
he made good improvements, including a good 
class of buildings. In 1889 he had the misfor- 
tune to have his house, together with the con- 
tents, all burned, saving nothing but a sewing 
machine, a feather bed and two ('hairs. 

Mr. Purnham is a native of Iowa, born in 
Dallas County, April G, 1855, the son of Abra- 
ham and Lydia A. Burnham, natives of Tennes- 
see and Kentucky', respectively. Their ten chil- 
dren were as follows: William N., Precilla, 
James, Albert, Alexander, Martha, Ira, Mary. 
Alvin and Edwin. 

Mr. Burnham lived in the " Hawkcne" Stale 
until 1878. Then he went to Kansas and en- 
gaged in farming for live years, when he be- 



400 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



came convinced that Kansas was not suited for 
successful farm life. So he returned to Iowa, 
farmed one year, went to western Nebraska, 
remained four \'ears, and then came to Stanton 
County. 

He was united in marria<^e February 5, 
187G, to Julia E. Ilichey, daughter of Andrew 
and Sarah J. Richey, natives of Indiana, whose 
two children were Maliakia and Julia E. The 
latter was born in Guthrie County, Iowa, De- 
cember 21, 18.59. 

Mr. and Mrs. Burnliam are the parents of two 
children : Nora, born August 2, 18S0 , Alpha, 
born January 27, 1882. 

Not fully agreeing with either of the two 
great political jiarties of the country, our sub- 
ject casts an independent ballot, believing that 
a reform is necessary'. 



JOHN JAIINKE, one of the highly re- 
spected citizens of Logan township, Cum- 
ing County, where he owns six hundred 
and thirty acres of land, was born in 
Germany, December 28, 18il, and in 1867 em- 
igrated to America. He came as far West as 
Iowa, and worked the first 3'ear on a farm and 
at railroading; after which he went to Omaha, 
remained a short time and located a homestead 
of a quarter section in Logan township, Cuming 
County, Nebraska. He still continued to work at 
various things to secure moans enough to work 
his place. He bought a half interest in an ox team 
and commenced to break his land. He made a 
dug-out — a sort of a combined log and sod 
house — in which he lived two years, and then 
built a frame house 14x16 feet, in which he 
lived until he built his present residence. He 
has a good barn and other out-buildings. He 
has an orchard of two acres and a four acre 
grove. 

Mr. Jahnke was nuirried in 1871, to Phillipena 
Ilaynes. by whom nine ciiildivn have been born, 
who are aged as follows: Charley, nineteen 
years; Minnie, eighteen years; Juliana (de- 
ceased), John, sixteen \'ears; lleni-y, thirteen 



years ; Mary, twelve years ; Dora, ten years ; 
Christian, nine years; William, seven years, 
and Anna, four years. 

His father and mother, natives of German}', 
are both deceased. Joiin was their only child. 

His wife's parents are still living in Germany. 
His wife has two sisters and one brother in this 
countrv. In her father's family the children 
were: Valentine, Juliana, Margaretta and 
Minnie. 

Politically, he of whom we write this sketch 
is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, 
and. the entire family are members of the 
Lutheran Church. 

During Mr. Jahnke's residence in Nebraska, 
he has met with some reverses, including the 
loss of five or six crops from I87I to 1877, 
when the grasshoppers paid s]iecial attention to 
harvesting grain on short notice ! He also lost 
over two hundred head of swine within three 
3'ears, also cattle b}' black smut on the corn 
stalks ; but all in all, he has made a success 
since coming to Nebraska, and is now in pos- 
session of a good home, and is counted among 
the honorable citizens of Cuming County. 



HERMAN KOCII, of Cuming County, 
whose farm home is situated on Sec- 
lion IC, township 21, range 6, in what 
is known as Sherman township, was born in 
German}', April 23, ISGO, and accomi)anied his 
parents to America in 1869. They landed in 
New York and came direct to Nebraska, his 
father locating on school land for which he 
]iaid seven dollars per acre. The father re- 
mained on this place until his death February, 
14, 1889. The mother is living witli our sub- 
ject. 

Our subject's parents' names were Fred and 
]\Iaria Koch, who were married in Germany in 
lS4-f, and reared a family of eleven children: 
Fred, Ferdinand, August, Louisa, John, Henri- 
etta, Frank, Augusta, Amelia, Herman and 
Emma. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Herman, the youngest son, remained on tlie 
farm of three hundred and sixty acres, origi- 
nally located b\' his father. The farm house is 
a story and one-half structure 21x32 feet, the 
first and only one built in this country by his 
father. The lumber in this building was 
haulod from Fremont witli an ox team, and it 
consumed nearly one whole summer to draw 
the material, and each trip required a week's 
time. The lumber cost fifty dollars per thou- 
sand feet, and the cost of the house was 
twelve hundred dollars. This farm has now 
one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation ; 
it has fifteen acres of timber and a good bear- 
ing orchard. 

Mr. Koch was united in mariiage, Ma\' 20, 
1888, to Louisa Thiemke, by whom two chil- 
dren were born : Lillian and Lla. 

llis wife's parents were born in Gei'manyand 
came to America in 18G8 and are still living in 
Sherman township. 

Politically, Mr. Koch is in sj'mpathy with 
tiie Democratic party, while he and his family 
are members of the Lutheran Church. 

Perhaps the greatest hardships endured by 
this family, as well as other early settlers, was 
during the grasshopper plague, early in the 
seventies, when mucli of their croi)s were de- 
sti'oyed. 

GEORGE BPJGGS, a highly respected 
farmer of Logan township, residing on 
Section 21, came to Dodge County in 
the autumn of 1864, and first located on the farm 
where he now lives. At that time it consisted 
of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, 
lie built a log house, 16x18 feet, in which he 
lived five years, and then built a frame house, 
23x32 feet, with numerous additions, also a good 
barn, stablmg and cribs. lie provided his place 
with a good well of water, to which was at- 
tached a wind-wheel. A six-acre grove was 
planted and an orchard of one hundred trees. 
He has since added to this land until he now 
has six hundred and forty acres, two hundred 
and fift3'-five of which is under the plow. Dur- 



ing his residence in Dodge County he has seen 
vast changes and undergone many hardships. 
Many a thrilling incident he relates during the 
visitation to the country of the grasshoppers. 

George Briggs was born in Vermont, Octo- 
ber, 1831. He is a son of Asa and Sarah Briggs, 
natives of the Green Mountain State, whose 
eight children were as follows : Clark, Amelia, 
Daniel, Lydia, Artemesia, Esther, Anson, and 
George. 

When he was two years of age his [)arents 
went to Kalamazoo County, Michigan, and 
remained there eighteen years. Our subject 
then went to California, into the mining coun- 
try, followed that and teaming three years ; 
then went to Oregon, where he remained but 
one year. We next find him in California, then 
in Michigan, and at last in Mills County, Iowa, 
where he broke prairie and farmed for five 
years, and then came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. He was married, March, 1858, to Hen- 
rietta, daughter of Henry and Arminta Dubois, 
natives of Ohio, our subject's wife being their 
only child. 

By this union four children were born : Clar- 
ence and Bertha, two dying in infanc}'. 

When Clarence was about fourteen years of 
age he and a neighbor boy were out hunting 
and his comrade accidentally shot him through 
the arm, by reason of which it had to be 
amputated. 

Politically, our subject, like every other in- 
telligent American citizen, has a choice in par- 
ties, he favoring the Republican. He belongs 
to the Hooper Masonic Lodge No. 72, and 
stands high in the communitv in wliich he lives. 



CHARLES R. OGILVIE, of the firm of 
Cusack & Ogilvie, dealers in coal and 
agricultural implements at North Bend, 
came to Dodge County in April, 18G8, and 
engaged as a section hand on the Union Pacific 
Railroad and followed this for two years, and 
was then made boss for one year at Aspin, 
Wyoming. He then came back to this part of 



402 



NORTHEAS 



■/ern 



NE BR A SIC A. 



Nebraska ami was at Valley for about ten 
years, where he had charge of a section. Prior 
to his going to Wyoming he spent two years 
on the Korthern Pacific Road, working on the 
grade between Duluth and Bismark. After 
his work in Wyoming he came to North Bend, 
wiiich was in the fall of 1885, when he engaged 
in the newspaper business on the North Bend 
Fla'd in jiartnership with C. W. Hyatt. He 
sold his interest in this paper in 1887, and man- 
aged the Farmers' Elevator at North Bend one 
year, then clerked one year in the agricultural 
business for John Cusack, at tiie end of whicli 
time he bought a half interest in the business. 

Charles K. was born August 1, 1844, in 
Scotland, the son of James and Margaret 
(Cram) Ogilvie, both natives of Scotland. 
AVhen our subject was ten years of age he had 
to work out at herding cattle and other work, 
receiving about fifteen dollars per year. He 
continued until he was twenty -two years of age, 
when he was earning one hundred dollars per 
yeai-. But believing there were better things 
in store for him he sailed for America in the 
fall of 1867, and went to Chillicothe, Missouri, 
where he worked on a section of the Hannibal 
& St. Joseph Railroad, remaining until March, 
1868, and then came to North Bend, Nebraska. 

He was married at Columbus, Nebraska, 
October 2, 1877, to Miss Maggie Gil lis, daugh- 
ter of John and Mary Gillis, both natives of 
Scotland. 

JAMES E. ROBEIiTSON, manager of the 
Hershey Stock Ranch, in Cotterell town- 
ship, forms the principal subject of this 
sketch. This ranch consists of three 
thousand, six hundred and forty acres of land. 
The residence, barns ami feed lots are on Sec- 
tion 35, while the granary and corn-cribs are 
located on Section 36. The cattle barn is 30 
xl20 feet, with eighteen-foot jiosts. The horse 
barn is 32x00 feet, with sixteen-foot posts. 
There is shedding I'oi' ihrce tiiousand head of 
cattle and during tiic winter of 1891-2 they 
were feeding thirteen hunilrcd head of cattle 



and had on hand fifty head of horses. They 
raise most of their own stock, having two hun- 
dred pure-bred Hereford cows, while the bal- 
ance are high grades. Five hundred acres of 
this ranch are un<ler cultivation and the 
balance is in pasture and meadow land. The 
pasture contains two thousand acres. They 
cut two thousand, five hundred tons of hay 
annually. The ranch is ]irovided with one of 
the best farm houses in the country. This es- 
tablishment was started about 1880. Mr. Her- 
shey had owned an interest in the land for 
some time prior. James E. Robertson, the 
present manager, took charge of the ranch in 
the spring of 1891, and has full charge of 
ever3^thing about the premises. Abut a dozen 
men are employed throughout the j-eai-. 

Of our subject's personal history it may be 
said that he was born in Fayette County, Iowa, 
March 13, 1853, the son of James E. and Eliz- 
abeth J. (Alexander) Robertson. The father 
was a native of Kentucky and the mother of 
Indiana. Our subject remained at home until 
he was twenty-one years of age, and then 
taught school two years. 

He was united in marriage in his native 
county November 13, 1878, to Emma M. Bent, 
who is the daughter of Hon. C. R. and Elenor 
(Robinson) Bent. The father was a native of 
New York and the mother of Indiana. Mr. 
and Mrs. Robertson's parents are both pioneers 
of Fayette County, Iowa, his parents coming 
there in the fall of 1849 and are still residents. 
Her parents settled in Fayette County about 
1855 and died there in 1884. Our subject and 
his wife are the parents of one child : Caribell, 
born April 12, 1880. 

Mr. and Mrs. Robertson are both members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politi- 
cally he is identified with the Republican ]>arty. 

JOHN W^ STEVENSON, proprietor of the 
North Bend Nursery, who established 
his business in 1882, came to Dodge 
County, in the spring of 1879, and 
engaged in the sale of nursery stock for a 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



403 



firm in Illinois. But after being here for some 
time, be concluded he would engage in busi- 
ness for himself, and now has thirty acres 
planted to nursery stock. 

Mr. Stevenson was born in Muskingum 
County, Ohio, February 14, 1843, the son of, 
James and Elizabeth (Wallace) Stevenson, both 
natives of Ireland. In 1856, he came to Dela- 
ware County, Iowa, in company with his 
]iarcnts, and remained there with them until he 
was twenty-five years of age. He received his 
education in common schools and Lenox Col- 
lege at Hopkinton, Iowa. In 1866, he left 
home and went to Xashville, Tennessee, where 
he was book-keeper in a wholesale millinery 
establishment, owned b}'^ Baird Bros., with 
whom he remained three years, and tiien 
engaged in the grain and lumber business at 
Sand Spring, Iowa, three years, during part of 
which time he was engaged in the mercantile 
business; he then moved to Hopkinton, Iowa, 
where he continued in the grain and mercantile 
business until 1876, when he sold out and 
engaged with Spaulding & Son, of Illinois, to 
sell nursery stock and employ agents; they 
being located at Springfield, Illinois. He 
remained with them until 1882, when he 
established his own business. 

He was united in marriage at Hopkinton 
Vl:\\ 27, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Marshall, 
daughter of Kobert and Elizabeth (Cort) Mar- 
shall, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Stev- 
enson was born in Pennsylvania, in 1850. Our 
subject and his wife are the parents of two 
children : Elsie P., born October 29, 1885, and 
Edna M., born January 10, 1887. 

Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are both members of 
the United Presbyterian Church at Nortli Bend. 

Politically, Mr. Stevenson affiliates with the 
Prohibition party, and was the candidate placed 
in the field by that party for county clerk, in 
the fall of 1 891. 

Mrs. Stephenson's mother is living with her 
at this time, her husbantl being deceased. Mr. 
Stevenson's parents died in Delaware County, 
Iowa, the father in 1872, aged about seventy- 



two years, and the mother in 1875, aged about 
seventy years. 

GEOPvGE WAGNER, JIl., one of the 
highly respected citizens of Hooper 
township, residing on Section 11, came 
to Dodge County in June, 1861, over three 
decades ago. He first located on the place he 
now occupies. He filed on Government land, 
and at once commenced improving it ; he 
built a log house 16x20 feet, in which he lived 
for thirteen years, and then built his present 
residence. His farm is supplied with a good 
class of buildings through out , it also has a fine 
orchard of two hundred trees, and a good grove, 
which he planted at an early day. He now 
has six hundred and forty acres of land, one- 
half of which is under cultivation. He has 
lived on this place continually, since he 
effected his settlement in 1861. In October, 
1862, he enlisted in Company A Second 
Nebraska Cavalry under Captain Peter S. 
Reed, and was mustered in at Florence ; 
served in the Border campaign eleven 
months and was discharged at Omaha, after 
eleven months. It was his ill fortune to live 
in the country during tiie grasshopper years, 
and as a consequence saw many hardships. 

George, Jr., was born in Germanv, in June, 
1836 ; his parents were George and Christena 
Wagner, natives of Germany, whose five 
children were: Christena (deceased), George 
Jr., AVilliam, August, Rosa. 

He of whom we write remained in Germany 
until fifteen years of age, when he in company 
with his parents came to America. They landed 
in New York, and from there went te Cleve- 
land, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's 
trade. In 1856 the family moved to Wiscon- 
sin, and remained there until they moved to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. He received a 
common school education. 

He was united in mari'iage in August, 1864, 
to liosa Uehling, daughter of John and Eliza, 
Uehiing, natives of Germany, whose fourteen 
children were: Margaret, Andrew Eliza, 



404 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Odelia (deceased), Oswald, Barbara, Cliristena, 
Kosa, John. Martin, Elizabetli, Frederick, Hen- 
rietta (deceased), Catiianne. 

Oiir subject and his wife have tiie following 
children : Eliza (deceased), born May 8, 1865 ; 
Edmund, born June 12, 1807 ; Rosa, born 
August 21,1869 ; John, born April 7, 1872; 
Albert, born October 3, 1874 ; Louis, born Jan- 
uary 12, 1877 ; George, born October 7, 1879; 
Franklin, born March 0, 1882 ; Ciiarles, born 
December 6, 1884. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wagner are members of tlie 
Lutheran Churcli and i)olitically he believes in 
the principles of the Democratic party. 



GEOIIGE F. WOLZ is the proprietor of a 
restaurant and bakery at 530 Main 
Street, Fremont, the successor to C. 
Baldufif, who established the business in 1872. 
He has owned the institution since 1882. The 
first tiii-ee years, however, he was a partner of 
W. S. lialdulF, now of Omaha. Mr. Wolz suc- 
ceeded Balduff & Wolz, as the firm was called, 
and has conducted it from that time since 
alone, and in a very able manner. He keeps 
constantly in service three wagons, two for 
the bakery department and one for the fruit 
delivery. He has an extensive wholesale trade 
among the suri'ounding towns, both on the 
Elkhorn and Union Pacific railroads. ' He has 
been inci'easing his wholesale trade, until his is 
tlie largest of the kind found in Fremont. He 
is tiie only real caterer of the place, and dur- 
ing the heated term of the year he has an ex- 
tensive ice cream trade, over a large radius of 
country, and in the fall of 1891 Mr. Wolz 
added to his inisiness the manufacturing of 
Wolz Saiatoga Potato Chips, which have been 
so famous throughout the State, the li'ade on 
which is C(jnstantly growing. 

Mr. Wolz is a native of Philadelphia, Penn- 
sylvania, born December 30, 1S61. His ])arents 
ivere George and Christianna (I'asler) Wolz, 
who were of German descent. Our subject's 
father died during the War of the Rebellion, 



from sickness contracted during his service, 
while in the Union Army. Our subject was 
but three years of age when his father died. 
The mother is still living and resides in Fre- 
mont and is now the wife of C. EaldulT. 

George F. Wolz came to Fremont when but 
six years of age, hence the greater portion of 
his life has been spant in Dodge County. He 
received his education in the public schools at 
Fremont, and during his youthful days he was 
engaged as clerk in the establishment in which 
he later became owner. February 15, 1883, he 
was united in marriage to j\Laggie L. PfeifTer, 
who was also a native of Philadelphia. To 
them have been born two children : Ida, born 
April 4, 1885, and Laura, born January 14, 
1891. 

Mr. Wolz is a llepuljlican itt his political 
.belief. He is an honored member of Centen- 
nial Lodge No. 59, Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, of which he is past noble grand. He 
also belongs to Apollo Encampment No. 22, of 
which he is P. C. P.; Canton, Fremont, No. 
4, of which he is commandant ; belongs to the 
Daughters of Rebecca, is a member of Fre- 
mont Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M. ; Signet 
Chapter No. 9, Mount Tabor Commandery 
No. 8, Triumph Lodge No. 32, of the Knights 
of Pythias Order and Uniform Rank, Fremont 
Division, No. 21, Knights of Pythias, also a 
member of Pawnee Tribe No. 11, Independent 
Order of Red Men, of which he is K. of W., 
and is at present commandant of L. 1). Rich- 
ards Camp No. 5, S. of V. 

As a business man, our subject is a decided 
success, which may be verified by the state- 
ment that he commenced business when twenty 
years of age, without a dollar, purchasing his 
first stock and fixtures on time, and borrowed 
five dollars for change. To-day one finds him 
situateil in an elegantly arranged business 
house, with magnificent dining parlors, to 
which there seems to be a continuous How of 
customers. This, together with the large 
amount of goods he ships (hiily, to various 
parts of the countiT, gives him a lucrative busi- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



405 



ness. TLe building he occupies he owns, the 
same being a two stor\' structure one hundred 
feet in deptii. Pie employs nine persons to 
assist him in operating iiis business. His 
wortlu' lad}' has stood nobly by liim, in all his 
business career, giving a helping iiand where- 
ever she could work to the best advantage. 

Mr. Wolz is an exceptional business char- 
acter ; commencing before he had reached his 
majority, absolutely witiiout a dollar, but with 
cliaracter and ability, whicli secured him his first 
invoice of goods, he has gradually' grown into 
a large business within a few years. Indeed he 
is an example of what industi-ious and temperate 
habits will do for a young man, in this country, 
who has a will to do, and dare, in tiie prosecu- 
tion of a legitimate business calling. 



ELMElt WILLIAMS, cashier in the Llank 
of North Bend, was born in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, May 27, 1804, the 
son of Samuel and Susan (Seely) Williams, both 
natives of New York. They came to IJodge 
County about 1857 and settled on a farm in the 
northeast part of the county and spent the re- 
mainder of their days here. The fatlier died 
June 24, 1887, at the age of fifty -one years; 
tlie mother died July 29, 1881. They were the 
parents of two children : Herbert, born June 
21, 1855, and Elmer, born May 27, 1864. 

Our subject remained at home until the death 
of his father. In the fall of 1879 he went to 
Valparaiso to school, remained three 3'ears, 
came home in the spring of 1882, and the fol- 
lowing autumn engaged as a clerk with Dow- 
ling ifc Pui'cell, bankers, at North Bend ; 
n'lnained with them until the fall of 1883, when 
they sold out to the First National Bank, and 
our subject remained with that institution until 
March, 1884. During 1884 the IJankof North 
Bend was organized, and in April of that year 
he retired from the First National Bank to ac- 
cept a position as book-keeper in the new bank. 
He held this until April, 1886, when he was 
made cashiei'. 



April 6, 1886, he was married to Miss Laura 
E. Place, the daughter of W. II. and Lvdia 
Place. 

Laura E. (l'hic(-) Williams ilied at Xorlh 
Bend, December 3, 1887. They were the par- 
ents of one child : Helen M., born April 22, 
1887. 

Mr. Williams married for his second wife 
Miss Frances E. Dorsey, daughter of Jonathan 
and Elizabeth G. Dorsey. They were united 
at Galesburg, Illinois, January 15, 1890. She 
was born in Dodge County, Nebraska, Febru- 
ary 27, 1867, attended college at Galesburg, 
Illinois, and was there u|)on a visit when she 
was married. 

Mr. Williams votes with the Demo- 
cratic l^arty. He is a member of the 
Masonic Order, North Bend Lodge No. 119, 
and is also a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, North liend Lodge 
No. 163. 



JAMES R. YOUNG, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 11, of Union township, was born in 
Lake Country, Illinois, September 26, 
1850, the son of George and Ann Young. 
He accompanied liis parents to Dodge County, 
in 1856, and reuiained at home until 1877, when 
he married Sarah J. Hummel, the daughter of 
Elijah and Mariah (McClary) Hummel, both 
natives of New Jersey. Sarah J. (Hummel) 
Young was born in New Jersey, in 1844. Her 
parents died when she was quite small and she 
lived with an uncle— a Mr. Ilausel— in New 
Jersey, until she was about twenty years old, 
when she came to North Bend, Nebraska, 
where her sister, Mrs. Amanda Mitchel, lived, 
and with whom she made her home until 
she was married. Mrs. Mitciiel is now de- 
ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of 
the United Presbyterian Church at North 
Bend. 

An extended sketch of our subject's father 
appears elsewiiere in this work. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



MERNOLPH EBBERS,who owns eighty 
acres of land in Lincoln township, 
Cuming County, but whose residence 
is across the line in Colfax Count}', will form 
the subject of this notice. He was born in 
Germany in October, 1841, and came to Amer- 
ica in 1868 and worked on a farm in Illinois 
until 1871, during which year he took out his 
first naturalization papers. "We next find him 
at West Point, Nebraska, where he remained 
during the winter, and in the spring of 1872 he 
bought the land upon which lie now lives. He 
first lived in a shanty 12x20 feet, but in 1S87 
built a good story and one-half frame house ; 
also jirovided his ))lace with a good barn, gran- 
ary and outbuikiings. He has a good orchard 
and a five-acre grove. The eighty-acre tract he 
owns in Cuming County is not fenceil, but his 
home place is surrounded b\' a good wire fence. 

Mr. Ebbers was united in marriage in 1868 
to Rosina Rusteme\'er, to whom eight children 
were born : Mary, John, George, Maggie 
Cecilia, Josejih, Louisa, Pilamana. 

His parents were natives of Germany and 
are now both deceased. His wife's i)arents 
came from Germany in 1854. Tlie mother is 
deceased, and at present the father lives in 
I'olk County, Nebraska. 

The first few years after our subject came to 
Nebraska, Fremont and Schuyler were bis 
nearest market points, the trips being matle by 
ox teams in tliree days. The wagon roads at 
that time were simply trails crossing the prairie, 
and they were often mired in crossing lowland 
and streams. In 1873 his crops were destro3'ed 
by hail, and for tliree or four years in succession 
he lost nearly everything by grasshoppers de- 
stroying his crops. During the years 1883-84 
he lost a good horse team and 100 head of hogs. 
Before coming to this country he served four 
years in the German army, and was in the War 
from 1864 to 1806, and during the last year 
named was in an engagement which lasted 
twenty days, and sixty-nine men were lost from 
one company. During the last year and one- 
half of his army life he served as corporal. 



His family and himself are identified with 
the Roman Catholic Church. In politics he 
supports tiie man, instead of any political party 

WILLIAM U. H. JARKETT, a farmer 
located on Section 5, of Cuming town- 
ship, came to Cuming County in the 
fall of 1880 and first located on the farm he 
now occupies, which then consisted of a quarter 
section of partly improved land, to which he 
has added many good improvements, including 
a neat farm house, a dug well, with wind power 
attachment, an orchard of 100 trees and a beau- 
tiful artificial grove of five acres. He has 120 
acres under the i)iow, while the balance is in 
pasture and meailow land. The entire tract is 
surrounded with a good fence. 

William was born in Pennsylvania in April, 
1841, the son of Henry and Sallie Jarrett, na- 
tives of the Keystone State, who had six chil- 
dren : Harrison, Benjamin F., Winfield S. and 
three w-ho died in infancy. Our subject remained 
at home until he was twenty-one years of age, 
when he enlisted in Company A One Hundred 
and Seventy-Sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, 
under Captain Levi S. Schmoyer. He was 
mustered into service at Philadelphia and sent 
from there to AVashington, belonging to the 
Eighteenth Army Corps. He was in no regular 
engagements, and after one year was dis- 
charged. The next season he worked on a 
brick yard, after which he rented land until he 
came to Nebraska. His early advantages for 
an education were fair. 

He was united in marriage in May, 1806, to 
Emma Knauss, daughter of Equilic and Mary 
Knauss, natives of Pennsylvania, whose chil- 
dren were as follows : Isabella, Ellen, George, 
Fransisca, Emma, Oliver, Oscar, Robert,; Ida, 
Myra and Albert. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett ten childivn iiave 
been born : Carrie, Alfred, Herbert, Stella, 
Sallie, William, Emma, Ida, Freddy and Gertie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and in political matters he is 
a supporter of the Republican party. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



407 



One of the experiences which our subject re- 
lates, but does not care to pass tlirough again, is 
this: January 12, 188S, he went about one- 
half mile from home for a load of ha\', was 
caught out in a blizzard and had to remain all 
night, and as a result his right hand was frozen 
so badly that amputation of his fingers and 
thumb was necessary. 



JOHN E.DOUGLASS,cashier of the Union 
Valley Bank, of Madison, Nebraska, was 
born in Uniontown, Fayette County, 
Tennsylvania, October 19, 1838, of 
Scotch ancestry. His parents were Ephriam 
and Ellen M. (Young) Douglas. The mother 
was a daughter of John Young, a very promi- 
nent man of western Pennsylvania, He being 
judge of Westmoreland County for over thirty 
years. Bv this union there were fourchildren : 
Mary (deceased), who was the wife of Rev. 
William P. Euthrauff. They both died at 
Zanesville, Ohio. Margaret, died at Union- 
town, Pennsylvania, in 184:7. Ellen, married 
C. S. Demary, of West Point, Nebraska, where 
she died in 1876, leaving one child, a boy two 
years old (S. J. Demary), now residing in 
Ciiarlestown, N. II., and John E., the subject 
of this sketch. The father died in Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania, in 18-40, and the mother at 
Zanesville, Ohio, in 1874, and was taken to 
Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for interment in the 
Young family bui'ying ground. She was a 
member of the Episcopal Church. 

John E. was only two years old when his 
father died and he accoin])anied his mother to 
(ircensbui'g, Pennsylvania, when he was ten 
years of age, and attended the common 
schools of that place. About 1853 he went to 
Canton, Ohio, and attended tlu; high school 
and received a liberal education. At the age 
of eighteen he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- 
nia, and clerked in a wholesale and njtail trim- 
nung and millinery store, remaining with the 
lirm (John Orr & Co.) three years, in the 
spring of 1859 he went to Davenport, Iowa, 



where he was engaged in business, but owing 
to the hard times then jirevailing, did not meet 
with success. In the fall of 1860 he went to 
Fort Wa3'ne, Indiana, where he toc-k a jiosition 
with Townleys, DeWald & Bond, wholesale 
and retail dry goods store. 

In 1861, duiing the month of September, he 
enlisted in Simonson's Fifth Battery Indiana 
Volunteers ; was mustered into U. S. service at 
Indianapolis, Indiana, and after three months 
rendezvous they received theii' guns and were 
sent to Louisville, Kentucky, and from thereto 
Bacon Creek, Kentucky, where they went into 
winter quarters and were assigned to the divis- 
ion of troops under the command of General 
O. M. Mitchell. In the spring of 1862 he was 
with his battery on the Nashville campaign and 
from Nashville to Huntsville, Alabama, and 
then by the way of Stevenson and Bridgeport, 
Alabama, to Louisville, Kentucky, after Gen- 
eral Bragg. In the fight at Perryville (or 
Chaplin Hills) Kentucky, October 8, 1862, his 
division under command of General Rousseau 
took the brunt of the fight with a loss, in killed, 
wounded and cai)tured, of nearly one-half of 
their division. Then returned to Nashville, 
again entering winter quarters and remained 
until December 26, then on the Murfreesboro 
campaign and was in the Stone River fight, 
December 31, 1862, and January 1,2 and 3,1863; 
remained at Murfreesboro until July or August 
of that year; was with his battery in Johnson's 
Division Twentieth Corps, in the Chattanooga 
campaign ; was in the Chickainaugua fight 
September 19 and 20, 1863; went to Chattanoo- 
ga and remained until after the Mission Ridge 
fight. Battery was then transferred to the First 
Division Fourth Army Corps, and went into win- 
ter quarters near Cleveland, Tennessee. May 3, 
1864, started on the Atlanta campaign ; was in 
the engagements at Dalton, Resacca, Dallas, 
Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree 
Creek, Siege of Atlanta and the light at Jones- 
boi'o. After all the.se various campaigns he re- 
turned to Indianapolis and was discharged 
November 26, 1864 ; went to work at his old 



408 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



situation in Fort Wayne and remained three 
months, then went to Pittsburg and enlisted in 
Third Regiment Hancock's Veteran Corps. 
Was in camp near Wasliinuton when President 
Lincoln was assassinated; was on duty in 
Washington during the trial of the conspira- 
tors, and was discharged August, 1865. 

April, 18G6, he came to Nebraska and located 
in Sarpy County, and was engaged in burning 
lime for the Omaha maiket. In the spring of 
18G9 he went to West Point, Nebraska, where 
he formed a co-])artnersiiip with Uriah Bruner 
and John D. Neligh in general merchandising. 
In 1871 he went to Logan Vallo}', Burt County, 
and was engaged in farming until 1880. That 
3' ear he went to Madison, Nebraska, and for two 
years was engaged in putting up dwelling houses 
and storerooms for rent. In 1882 went into the 
Madison Count}' Savings Bank as assistant 
cashier; remained in that position until bank 
was sold to Wohlforil Bros. & Co. In August. 
1SS6, he took the position of cashier in the 
Union Valley Bank, which he still holds. 

He was united in marriage at West Point, 
Nebraska, in ISTI, to Mary Horsham, a native 
of England. 

Politically, Mr. Douglas is a Republican. 
He is a member of the Globe Lodge No. 113, 
of the Masonic Fraternity at Madison. Also 
belongs to the S. P. Chase Post No. 143, 
Granil Armv of tlieRei)ublic. 



PROF. GEORGE ALBERT GREGORY, a 
member of the faculty of Gates College, 
Neligh, Nebraska, and one of the pop- 
ular educators of the Slate, was born near 
Hillsdale, ]\ricliigan, November 19, 1851. His 
parents were George and Jane A. (Bross) 
Gregory. The father was born in Livingston 
County, New York, of American parents, 
while tiie mother, Mrs. J. A. Gregory, was 
born at Canandaigua, New York, her mother 
being a native of Holland. Mrs. J. A. Gregory 
died at Crete, Nebraska, October 16, 1881, and 
Mr. George Gregory now resides at Council 



Bluffs, Iowa. Our subject passed his youthful 
days on a farm near Hillsdale, Michigan, and 
when fourteen years of age the family moved 
to Middleville, Miciiigan, where he attended 
the district school and also took a course in 
telegraphy at Swensburg, and Robbins' Bus- 
iness College, of Grand Rapids. March 18, 
1874 he came West and located at Harvard, 
Nebraska, engaging in farming, and taught 
school winters with marked success. Two 
years later he entered Doane College, at Crete, 
Nebraska, graduating in 1882 from a scientific 
and normal course. July 5, of the same year, 
he came to Neligh and accepted a position as 
one of the first facult\' of Gates College. 
Later he was elected professor of mathematics. 
He is the onl}' teacher who has been with this 
educational institution from its start, and is 
still one of its instructors. He gives entire at- 
tention to school duties. He is treasurer and 
one of the trustees of the college. The pro- 
fessor was married December 16, 1884, to Miss 
Mar}' Matrassa Foss, daughter of S. R. Foss. 
of Crete, Nebraska. Mrs. Gregory was born 
in Grafton, New Hampshire, in 1858. She is 
a graduate of Doane College, Crete, Nebraska, 
and has been a member of the faculty of Gates 
College since 1881) as instructor of art. 

Both our subject and his wife are members 
of the Congregational Church. Tiie}' were 
largely instrumental in the erection of tiie 
church edifice anil are looked upon as among 
the most valuable and worthy people of Neligh. 

Politically, the professor favors the Prohi- 
bition party, but believes in good men for 
official positions irrespective of party lines. 



PATRICK IIAGERTY, a prominent busi- 
ness factor as well as the first settler at 
O'Neill, Holt County, has been a resident 
of that vicinity since the spring of 1876. He 
was the only person living on tlie jiresent town 
site for over two years. He took a homestead 
and timber claim, and also started the fiist 
general store of the place, the building being 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



409 



20x22 feet. His stock of goods was in the 
front part of the building and he kept bach- 
elor's hall in the rear part, using the entire 
building for three j'ears as a store, I'esidence 
and dwelling. He operated the store for ten 
years, sold out and in 1886 established a bank 
under the name of McClure, Hagerty & Gard- 
ner, known as the Elkhorn Valley Bank. In 
1888, McClure and Gardner dro]iped out of the 
firm. Our subject came to the county' \yith 
fifteen hundred dollars in money, and was here 
through the trying days of cowboy terror, and 
grasshopper raids. 

Mr. Hagerty was born in Ireland, October, 
1839, the son of John and Ella Hagerty, who 
had seven children. He remained in his native 
country until eighteen years of age and then 
came to America, worked by the month 
one year in New Jerse\', but made no perma- 
nent halt until he came to Holt County, 
Nebraska. 

He was married June 18, 1879, to Mary 
McGreevv, daughter of John and Bridget 
McGreevy. By this union six children have 
been born : Nellie, John, Mary, Agnes, Geneva 
aiui Paui. The famil}' belong to the Roman 
Catholic Church, and politically he is a Repub- 
lican. 



JAMES HECTOR MACKAY, M. D. one 
of the leading ph3'sicians of Madison 
County, residing at Madison, was born 
in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, Jan- 
uary 20, 1860. His grandfather Mackay was 
a soldier in the British Army, and served at 
Waterloo and under Packingham at New 
Orleans, and was wounded in the leg, the bullet 
fracturing the bone: He served nine years in 
Africa, colonizing Kaff'ers and Hottentots. He 
emigrate<l from Scotland after the battle of 
Waterloo and settled in Nova Scotia, upon land 
which he received for his army services. He 
married Miss Barbara Mackay, and by this 
union seven children were born : Adam, who 
settled in the wilds of Canada and was a 
pioneei' preacher, and widely known through- 



out Western Canada; William, who emigrated 
to California upon the discover}' of gold, an<l 
probably lost his life, as he was never heai'd of; 
Jessie, wife of Duncan Mackay, a jirominent 
banker of Carroll and Whiteside Counties, Illi- 
nois, where he died September 6. 1889, aged 
eighty-seven years ; James, who died in early 
manhood ; Henrietta, who married a Mr. 
Marsh, now residing in Nova Scotia. 

Donald, the father of our subject, mai'ried 
Miss Jane McDonald. Her mother was the 
daughter of Earl Sinclair, Earl of Caithness 
(for which, see British encyclopa'dias). Donald 
Mackay is an architect, still living in Nova 
Scotia. They were the parents of eight chil- 
dren : Donald, of Chicago, Illinois, a contractor 
and builder, who erected the Democratic Wig- 
wam in 1892 ; William, a farmer and miller in 
Nova Scotia; James H., subject of this sketch ; 
Esther D., matron of the Insane hosjiital at 
Augusta, Maine; Adam H., a wealthy mine 
owner in Alaska; Barbara, wife of Mr. Priest, 
of Vassal borough, Maine ; Mary J. and Charles 
are at home, residing in Nova Scotia. 

The Mackay family are of the Presbyterian 
faith. The Clans, Mackav and McDonald, were 
famous in the annals of the Scotch Highlands. 
They come of a long lived ancestry, the grand- 
father living to the age of one hundred and 
three years, while a sister of his lived to be one 
hundred and eight years old. 

Doctor Mackay, of whom we write this notice, 
left home at the age of fourteen years, received 
an academic education in Nova Scotia, and 
followed teaching for some time. In 1879 he 
came to Ilhnois, where he took a classical 
course at Lake Forest University. In 1884 he 
graduated at Hahnemann Medical College of 
Chicago, and soon after settled down to pi'actice, 
in Madison, Nebraska. 

He was marrieil in the auuunu of 1886, to 
Miss Sylvia S. Johnson, the daughter of S. N. 
and M. J. (Talman) Johnson, natives of New 
York, and of Old New England stock. The 
fatiier was of English and the mother of Irish 
descent. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. and Mrs. Mackay are the parents of one 
son : Donald, born at Madison, Nebraska, Octo- 
ber IS, 1889. 

The Doctor is a member of the National and 
State Medical Societies; member of the Med- 
ical Commission of the board of insanit}' of 
Madison County ; cit}' physician and local phy- 
sician for the Union Pacific Railroad Company. 
He is also editor of tiie Medical and Surgical 
Record of Nebraska. The same is on its fourth 
year of publication, and has a circulation of 
three thousand copies. The doctor is a fine 
classical scholar, s]ieaks German and his Gaelic 
mother tongue, which was tiie language of his 
ancestors. lie has a ver}' large medical prac- 
tice and is ]irominent in medical circles. In 
politics, he is a Democrat. 



WT. COIIEE, a farmer of Section 2. 
, rebbie township. Dodge Country, 
was born in Pennsylvania, February 
13, 1835. AVhen one year of age he went to Dela- 
ware and from there to Ohio, remained two 
years, after which he spentthree years in Indi- 
ana, and from there moved to Illinois and in 
1800 left tliat State and came to Nebraska, and 
worked si.x months in a saw-mill, at Reynolds 
Island. He si)ent another year at Forest Cit}', 
Nebraska, and then came to Section 2, of 
Pebble townsiiip, this being the autumn of 
18r>8. He had an ox team and a few head of 
cattle and lived in a sod house for about two 
years, then built a small frame house, in which 
he lived ten years, then built his present stor\' 
and one-half residence. 

Mr. Cohee was united in marriage, March 
16, 1866, to Maria Hall, who was born in Illi- 
nois. By this marriage union eight children 
have been born : J. C, Cora (deceased), 
Mable, Curtis, Calaway, Elmira, Delia and 
Newton. Our subject's father and mother both 
died in Illinois and were of English and Welsh 
descent. Our subject's wife's parents were both 
born in the United States and are both de- 
ceased. 



Mr. Cohee's farm now consists of three 
hundred and forty-three acres. It has a good 
orchard and an artificial grove of about ten 
acres. At the present time he has twenty-two 
head of cattle, six. head of horses and a span of 
mules. This farm joins the town site of Crowell. 

\Yhen a boy about eighteen years of age, our 
subject carried a survej'or's chain for Abraham 
Lincoln, in Illinois, he being a surveyor for Cass 
County. 

Politically, he has always been idenlilied 
with the Republican party. He was post- 
master, at Crowell, from 1877 until 1883, and 
then resigned in favor of J. J. King the present 
incumbent. 

In 1864, Mr. Cohee made a trip west, and 
when at Fort Kearney made a li'ip into 
Kansas on foot ; five months later returned to 
Illinois. 



HERMAN WOLSLEGER, a farmer of 
Section 21, located on a homestead in 
the si)ring of 1870. He went to Grand 
Island to Hie his claim. 

Our subject was born in Pi'ussia, Germany. 
December 12, 1846, and when fifteen years of 
age came to America, landing in New York, 
and from there going to Geneseo, Illinois, where 
he remained twenty months, and enlisted in the 
Union Arm\' as a member of the Ninth Illinois 
Cavalry, in 1864, and was discharged in the fall 
of 1865, being mustered out at Salem, Alabama. 
He fought at Tupelo, Mississippi, was at Nash- 
ville, and was under (ire nearly every day for 
one month. One William Ragsdale saved our 
subject's life by taking care of him while he was 
sick. He seemed to be a true soldier, but sub- 
sequently was found on the deserters' roll. 

In December, 1860, he drove a team through 
from Illinois to Fremont, and worked on the 
F. E. & M. Y. R. R. hauling ties. He was 
married February 18, 1871, to Klenanlina 
Schoenbechler, who was born in Switzerland, 
November 26, 1850, and came to this country 
in 1864. I)V this union ten children have been 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



411 



born: Henrietta, Katie, William J., Julius W., 
Emma, Lizzie, Carrie, Iila, Edward, Arthur. 

Polilically, Mr. Wolsleger affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters he is 
a Lutheran, and his wife belongs to the lioman 
Catholic Church. 

He is an honored member of the Odd Fellows 
Order, and belongs to the Grand Army of the 
liepublic. 

Among the improvements of his jilace may 
be mentioned a one-storj' house, a good barn 
and an orchard. lie now owns three hundred 
and sixty acres of land. At present he has 
eighty head of cattle and eighteen head of 
horses. In August, 1S90, our subject went to 
the village of Snyder and started a hardware 
store and harness shop, which business he still 
conducts. He also carries a full line of farm 
machinery. 

Our subject's father died in the old country. 
His mother came to America with him and died 
in Nebraska. Our subject's wife's father also 
(lied in the old country, and her mother died in 
Oregon, March 3, 1887. 



FRANCIS M. MOORHEAD, one of the 
pioneers of Stanton County, arrived in 
this part of Nebraska, October 14, 1869. 
He was born in Clinton County, Indiana, 
January 12, 1843. His grandfather Moorhead 
came from Ireland, and first settled in Penn- 
sylvania, but subsequently in Hamilton County, 
Ohio, where he reared his family. There were 
eight children, four sons and four daughters. 
The family finally moved to Clinton County, 
Indiana, where the grandfather died at the 
age of eighty-four years. 

William Moorhead, the third child, was born 
in Jackson township. Armstrong County, 
Pennsylvania, February 5, 18()6. He was 
married February 25, 1827, to Miss Rachel 
Berlew, born May 10, 1807. By this marriage 
union there were fourteen children born: John, 
November 30, 1827, now a resident of Kansas ; 
Jane, born June 9, 1829, and married John 



Waynscott. They are now both deceased ; 
Mary, born October 5, 1831, married William 
Wiley, a resident of Cincinnati : William, 
born March 18, 1833 (deceased); Elizabeth, 
born December 28, 1834, married Daviil Geer. 
She died in Indiana ; Henry B, born October. 
12, 1836. He was a member of the One Hun- 
dred and Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer In- 
fantry, and is now a resident of Kansas ; 
Rachel, born May 10, 1838, married Je.s.sy 
Lane, of Clinton Count\', Indiana; Richard, 
born October 28, 1839 ; he was a soldier in 
the War of the Rebellion, being a member of 
the Third Indiana Cavalry ; Isaac, born 
October 12, 1840, was a member of the One 
Hundred and Fifty-fifth Indiana Regiment 
and is now a resident of Kansas; Francis M., 
the subject of this sketch, born Jul}' 12. 1843; 
Joseph C, born August 9, 1846, and departed 
this life April 26, 1847 ; Charlotte T., (de- 
ceased); Emaline G., born October 23, 1848, 
raari'ied John Douglass, of Custer County, Ne- 
braska; Cyntha A., born May 18, 1850. She 
first married a man by the name of Wagner, 
who died, after which she married James 
Steward. 

Our subject's mother died in 1S57 and tin; 
father March 23, 1881. The subject of this 
notice was reared and educated in Indiana, 
and was married in Clinton County, of that 
state, December 29, 1864, to Miss Sarah Bow- 
man, a daughter of Eli Bowman, who was a 
native of Ohio. Her mother's maiden name 
was Hannah Warren; the}' were the parents of 
six children : Margaret, Sarah, Malinda A., 
William, Bradley and Eli. In 1868, they came 
to Stanton County, Nebraska, wliei'e he died 
in March, 1880. 

In 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead left Indi- 
ana for Nebraska; the\' came through with a 
team and were fort}' -two days on the road, 
arriving October 14. They located upon a 
homestead, and their first abiding place was a 
dug-out, which was without a floor, and their 
first bedstead was made out of willow poles. 
A <\\'\ o-oods box was used for a tai)le. As 



412 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



years rolled on he broke out his land, set out a 
grove and a fine orchard and also built a sub- 
stantial house, with all the modern improve- 
ments found on a first-class farm in Nebraska. 
When he arrived in this count}', he had but 
five dollars, but at once went to work, and is 
now in comfortable circumstances 

Politically, our subject attiliates with the 
Democratic party. lie was elected one of the 
county commissioners, and refused to accept 
that office again. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moor, 
head are members of the Church of Christ. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead have been born 
the following children : Dora, born May 29, 
1867, wife of Ilenry McColy, of Stanton 
County ; William, born July 18, 1869, died at 
the age of two years ; Loren, born July 16, 
1873; Hannah, born September 29, 1875, and 
died in 1887; Anna, born July 12, 1876; 
Francis H., born March 8, 1879 ; Kachel, born 
February -1, 1882 ; Charley, born September 
16, 1885. All reside in Stanton County. 



JESSE MUIIPIIY, one of the pioneers of 
Nebraska, now residing at Stanton, was 
born in Kent, New Haven Countv, Con- 
necticut, April 4, 1810, the son of Jesse 
Muiphy, Sr., who was born in Ireland, coming 
to this country when a young man. He mar- 
ried Miss Rebecca Sawyer, a native of Connec- 
ticut, and settled in New Haven County, where 
two sons were born to them, Jesse and Orin II. 
He died in Connecticut, wiiere he left quite a 
family. Jesse Murphy enlisted in the War of 
1812, and went with iiis brotlier-in-law as far 
as Kocliester, New York, which was the last 
heard of him. Mrs. Murphy was again married 
to a man by the name of Woi-den, who settled 
in New York State. At the time, the subject 
of our sketch was given to an old Quaker, 
Abraham AV^anzer, of New Haven, Connecti- 
cut, where he was reared to the faith of that 
church. When about sixteen years of age he 
started out in life for himself, going to Ulster 
County, New Yoi'k, where lie remained seven 



years ; then went to Stanhope, New Jer.sey, 
where he worked for one firm seven consecutive 
years. We next find him in Luzerne Count}', 
Pennsylvania, where he was united in marriage 
in 1839 to Miss Sarah Arnold, born in Monroe 
County, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1816, the 
daughter of Adam and Margaret (Hughsmith) 
Arnold, and were of the Pennsylvania German 
stock. They were the parents of eleven chil- 
dren, four of whom are living: Sarah ; Kate, 
wife of Perry Saxe, of Buffalo County, Wiscon- 
sin ; Lucinda, wife of J. Eldridge, of Perry, 
Iowa; Margaret, wife of li. J. Flick, deceased. 
She resides at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. Mr. 
and Mrs. Arnold were both Presbyterians, and 
dietl in Pennsylvania. 

After the marriage of Mr. Murphy they set- 
tled in Wyoming Valley and remained there 
until 1859, and then moved to Fairfax Court 
House, Virginia, and remained there until the 
breaking out of the Civil War, when he, with 
several of his neighbors, were taken prisoners 
and sent to Centerville Stone Church, where he 
was kept two months, and was sent to Libby 
Prison, where he was kept three months, and 
then sent to Saulsbury, North Carolina, and 
was there incarcerated for five months. He 
was then paroled and again taken to Libby 
prison, being one month on the road. 
Then he took oath as a paroled prisoner, 
and came home. He was a prisoner eleven 
months. He relates that he was through Peters- 
burg three times before Grant captured it. He 
was sick for five months with fever and scurvy 
and came near dying. While on his way home 
he stopped at Washington, D. C, and was there 
given clothes. He then went on to Fairfax 
Court House, Virginia, where he made inquiries 
and found liis family. AVhile he was in the 
prison pens of the South sacrificing all that was 
dear in life to himself, his good wife was left 
with a famil}' of seven chiklren. She had been 
left with some means, but was robbed by both 
armies of what she jjosscssed, as they ])assed 
back and foi'th. She suffered much during those 
trj'ing years of tiiat greatest of American con- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



415 



flicts. She never heard from lier husband but 
once while he was away. lieader, pause and 
reflect on the above statement. In the autumn 
of 1805 Mr. ]V[ur|)hy removed to LaPorte, Indi- 
ana, and the following spring he, with others, 
started for Nebraska Territory, crossing the 
Missouri River at Council Bluffs, landing in 
Omaha April IG, 1SG6. He purchased a farm 
near Fort Calhoun, in Washington County, and 
followed farming until 1876, when he came to 
Stanton County, where he is leading a retired 
life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Alurphy are tlie parents of seven 
children: Margaret A., wife of Stewart Fuller, 
of Wallace, Idaho; Rebecca J., wife of James 
L. Lovett, of Omaha ; Stiles W., of Wallace, 
Idaho; Isaac P., a farmer of Washington 
County, Nebraska ; Susan E., wife of W. T. 
Vaughn, of Blair, Nebraska; Luc}' E., wife of 
C. M. Densmore, a banker at Stanton, Ne- 
braska; Sarah, wife of W. II. Clark (deceased), 
of Stanton. 

Politically Mr. Murphy is what may be 
termed a stalwart Republican. His faith was 
no doubt strengtliened in that jiarty during the 
few months of any thing but a pleasure trip lie 
had through the Southern States. 

Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are justly entitled to 
be called pioneers of Nebraska, for it will be 
remembered they came to these parts before 
the Territory had been admitted into tiie 
Union. They are also pioneers in their mar- 
riage relations, as they have been married fifty- 
three years — over one-half of a century. Among 
other incidents connected with our subject's 
early settlement in Nebraska, may be mentioned 
the fact that he plowed up a cannon ball which 
was fired by the United States troops while 
quartered at Fort Calhoun, Nebraska Territor}-^, 
in 1820. 

GEORGE GRAHAM, an early settler of 
Cuming County, located a homestead 
near Wisner, in June, 1865, and very 
naturally finds a place in the histor}' of Elk- 
horn N'alley. He was born in St. Albans, 



Vermont, October 2t1, 1822. He was the son 
of William James, and Mai'garet Graham, who 
emigrated from the north of Ireland to St. 
Albans in 1818, and subsequently removed to 
Brockville, Canada. George spent his boyhood 
days upon his father's farm in that wooded 
section, receiving a limited common-school 
education. In 1847 he married Sarah Sanders, 
a native of Canada. 

When twenty-one years of age his father 
gave him the old homestead, which he soon 
disposed of and embarked in the logging and 
lumbering business, which he followed for 
several \'ears. His early experience with men 
in lumbering camps where disputes were 
usually settled by main force, a sufficient store 
of which our subject always possessed, for he 
was large and robust, naturally fitted him for 
the business he followed in after years. 

We next find him on a farm near London, 
Canada. In 1S63 he sold out and came to Oma- 
ha, Nebraska, where he found employment at 
getting out timber and ties for the Union Paci- 
fic Railroad. In June, 1865, he took a home- 
stead near Wisner, as before stated, and shortly 
after engaged with a transportation company, 
freighting across the plains, his son Andrew 
R. accompanying him. These freighting trains 
were usually made up of thirty or fort}' ox 
teams of from four to six yoke of oxen to the 
team, and ivould travel from six to twelve 
miles per day. At night their wagons were 
arranged in a circle and the stock confined in 
this sort of corral, and were thus guarded 
against attacks by the Indians. This slowly 
moving train made a far different ^jjcctacle 
crossing the great American desert, tlian does 
an "Overland Flier" on the Union Pacific 
Railway going at the rate of forty or fifty 
miles an hour. At that date Indians were 
very troublesome throughout the West, so 
much so that the government issued an order 
that no outfit should pass Fort Kearney with- 
out fifty armed men. I'.uffalo were to be seen 
in large herds here and there over the i)lains, 
and all was one grand, wild romantic scene. 



416 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



After many weary days travel this overland 
train reached Fort Bridger. About sixmontlis 
later our subject and his son returned to Fort 
Kearney, where they were employed in getting 
out wood for the government. In the spring 
of 1866 Mr. Graham took a contract to furnish 
ties and timber for the Union Pacific Railroad, 
remaining with the company (still accompan- 
ied by his son Andrew II.) until its completion 
to Ogden, returning to Omaha in the spring 
of 1870. Tiiat summer and the following 
winter he spent upon the farm in Cuming 
County, and in tiie spring of 1871 became a 
sub-contractor on the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road, with his fielil of operations in the Red 
River Valley, Minnesota, and was there en- 
o-aged for about eighteen months, again 
returning to Cuming County. At the time of 
the Black Hills gold excitement, in 1875, Mr. 
Graham drifted to that locality and built the 
first hotel in Lead City, furnished the timber 
for the stamp mills, and was considered second 
to none on this class of material. 

For the past ten years he has been operating 
a ranch of his own on the Belle Fourche River, 
South Dakota. He lias always been a man of 
strong constitution, but in the autumn of 1892 
he finds himself on the down-hill side of life, 
and his former strong constitution somewhat 
broken. lie is now living a retired life at 
Wisner, but this he does reluctantly, as he has 
always been a busy man. 

Mr. and Mrs. George Graham were the 
parents of nine children, six still living, viz.: 
Martha, Mary A., William J., Andrew R., 
Thomas and Eliza M. 

In reviewing the foregoing sketch one can- 
not fail to discover that this man's life has been 
an eventful one, and were notliing to be 
given of his characteristics and experiences, his 
history would be far from com])lete ; lience the 
fo]U)wing brief mention will give some idea of 
what freighting and railroad contracting in the 
• West meant in " ye early days." 

Laramie City in those daN'S was a rough 
Western town, run entirely l>y the gambling 



element, and as the contractors came to this 
point to be paid off, it made a rich field for 
thugs and bums, and not unfrequently were 
contractors held up and robbed of large sums 
of money ; the results of months of hard labor. 
At one time Mr. Graham came near being one 
of their victims, but al)out a month later the 
contractors and reputable business men con- 
cluding that the town had been run in this 
style long enough, a vigilance committee was 
formed with Mr. Graham, who knew no such 
thing as fear, as one of its leaders. As soon as 
all arrangements were completed they made a 
systematic raid on all the gambling houses in 
the town, and revolvers were used by the com- 
mittee very carelessly, and with but little 
ceremony. The result of this raid was that 
the next morning four of the gamblers were 
found hanging to a rude scaffold, and a major- 
ity of the balance were out of the town on a 
vacation. From this time on Mr. Graham's 
face and name became well known and popular 
as a man of daring deeds. 

Another incident occurred while in that sec- 
tion which proved the man's courage when 
surrounded by such a hard class of people. It 
appears that a man by the name of Musgrove 
had at an early time a large stock of whiskey 
which he was dealing out to soldiers; this he 
carried on to such an extent that the govern- 
ment finally routed him and destroyed about 
six thousand dollars worth of his wet goods. 
Musgrove managed to escape, but from that 
time on declared vengeance against all govern- 
ment property. He had an organized gang of 
outlaws, and was considered a daring desperado. 
At one time a contractor's train was attacked 
by what was supposed to be Indians, but which, 
in fact, was this notorious gang. Five of the 
trainmen were killed, while otliers barely 
escaped with tiieir lives. The government 
offered two thousand dollars for the capture of 
Musgrove, but it was thought that no five men 
in that seclion would have an\' business with 
him. Mr. Graham, however, informed one of 
the captains that at the first good opportunity 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



417 



this desperado would be his man, and he was 
not obliged to wait long, for as Mr. Graham 
was getting his lunch in a restaurant one day 
at Percey Station, he sat where he could see in 
at the bar, for there was usually a saloon 
attached to such places in those days ; while 
there, who should walk in but Musgrove. 
Graham got his revolver out and entering a 
side door had the " drop " on his man, and soon 
had him bound with a long rope and on the 
train for Fort Steele ; but while at St. Mary's, 
a small place, one of Musgrove's friends slipped 
into the car while Mr. Graham was out, cut the 
rope from his hands, and in a short time the 
man was entirely free and running down the 
tiack. The train had started and Mr. Graham 
hailed some section men near by to catch him, 
which was done by a big, burly fellow. His 
man was an easy victim this time, for he had 
no weapons. The section man received the 
reward offered by the government, while our 
subject had only the glory. Musgrove was 
taken to Denver in a short time for trial, but 
the people had little confidence in the courts in 
those days, so the jail was broken open and 
their " bird " hung on the Denver bi-idge with 
little ceremony. Thus ended two incidents 
which will give the reader a fair idea of Mr. 
Graham's determination at whatever he was 
engaged in. 

lie of whom we write this notice was pecul. 
iarl}' gifted for his successful career on the 
frontier. His early experiences in the logging 
camps of Canada with his subsequent engage- 
ments, fitted him for the management of the 
rougher class which he later met in the wild 
West. Physically he was a strong man ; he 
also possessed undaunted courage and bravery 
which was brought into action at the proper 
time, thus rnakint;- him a, leader among his 
comrades. 

The times in which he operated in the West 
were peculiar and replete with the events of 
liistoric interests, going on as he did to the 
Rocky Alountain countr}', and helping to estab- 
lish and construct a "reat national tliorou<rh- 



fare, working for the noted Credit Moblier 
under contract, in which capacity he made 
large sums of money, and still holds a judg- 
ment against that company for .seven thousand 
five hundred dollars. \\\ whatever position of 
life Mr. Graham has been placed, he has 
proven himself to be a true man in every sense 
that that word may im])ly. 



JAMES GOLDER, one of the prominentand 
successful farmers of Cuming township. 
Dodge County, has been a resident since 
the spring of 1881, when he purchased 
his present home. Stone House, Lenarkshire, 
Scotland, is the place of his birth, the date of 
that event being November 20, 1857. When 
two years of age he accompanied his parents to 
Canada, from which jilace they moved to 
Ottawa, Illinois, and in 1861 went from that 
point to Kansas, where the father raised one 
cro]5, when the disturbance raised by the on- 
coming Civil War caused them to return to 
Illinois, where he remained until he came to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, in ISSl. He has 
always followed farm life, of which he has 
made a success. Our subject and his brother 
Andrew engaged in dealing and breeding Per- 
cheron and English Shire horses, which busi- 
ness was started by our subject, bringing the 
first Clydesdale horse ever brought into the 
county. They now have five imported horses 
and three mares, the best found in this section 
of the country, all of which are registered ; at 
the head of the list stands "Champion," 
imported April, 18SS, by the Percheron and 
Arabian importing horse company, of Fremont, 
besides several other very valuable animals 
both of domestic and foreign bred. He also 
deals in Kentucky cows and fancy swine. He 
owns one section of land all of which is located 
in Cuming and Pebble townships, and under a 
high state of cultivation. When he first came 
to Dodge County, he had but little means, but 
by haril work and industry has accumulated for 
himseir and family a good home. 



XOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



He was united in marriage March 30, 1886' 
to Theotlora Rogers, born at Warren, Jo Daviess 
County, Illinois, July 27, 18G6. By this mar- 
riage union three children have been born : 
George L., April 23, 1887 ; Mary Jean, March 
29, 1889 ; Ellen, November 2, 1891. 



ROBERT FEHLIMAN, of Section 25, 
Beemer township, was born near Berne, 
Switzerland, January 2, 1841. He is 
a son of Jacob and Margaret Fehliman. When 
Robert was three years of age the family emi- 
grated to America and settled near Bryan, 
Ohio, and engaged at farming. The father 
died in that vicinity in 18G8, the mother having 
died in 1861. They were the parents of six 
children : Jacob, who was killed in the Mexican 
War; Fred, now a miller at Riverside, Iowa; 
Louis, who was killed at the battle of Mission 
Ridge during the Civil War; Margaret (Mrs. 
P. Pengeot), Mary (Mrs. J. Faber), and Robert, 
our subject. The latter received but little 
schooling. August 27, 1861, when secession 
sought to destroy the Union, he enlisted as a 
member of Company B Twenty-ninth Indiana 
Volunteer Infantry. lie participated in the 
battles of Sliiloh, Stone River, Liberty Gap, 
Siege of Corinth, Laverne, Trinne, and several 
smaller engagements. He was in the hospital 
at Louisville, Kentucky, for a short time, and 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He received an hon- 
orable discharge September 21, 1864, at Chat- 
tanooga. After the war he worked at the car- 
penter's trade in Ohio, and later moved to 
Kendallville, Indiana, from which place he 
removed in 1866 to Omaha, Nebraska, where 
he was employed by the Union Pacific Railway 
Company, doing carpenter work at various 
points between Omaha and Ogden, Utah. In 
1868 he came to Beemer township, Cuming 
County, and homesteaded his present farm. He 
was compelled to draw lumber from Omaha 
with which to build a house. At that time 
there were but eight families within the town- 
ship, and he, in common with the remainder. 



endured man}' pioneer hardships, but missed 
the grasshopper raid, as he went East the fall 
before, locating in Kendallville, Indiana, where 
he followed his trade untd 1878, when he re- 
turned to his farm, but was in the employ of 
the Union Pacific Railwa}' until 1883, since 
which time he has given his entire attention to 
the work of farming. He now feeds consitler- 
able stock, and his farm, M'hich contains two 
hundred and three acres, is all well imjiroved. 
Besiiles looking after his farm he has erected 
several buildings in his neighborhood. 

Our subject was united in marriage October 
5, 1867, to Amanda Gonser, a native of Fairlit-ld 
Centre, Indiana. Her parents were Henry and 
Rachel Gonser, the father a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and the mother of Holmes County, Ohio. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eight livingchildren : Mary M.,died in infancy : 
Oliver M., Emma A., Henry L., William E., 
Bertie F., George C, Clinton E , and Wdma A. 

Mr. Fehliman has been a stanch Republican 
ever since the organization of that ])arty. In 
educational matters he takes great interest, and 
has been a school officer for many years. He 
belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, 
and stands high in the comnuinity in which he 
lives, being a prosperous farmer and a good 
citizen. 

WILLIAM GERECKE, cashier of the 
First National Bank, at Stanton, will 
form the subject of this notice. He 
was born in Saxony, Prussia, July 30, 1848, 
the son of Frederick and Dorothy (Merten) 
Gerecke, whe emigrated to America in the 
spring of 1854, locating in Dodge County, 
Wisconsin. Frederick was a brick layer and 
mason by trade, and worked at that in this 
country. Mr. and Mrs. Gerecke, the elder, 
were the parents of five children as follows : 
Sophia, wife of August Prawitz, a merchant 
tailor at Oskosh, Wisconsin ; Louisa, widow of 
William Werner. She is now living at Norfolk, 
Nebraska ; Bertha, wife of August Pilgei', a 
real estate dealer at Norfcjlk : Herman, of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



419 



Norfolk, a brick maker. He served in the Six 
teentli Wisconsin Volunleer Infantry and also 
in the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, during the Civil 
War period, was wounded at the battle of 
Shiloh, and had a very thrilling war record; 
William, the subject of this sketch. Our sub- 
ject's mother died in March, ISSd, and the 
father now lives at Norfolk. 

William, of whom we write, jcan be termed a 
self-made man, having had but limited means 
for obtaining an education, he has been his own 
school master, and read extensively, and is 
therefore to-day a well posted man. When 
fifteen years of age he was ap])renticed to learn 
the harness maker's trade and followed the 
same until 1877, when he was elected county 
treasurer of Madison County, Nebraska, and 
following that was twice elected as county 
clerk, serving four years. In 1S86 he helped 
organize the Norfolk State Bank and was 
elected as its cashier and remained with that 
institution until July 1, 1889. While in Madi- 
son, he made a set of county abstracts of land, the 
first set ever executed in Madison Count3\ In 
May, 1890, he was elected as cashier of the 
First National Bank at Stanton, which position 
he still retains. 

He was united in marriage in Dodge County, 
Wisconsin, to Addie Yahr, born in Dodge 
County, Wisconsin, July 28, 1851. She was 
the daughter of Earnest and Kosaile Yahr. 
Four children were born of this union : Lyl- 
ian M., born September 6, 1871 ; Ella, born 
October 2, 1873 (died July, 1880); Edgar H., 
born November 4, 187a, and Frank, born July 
2G, 1879. 

Politicall}', our subject is a stanch Dem- 
ocrat and keeps well posted in all political 
matters. He is a meml)er of the Odd Fellows 
Lodge, No. 46, at Norfolk, and helped to 
organize the same. He is past grand and 
lias represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge, 
and also belongs to the Encampment. He 
belongs to Mosaic Lotlge No. 5,5, of A. F. & 
A. M. He is a member of Damascus Chapter 
No. 25, of which he is a i)ast high priest. He 



also belongs to Damascus Commandery No. 
20, and has held the offices of Senior Warden, 
and Sword Bearei'. 

In conclusion, it may be stated that our 
subject came to Burt County, Nebraska, in 
June, 18t)7 ; moved to Madison County, in 
March. 1872; and to Stanton Countv, in 1890 



CB. DUNKER, of the Dodge Millingand 
^ Grain Company, was born in Water- 
loo County, Ontario, April 23, 1855. 
His father, Frederick Dunker, is a native of 
Germany, who came to Canada at an early da\'. 
The subject of this notice received his educa- 
tion in the district school and when eighteen 
years of age was apprenticed to the trade of a 
mill-wright, serving three years, when he left 
for the Pacific coast, and located in Polk Coun- 
ty, Oregon, where he followed his trade seven 
years. In 1884 he came to Nebraska, and 
located at Wakefield, remained there four years 
and then moved to Dodge County, where he 
had charge of the mill at Dodge. In August, 
1889, the present company was formed, Mr. 
Dunker taking an interest in the same. 

He was married in Wakefield, Nebraska, to 
Miss Tilley Bruner, the daughter of Henry 
Bruner. By this union two children were born : 
Leona and Ethel. 

Politically, our subject is identified with the 
Democratic party. 



DANIEL W. CLANCY, a real estate 
dealer and insurance agent at West 
Point, Nebraska, was born in Iloches- 
ter. New York, October 25, 1839. He is the 
son of John and Ellen (Dailey) Clancy, who 
emigrated to Petersboro, (^anada, from Ireland, 
about 1820, and about 1825 located at Roches- 
ter, New York. His father was a tanner by 
occupation and followed the same for many 
years. He died in 1S6G, and the mother died 
in 1852. By their marriage union six children 
were boi-n : William F., who was lirst lieuten- 



420 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



ant under "Walker in the memorable fillibuster- 
ino- expedition to Xicaraugua, was killed at the 
battle of Kivas; Mary Ann, deceased, wife of 
Martin liyan ; Hannah J., wife of Michael 
Wallace (deceased) — she now lives at Roches- 
ter, New York; Daniel W., John B., who was 
a soldier in tiic Twenty -sixth New York Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He served his time and re- 
enlisted in the Fourteenth Heavy Artillery ; at 
last accounts he was in Denver, Colorado. The 
remaining cliild was Ellen, deceased. 

The subject of liiis sketch was educated in 
the public sciiools of Rochester and St. Pat- 
rick's academy, and when seventeen years of 
age came to Dubuque, Iowa, where he re- 
mained a short time, then went to the Territory 
of Minnesota, with headquarters at St. Paul, 
where he followed surveying for two years. 
We next find him in the pineries near Still- 
water, where he was timekeeper for two years. 
He then went to Lincoln County, Missouri, and 
was engaged at teaching school. Wliile there 
his health failed and he returned, to Dubuque, 
Iowa, near which j)lace he followed farming in 
the summertime and school-teaching in the 
winter. He visited his old home in New Y^ork 
State and then went to Idaho, where he en- 
gaged in mining, undergoing all the hardships 
of a miner's life. We next find him in Omaha, 
with a bridge l^arty, for the Union Pacific 
railroad. In 1869 he came to Cuming County, 
purchased a farm and followed farming until 
1882, when he was elected county treasurer of 
Cuming County on the Democratic ticket, 
serving during the years of 1882-3-4-5 and 
1S8S-9. In 1884 he was a candidate for State 
treasurer. He removed to West Point in 
1884. 

Miss Margaret Galien became liis wife in 
1S71 and seven children have blessed tiieir 
iiomo : William E., a printer at West Point, 
engaged on the Progress; Hannah M. ; Ellen 
E., a student of St. Mary's Convent, Quincy, 
111.; John (deceased at the age of eleven 
years); Edward and Garrett, at school. One 
died in infancv. 



In religious matters the Clancy family are 
identified with the Catholic Church. Our sub- 
ject is a self-made man, and is a great reader 
of all the topics of the times in whicii he lives. 
Having been an extensive traveler he has seen 
much of the country and his share of hardships. 
When he came West there was no railroad, so 
he walked from Chicago to Dunleith, crossed 
the river at Dubuque, leaving civilization 
behind him. At the time he came to Cuming 
County, everything was in a wild, uncultivated 
state, and he has lived to see school-houses and 
churches scattered here and there all over the 
West. He has watched countless manufactures 
spring into existence, and a territory take on 
the dignity of a great commonwealth, while 
railroads cross and recross each other in almost 
every conceivable direction. Telegraph and 
telephone lines can scarcely be numbered and 
man can carry on conversation with a fellow 
man, a hundred miles away. Surely the age of 
wonder is upon us, and to be an eye witness is 
an honor, but to be more than an eye witness 
is not accorded to all, but among this number 
may be enrolled the name of D. W. Clancy, 
one of the pioneers of tiie Northwest. 

Although a native American, Mr. Clancy is 
an ardent lover of the " Green Isle," the land 
of his forefathers, and considers it a source of 
pride to be classed as an Irishman at all times 
and under all circumstances. 



CHARLES SIGMUND CONEY, superin- 
tendent of public instruction of Stanton 
County, was born near Kalamazoo, 
Michigan, January 28, 1859. He is the son of 
Albert G. Coney, who was born in Lexington, 
Stark County, Ohio, and educated in Union 
College. His mother was Emily R. (De Lano) 
Coney, a native of Orleans County, New York, 
whose peo])le came to Michigan at an early 
da3'. She was educato«l at Phipp's Seminary, 
of New York, and after coming to Michigan 
taught the first school in Cooper township, 
Kalamazoo (bounty. In our subject's ])arents' 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



421 



family there were seven children, as follows: 
Fletcher, of Allegan, Michigan ; Charles S., the 
subject of this sketch ; Clara, wife of William 
Tyler, of South Haven, Michigan ; Edward, 
of Greeley, Colorado ; three died in infancy. 

Our subject's father in early life was a AVhig 
and opposed to slaver}'. He afterwards joined 
the Republican part\', and at the time of the 
War was an ardent supporter of the Union 
cause. He assisted in raising money and men 
for that great conHict. In 1SC5 he moved to 
Van Bur^n County, Michigan, and died in 1871. 
The mother is still living at South Haven, 
Michigan. Both herself and husband were 
acceptable members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, and highl}' respected for their good 
works and exemplary lives. The father was an 
active worker and was class leader for many 
years, also superintendent of the Sabbath- 
school. 

Charles S., of whom this notice is written, 
was educated in the district schools and at 
Decatur High School. He remained at home 
until 1882, and in the fall of that year took a 
trip through Kansas with the intention of loca- 
ting. He returned home and the following 
year be came West again as far as Stanton, 
Nebraska. The following winter he taught the 
school at Pilger, and continued to teach there 
two years in succession and a portion of another, 
when he was elected to the office of the super- 
intendent of public instruction, in and for 
Stanton County. It speaks volumes of praise 
for this young man's educational qualifications 
and adaptability to the office, to state that he 
has been re-elected four times — 1885, 1887, 
1889 and 1891. 

Politically Mr. Coney is identilied with the 
Republican party, and notwithstanding Stan- 
ton County usually goes Democratic, he was 
elected the first time he ran, by a majority of 
eighteen, and at his last election, by a majority 
of one hundred and eighteen. 

He belongs to the Knights of I'ythias Order, 
was one of the charter membin-s at Stanton. He 
was elected as master of exchequer, jjrelate and 



vice chancellor, which position he now holds. 
He is also a member in good standing of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 

Mr. Coney is a young man of uioi'c than 
ordinary ability, whose whole life seems 
wrapjjed up in educational work. He is a mem- 
ber of the Nebraska State and North Nebraska 
Teachers' Association, and has organized a 
normal in Stanton County. He has also organ- 
ized all the school districts in the county, to a 
system of graded schools, giving an eight years 
course, which fits them for the high school, a 
record being made of each child in the district, 
so that every teacher may know where each 
pupil belongs. Stanton County is indeed for- 
tunate in securing so able a superintendent of 
schools which fact they appreciate,as has been 
shown by his repeated re-elections. 



JACOB BODEWIG, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 20, of Everett township, accompanied 
his parents to Dodge County, in tli(! 
month of February, 1869, when he was 
about twelve years of age. His father purchased 
an eighty-acre homestead which constitutes a 
part of his present farm. Here the father built 
a sort of shanty, 12x16 feet, which was used 
for a residence for nine years. When his father 
bought the place, there was but seven acres of 
breaking done, but he broke the remainder out 
and made the necessary improvements, and 
continued to add to his lami, until he finally 
possessed five hundred and twenty acres, four 
hundred and eighty of which are under the 
plow. When our subject arrived at maturity, 
he rented a farm for one year, and then pur- 
chased his present place which was partly im- 
])roved. He rebuilt the house which was 18x28 
feet, with a wing 16x18 feet. He also built a 
good granary, machine house, and cribbing. 
Pure water is furnished by an ingenius system 
of water- works, jiropolled liy wiml-power. He 
planted a grove of timber consisting of five 
acres ; also an orchard of fifty -eight trees. His 
farm now consists of four hundred and cightv 



423 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



acres, all under cultivation and surrounded by 
a good fence. lie of whom we write this notice 
was born in (Tennany, January, 1857, the son 
of John and Anna Bodewig, whose four chil- 
dren were: Jacob, Peter, Anna B, and Chris- 
tian, lie accompanied his parents from Ger- 
many, when about ten years of age. They came 
from New York to Whiteside County, Illinois, 
where the father worked out by the day for 
two years and then came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. 

Jacob Bodewig was uniteil in marriage Octo- 
ber,lS78, to Mary, daughter of Nicholas and 
Mary Kies, whose ten child r-en were : Catha- 
rine, Mary,William, Nicholas (deceased), John, 
Anna, Jacob, Ellen (^deceased), Eda (deceased), 
Nicholas (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. Bodewig are the parents of si.x 
children born in the following order: Clara, 
October, 1870; John, February, 18S3; Ida, June, 
1884; Bernard, June, 1S8G ; Christian, July, 
1888, and William, February, ISOl. 

Our subject and his wife are both members 
of the Roman Catholic Church. Bolitically he 
afliMates with the Democratic party. Among 
other local offices he has held, may be named 
that of township assessor, which position he has 
held for five vears. 



JAMES BENNETT, who was among the 
early settlers of Stanton County, made 
his first appearance there in 1870. He 
was born in Canada November 20, 1829. 
His lather was Jesse Bennett, born in New 
Jersey in 179-i, and at the age of eighteen en- 
tered the War of 1812, and was taken prisoner 
at Lundy Lane and was incarcerated for six 
months, when lie escaped. He was married to 
Margaret Lockwood, who was born in Canada 
ill ISol. They were the parents of five chil- 
dren: Plin'be J., married William Thomas, 
now a resident of London, Canada; James, the 
subject of this sketch; Benjamin, a resident of 
]\Iiddlese.\ County, Canada; Marv K., who was 



twice married, first to Henry Dale, !>lid the 
second time to Charles Anderson ; she tiiotl in 
Canada in 18SC ; Angeline married Solomon 
Dale, of Middlesex County, Canada; Mr. and 
Mrs. Bennett were life-long members of the 
Methodist Church, and both died in Canada. 
The subject of this notice attained the years of 
his majority in ('anada, where 'he was married 
in 1850 to Jemima L. Little, and settled on the 
old homestead, where he remained until his 
coming to Stanton ('ounty, Nebraska, in 1870. 
By this marriage union live children were born : 
Emma, wife of Ezekiel Dale, a resident of Mid- 
dlesex Count3% Canada; Margaret V., wife of 
Henry Yail, of Pilger, Nebraska; Anson, a 
farmer near Pilger; Jackson, a farmer near 
Pilger; Ezra, a farmer near Pilger. 

Mr, Bennett met with the greatest misfor- 
tune of his life September 4, ISSO, for it was 
upon that day that the angel of death claimed 
his wife. In November, 1887, he was united in 
marriage to Mrs. Lorinda (Putnam) Kendall, 
a very highly esteemed lady, who was born 
September 13, 1822, the daughter of John and 
Liirimla (Walker) Putnam, and was known as 
the old Puritan stock. For her first husband 
Mrs. Bennett married in Kane County, Illinois, 
in IS-IO, William Kendall, by whom she had 
two children : William L., born in Kane 
County, Illinois, May 15, 1842 (see his sketch 
in this work), and Fannie, born in Kane County, 
Illinois, January 1, 1845. She received her 
education in Clark's Seminary, Aurora, Illinois. 
She was an accomplished lady, and died in 
1874, a sincere Christian, whose kindly example 
lives after her. 

In 1871 Mrs. Benncttcame to Stanton Countv 
with her daughter and remained until 1879, and 
then returned to Illinois. She married Mr. 
Bennett in 1887, he having resided in Stanton 
since 1878. He came to the county in 1870 
and homesteaded a (|uarter section of land near 
Pilger. He then purchased 60;! acres and built 
a small frame house with lumber hauled from 
Fremont. He shipped the lirst lumber over the 
Elkhorn liailroad to West Point. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



423 



Politically the man of whom we write this 
notice is identitied with the J)emocratic party, 
and was elected against his wishes as one of 
the county commissioners, which position he 
resii^ned. 

Rotli our subject and his wife are inembei's of 
tlie Metiiodist Episcopal Church. 

Durintr the years 1890-91 tliey took a pleas- 
ure trip to California. 



IUA E. ATKINSON, M. D., of Fremont, has 
only resided in the place since October 1, 
1891. But the following notice will in- 
troduce him to the readers of this volume. He 
succeeds Dr. Devries, having taken his practice. 
The Doctor is a native of Plymouth, Mar.shail 
County, Indiana, born November 25, 1867. 
His early education was received in the com- 
mon and high schools of Indiana and Nebras- 
ka. When seventeen years of age he com- 
menced reading medicine under Dr. Mansfield, 
of Ashiantl, Neljraska, who is among the most 
prominent physicians of the State. He studied 
under him for three years, graduating at the 
Omaha Medical College, March, 1888, and in 
I SOU received diplomas from the Itush Medical 
College, of Chicago, the same being taken on 
specialties. He spent one year in the Douglas 
County Hospital, at Omaha, and commenced 
the practice of his profession in Octavia, Butler 
County, Nebraska, locating there in April, 
1888, and continued in that place until coming 
to Fremont in October, 1891. He started at 
the last named place with a large practice, and 
is a thorough, competent physician, liuving 
been a thorough student. 

Politically, the Doctor adheres to the gener- 
al principles of the Republican party. 

Our subject is the son of Jasper and Catha- 
rine (Aukerman) Atkinson, both natives of 
Ohio. The family are among the oldest of 
Pennsylvania and New York. Our subject 
was reared in Indiana until he was fourteen 
years of age, at which time tiie family removed 
to Ashland, Nebraska. The mother is now de- 



ceased and the father resides at Cozad, Nebras- 
ka. They had a family of si.x children, includ- 
ing our subject. 

The Doctor is a member of the Missouri Val- 
ley Medical Society, and with his knowledge of 
the science of medicine, he cannot fail to take a 
place of eminence among the sons of Galen. 



T Tl ;riLLIAM ARMSTRON(4, one of the 

Y Y enterprising business factors of Wis- 

ner, came to Cuming County in Julv, 

1879, and iience very naturally finds a place 

within this biographical record. 

He was born November 25, 1842, in the 
North of Ireland, of Scotch parentage. His 
parents were John and Eliza (Wadsworth) Arm- 
strong, who were born in the North of Ireland. 
Tiiey were the parents of three cliildren, two 
sons and one daughter: William; Eliza, wife of 
Frank Armstrong, and John, of Box Butte 
County. Nebraska. Mr. Armstrong, Sr., died 
in 1846. The mother is still living. 

Our subject attended school in his native 
country, and was apprenticed to learn the dry 
goods business. In 1871 he came to America, 
landing at New York Harbor, where he soon 
found employment in A. T. Stewart's large dry 
goods house, remaining five vears, after which 
he came to Nebraska, and located on a farm 
near Wisner and embarked in the sheep raising 
business. After three years he came to the 
village of Wisner and worked forC. C. McNish, 
and in June, 1889, formed a partnership, the 
firm being known as Armstrong & Co., dealers 
in hardware, carrying a stock of nine thousand 
dollars. 

He was united in marriage in Wisconsin, in 
1889, to Miss Edith McNish. half sister of C. C. 
McNish, of Wisner. Two children bless this 
union: Glen and \'era. 



G 



EORGE WILKINS lias been a resident 
of West Point since 1871. He brought 
till! first job press to the county, start- 

1 the printing business where Mr. Camp- 



424 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



bell now resides, but at that time the building 
was used as a court-room. He was born in Ox- 
ford Count}', town of Norway, Maine, in No- 
vember, 1826. He is the son of Darius Wil- 
kins, a native of Massachusetts, whose wife 
was Amelia Wetherbv. In about 1848 he re- 
moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he re- 
mained several years. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins 
are the parents of eight children, two of whom 
are living : Henry, a twin brother of our sub- 
ject, and George, of whom we jien this sketch. 
The parents both died in Maine. 

George was educated in the district schools 
of Maine, and for several years engaged at 
work in a cotton mill, but afterward followed 
pattern making, which was his trade. In 
1869 he went to Stockbridge. Wisconsin, where 
he remained two years and then came to West 
Point. He was connected with \}aQ RepuWican 
paper, erecting the brick building in which the 
EepuWu-an is now published. In 1861, at the 
call for seventy-five thousand troops, he enlisted 
in the Sixth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 
that being among the first regiments that got 
to Washington. After serving four months he 
was discharged by reason of expiration of his 
time, and was mustered out at Lowell. 

Politically he is a stanch llepublican. He 
is a member of the D. S. Crawford Grand 
Army Post at West Point, and is chaplain of 
the same. 

FRANK A. TILLMAN, proprietor of one 
of the hotels at Hooper, Dodge County, 
accompanied his parents to Everett 
township in 1868, he being about four years of 
age at that time. He remained on the farm 
until he was seventeen years of age, and then 
moved to the village of Hooper. His advan- 
tages for an education were fair. He remained 
at home with his parents until he was of age 
and then went to California, where he followed 
teaming, in San Francisco, continuing the same 
for about four months, when lie was given the 
position of conductor of a cable car, which po- 
sition he held for six months. This was at Los 



Angeles, California. We next find him in 
Dodge County, Nebraska, at his old home, 
where he engaged in the hotel business, which 
line he still follows. 

Mr. Tillman was born in Michigan in 1865, 
the son of Frank M. and Anna Tillman, natives of 
Germany and Switzerland respectively. They 
were the jiarents of three sons and four daugh- 
ters: Joseph, Mary, Maggie, Lizzie, Frank, 
August and Katie. 

Our subject was unitetl in marriage April 11, 
1890, to Mata VonEsson, the daugliter of 
Henry and Mar}' VonEsson, whose five children 
were as follows: Zena, Herman, ilata, Tilley 
and Maggie, all of whom are living. 

Mr. and !Mrs. Tillman have no children. 

Our subject started in life without any means, 
but by prudence and good management is now 
in possession of a comfortable home and enjoy- 
ing a good business ))atronage. 

He belongs to Longfellow Lodge No. 89, 
Knights of Pythias, of Hooper, and Uniform 
Rank No. 32. In his })olilical creed he is a 
Democrat. 

FRANK M. TILLMAN, now retired at 
Hooper, is among the pioneers of 
Dodge County, coming as he did in 
June, 1868. He first located in Ridgely town- 
ship, pre-empting a tract of land, for which he 
paid two dollars and one-half per acre. Here 
lie made good improvements, which, however, 
were quite expensive at that time, common 
lumber costing him forty dollars per thousand. 
He built a residence 20x28 feet, and a barn 
16x32 feet. His farm consisted of one hundred 
and sixty acres, all of which he put under a 
good fence, including one-half mile of hedge. 
In 1881, he moved from his farm to Hooper. 
When he first came to the country, there were 
many Indians tramping about from place to 
place, as if bidding fai'ewell to their old iuint- 
ing grounds. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Ger- 
many, May 10, 1824. His parents were John 
and Margareta Tillman, and our subject was 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



425 



their only child. He lemained in Germany 
until twenty-six years of age, when he sailed 
for America. He remained si.x weeics in New 
Vork, tlien went to Detroit, Miciiigan, where 
he s|icnt two years, and worked on the Great 
Western railway in Canada, after which he 
spent one year in the Lake Superior region, and 
then came back to Detroit, where he was en- 
gaged in a tannery for one year. We next 
lind him at Eagle Eoyal mines, where he run 
a boarding house for twelve years, just prior 
to coming to Nebraska. 

He was united in mariage in 1855, to Mary 
Ann Enderly, who was one of three children 
in her father's family. 

By this marriage union seven children have 
been born : Joseph, Mary, Maggie, Lizzie, Frank 
A., August M. and Katie. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in religious matters 
is a believer in the Roman Catholic faith. 

When he first came to the village of Hooper, 
lie purchased a small hotel, which he operated 
for nine years, which he has since turned over 
to his son. He himself has built one of the 
best residences in town. Mr. Tillman stands 
high in the community in which he lives, and 
is now enjoying the fruit of his hard years of 
toil as a pioneer. 



JULIUS POESSNECKER, proprietor of 
the Stanton Roller Mills, arrived in Stan- 
ton Count}', Christmas day, 18<>7. He 
was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 4, 
1839, the son of John G. S., and Sophia (Lip" 
pert) Poessnecker. 

Julius grew to manhood in his native country, 
and there received his education. Wlien four- 
teen years of age, he was apprenticed to learn 
the cabinetmaker's trade and served three years. 
In 18fi5, he came to America, being the first to 
establish the family name in the New Work!. 
He stopped in Chicago, one year, came to 
Omaha, and in December, 18G7, to Stanton 
County ; he being one of the pioneers. He took 



a homestead of a quarter section, upon which 
he built a log-cabin, and the first year lived 
without a floor. He then hauled logs to Nor- 
folk, and had them sawed for a floor. He 
started in to build a frame house, sawing out 
the lumber with a wiiipsaw, but a tornado 
blew it down, so he abandoned it. He remained 
on the homestead five years, and came to Stan- 
ton village, where he followed carpentering, 
and in 1873 embarked in the furniture trade. 
He followed this business until the spring of 
1892 and in February of that year purchased 
the Stanton roller mills, which have a capacity 
of forty barrels of flour per day. The building 
is SOx-fd feet, with two stories and a basement. 
The product of this mill is all consumed at 
home. 

Our subject was married in Stanton County. 
July 28, 1870, to Miss Malinda Bowman, a 
neice of Doctor William Bowman. She was born 
in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, January 11, 
18i5. By this marriage union six children 
have been born : Charles, August 19, 1871 ; Eli, 
March 14, 1873 ; Mary, May 14, 1875 ; Till ie, 
February 4.1877; Louis, October 31, 1S80; 
Williamli January 10, 1883. 

Mr. Poessnecker is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and is treasurer of his lodge. He 
is also a member of the German Singing 
Society, he being one of the organizers. 

In politics he is a Republican, and has been 
a member the village board of trustees: He 
is a man of more than ordinary ability and 
stands high in the community in which he 
lives. He has always been an active worker, 
in every public cause, from his earliest settle- 
ment in the county, and it is through the 
influence of such men as Mr. Poessnecker that 
Stanton County stands where it does to-day, 
in point of entei'|)rise and prosperity. 



J 



OSEPH HUNKER, of. the firm of 
Hunker & Brother at West Point, will 
form the sui)ject of this biographical 
notice. lie was lioi-n in Prussia, Ger- 



426 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



many, December 15, 1841. In 1867, he came 
to America, and located at St. Charles, Mis- 
souri, where he followed carpentering. In 
1 869, he went to Omaha, Nebraska, worked at 
his trade one year, and went to Dodge County, 
where he took up a homestead, upon which he 
lived four years, and then came to West Point, 
engaging in the lumber business witli his 
brotlier, which line he still follows. 



DM. MAJOR II. IH'NTER, prominent 
among the dentists of Fremont, came to 
tiiat city and opened his dental parlors 
June 1, 1891. He came from Noi'th Carolina, 
where he was born and reared, the date of 
his birth being March 17, 1803. He is the son 
of Major W. and Sarah (Gougii) Hunter, wiio 
were also natives of North Carolina and of 
English extraction ; our subject being the 
fourtli generation from England. There were 
four brothers who came to America about 1760, 
two locating in Virginia, and two in Forsythe 
County, North Carolma, our subject descending 
from tiie last named. AVhcn but eight j'ears of 
age, our subject was left an orphan ; his parents 
both died in August of that year, leaving a 
family as follows: Our subject, his brother 
James F., and two sisters, now deceased. Upon 
tiie death of his parents, the man of whom we 
write had to face the cold world alone. For 
four years he lived witii a farmer, then changed 
his home again living with a farmer, until he 
was nineteen years of age, working all this time 
for his board and clothes. After which he 
began to receive wages, and attended school 
during the winter. When twenty-one years of 
age, he commenced teaching school winters, 
and clerked during the summer season in a 
general store. When twent3'-five years of age, 
he commenced studying dentistry by attending 
the Baltimore College of Dental Surger}', from 
which he graduated March 20, 1890, taking a 
two years course. He then commenced to 
practice his profession in North Carolina; hav- 
ing applied himself in his native State, in the 



practice of his profession in 1891, locating in 
Fremont in June of that 3'ear. He is thorough 
in all that he undertakes, and has mastered his 
profession to a good degree. He is at present 
the only graduate dentist in Fremont. 

Politically, he is a Republican. He was 
united in marriage February 28, 1887, to Miss 
Mary D. Wilson, daughter of Doctor Henry C, 
and Amelia (llauser) Wilson, natives of Massa- 
chusetts and North Carolina respectively. Mrs. 
Hunter was born in North Carolina, March 9, 
1866. Our subject and his wife are the parents 
of one child : Esther Amelia, born March 22, 
1888. Mrs. Hunter is a member of the Christian 
Church. 

^Tl 7ILLIAM THOMAS McFARLAND, 
W postmaster at Stanton, ranks among 
the pioneers of 1868, for it was on the 
thirteenth day of October of that year that he 
came to Stanton Count\', locating on Section 1, 
township 23, range 1. 

He of whom we write was born in Indianap- 
olis, Indiana, January 10, 18-45, the son of 
Thomas and Betsy Wycoif ]\IcFarland. both 
natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Indiana 
at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland, 
parents of our subject, were united in marriage 
in Indiana, and there reared a family of nine, 
ciiildren: Alexander M., who was married 
when twenty-two years of age and came to 
Stanton County. He assisted in raising a com- 
pany in Civil War days and was elected first 
lieutenant, but refused the office on account of 
ill health; Mary M., who died in 1866, was the 
wife of E. R. Fisher, who settled in In<liana 
and remained there until she died ; Samuel R., 
a soldier who served in the One Hundred and 
Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry and is now a resi- 
dent of Stanton, Nebraska ; Sarah I., married 
Henry Rogers, of Indiana, now of Stanton, 
Nebraska; Elizabeth J., wife of S. M. Dukes, 
of Indiana; Dorcas A., wife of J. C. Nye, resi- 
dent of Stanton ; Martha M.. wife of M. II- 
Kennetly ; William F., thesubjectof thissketcii; 
Eliza G., wife of C. W. Bishop (deceased); siie 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



is now a resident of Stanton, Nebraska. Mr. 
McFarland, the senior, was a Whig, and held 
tiie office of count\- assessor ; he died February, 
1S50, and liis good wife survived iiim until 
1S77, \\;hen she died in Stanton County. 

William T. was educated in the district 
schools and took a course in the academy. 
August 28, 1861, he enlisted in the Tenth 
Indiana Infantry, being a member of Corapan}' 
iv, and was one of the soldiers who fought in 
the War for the Union. He was mustered into 
service at Indianapolis, sent to Louisville, Ken- 
tuck\% and from there to Bardstown and Mill 
Springs, Kentucky. His first battle was under 
Gen. Thomas. He was sent to join Buell's army 
at Nashville, and marched across Tennessee to 
join Grant at Pittsburg Landing, but did not 
arrive in time for the battle. He was at the 
siege of Corinth, and went with Buell to Louis- 
ville and was in the battle of Perry viile against 
Hragg, and went with General Eosecrans to 
Ciiattanooga and was in the liattle of Chicka- 
iiiaugua, which battle he will ai'vays remember. 
Again when he was hemmed in at Chattanooga 
on quarter rations (and did not get tliose 
■ilways), and was compelled to subsist upon two 
crackers for a day's rations. He was also at 
I lie famous battle of Missionary Ridge. He was 
in the Atlantic cainiiaign and was discharged 
at Indianapolis, September 22, 1864. He 
remained in Indiana until 1868 and took u]i a 
liomestead, following farm life for nine 
vears. 

He was united in marriage A])ril, 1872, to 
Adeline A. Robinson, daughter of J. S. Robin- 
son. In 1879, our subject left his farm on 
account of his health and began to teach school. 
December 5, 1881, he was commissioned ])ost- 
inaster at Stanton and resigned in August, 
1"<87, but was re-appointed under President 
Harrison. July 1, 1889, and is the present 
incumbent. 

Mr. and ^Irs. McFarland are the parents of 
eight children, as follows: A. Inez, Frank O., 
EiHe L., Clara I., Alice L., Homer L., Harry 
L., Vance. 



Politically, Mr. McFarland is a stanch Repub- 
lican, and in religious matters is a member of 
the Congregational Church. He has been twice 
commander of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic at Stanton, and is also an honored member 
of the Masonic fraternit}', he being junior war- 
den to the lodge to whicli he belono-s. 



JOSEPH W. LAFFERTY, postmaster and 
justice of the peace at Wisner, came to 
West Point in March, 1871, and in 
October of the same year located at 
Wisner, where he has since resided. He was 
born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, 
July 21, 1835. The family were originally 
from Ireland. Joseph Lafferty came to 
America at an early day and settled in West- 
moreland County, Pennsylvania. The grand- 
mother of our subject was Elizabeth Hatfield, 
and b}' this union there were three sons and 
three daughters : George, Jose])h, Nathan, 
Mary, Elizabeth and Sallie. George Lafferty, 
the eldest of the family, was the father of 
our subject. He married Catharine Fleck, a 
native of the Keystone State, of German ori- 
gin, and reared a family of eight children, five 
of whom lived to maturity : Joseph AV., of this 
sketch ; Ellen, married John Bloom (deceased); 
Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Si]H\ of Summer Hill, 
Pennsylvania; John, enlisted in the Seventy- 
sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, he- 
longing to Company F, serving with honor in 
the Civil War. He is now a resident of Ne- 
braska ; Georg(! W., belonged to the same com- 
pany and regiment, and was badly wounded in 
1863, at tliQ storming of l'\)rt AVagiier. He was 
taken prisoner and occupied a place m Lihhy 
prison and Belle Island. He is now a resident 
of Altoonn, Pennsylvania. 

The father of our subject died in 1853. He 
was an ardent supporter of the Democratic 
party, and a great admirer of Jackson and 
Jefferson. Mrs. Lafferty, his wife, came to 
Wisner in the fall of 1889, and died in May, 
1891, at the age of seventv-eigiit vears. She 



428 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



was a sincere christian and a devout memberof 
the Lutheran Church, as was her husband. 

Joseph W. was educated in the district schools 
of his native county. April 17, 1861, at the 
first call of President Lincoln, for sevent3'-five 
thousand men to put down the rebellion, he 
enlisted in Company 13 Third Pennsylvania 
Infantry, participating in the battles of FaUing 
Water, and w'as mustered out at Harrisburg. 
But the war was not ended, and in August, 
1801, he enlisted in Company G Twelfth Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry, and remained at Philadel- 
phia, until March, 1862, was ordered to Wash- 
ington, and from there to the Orange and 
Alexandria railroad, where he did guard duty. 
In May he was mounted and under Pope at 
Manassas and crossed the river with the Army 
of the Potomac, ))articipating in the battles of 
South Mountain and Antietam, after which he 
was detached from the Army of the Potomac, 
and sent to Cumberland, Maryland, crossed the 
river and entered the mountains, where he was 
pitted against bushwhackers until December, 
1802; was then ordered back to Antietam 
battle-ground, where he camped two weeks 
and crossed the Potomac River, and passed up 
the valley. The morning of June 16, 1803, he 
was captured and taken to Libby prison, Rich- 
mond, and from there to Belle Island, where 
he remained seven montlis. He was paroled 
and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was 
taken sick of a fever and sent to Philadelphia, 
and placed in the hospital, where he remained 
six weeks, after which he joined his regiment 
at Martinsburg, Virginia. January 1, 1864, 
when the regiment was veteranized, he re- 
enlisted and went to the Shenandoah valley, 
and from there to Winchester, under General 
Crook's command. In the early fall of 1S64-, 
Cieneral Piiil Sliuridan took command ; and 
was in the battle of Winchester when 
General Sheridan made his memorable ride. 
They stayeil at Winchester until the spring of 
1805, when they joined (jrant's Cami)aign, and 
was mustered out at Philadelphia, July 20, 
1865. In August of that year he came West, 



stopping at Lanark, Illinois, until the spring of 
1871, when he married Lovinia Konnsman, the 
daughter of Joiin Konnsman. 

She was born in the same county as her 
husband ; the date of her birth was ]\Iarch 14, 
184-i. 

In the spring of 1871, Mr. Latferty, came to 
Nebraska, stopping a short time at West Point 
and then came to Wisner. In the fall of that 
year he was employed on the railroad, as a 
laborer. In 1878, be was elected by the 
Republicans as justice of the peace. lie was 
appointed postmaster at Wisner under Presi- 
dent Arthur, serving three vears; one year and 
three months under Cleveland, and after Presi- 
dent Harrison was elected, was again appointed. 



WILLIAM EUGENE KRAUSE, Vice- 
president of the First National Bank 
at West Point, was born in the 
Province of Posen,Zirke, of Germany, Septem 
ber 12, 1849, where he was reared and I'eceived 
his education, up'to the time he was eleven years 
of age. In 1860 he accom])anied his brother 
to Canada, there attending school and clerking. 
In March, 1868, he went to Chicago, where he 
was employed as r clerk in a retail store. 
While there he attended Bryant »fe Stratton's 
Business College, from which he graduated, 
after which he engaged with C. W. and E. Part- 
ridge, at canvassing in the city, and remained 
until May, 1871, when he came to West Point, 
and formed a partnership with his bi-other, Ed- 
mund Krause, the lirm name being the W. E. 
Krause & Co., who erected Krause's Hall. Sub- 
sequently Edmund Krause sold, and the lirm 
was known as Krause & Letten. They dissolved 
in 1876, our subject continuing in business until 
1888, when he sold out on account of ill health. 
He was connected with the First National Pank, 
of which he was a director, and in the summer 
of 1890 was made vice-piesident. He was one 
of the organizers of the Building and Loan 
Association, and is at present its secretar}'. He 
is also secretarv and one of the directors of the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Electric Light and Power Company. He iuis 
been a member of the school boaiil I'oi' nine 
j'ears ; four years on the city council, besides 
other local offices. 

He was united in marriage at West Point in 
1876, to Miss Susanna Pomig, who is a native 
of Pennsylvania ; born in 1854. 13}' tiiis union 
three children were born : Eugene W., April 
13,1879; AmanilusJ., December, 1880, and 
one who died in infancy. 

Mr. Krause belongs to the Masonic iiater- 
nity, being a member of Jordan Lodge No. 27, 
of which he was master four years. He also 
belongs to the Chapter, and Tabor Commandery 
No. 9, at Fremont. He is a man of great energy 
and has always worked for the general welfare 
of West Point and Cuming Countv. 



GEOEGE F. KENOWER, editor and pro- 
])rietor of the Wisner Chronicle, will 
form the subject of this notice. 

He was born in Carlyle, Clinton County, Illi- 
nois, February 10, 1854. He is the son of 
(Tcorge and Ann (Shelly) Kenower, the former 
of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and the 
latter of Lancaster County, of the same State. 
In 1837 the father went to Clinton County, Illi- 
nois, while the mother had preceded him three 
vears. They were married in that county in 
1849. His father was a carpenter and cabinet 
maker, and worked at his trade until 1863. 
They were the parents of two sons and two 
daughters: Sarah A., died at the age of one 
month ; George F., the subject of this sketch ; 
John T., principal of the public schools at 
Breckinridge, Missouri; Annie !>., died at the 
age of twelve years. 

In about 1884 they removed to Bolivar, Mis- 
souri, where they now reside. In early life our 
subject's father was a Whig, and upon the or- 
[ ganization of the Republican party joined them, 
and has since affiliated with them. He held the 
position of chairman of the County Board of 
Supervisors of Clinton County, Illinois, for a 
number of years. He was an admirer of the 



schools and gave liis time and money toward 
their support. He was stanch and tlecidcd in 
his views, a close reasonei-, antl always found 
in the path of his dut3\ 

George F. commenced his education in tiie 
common schools and finally graduated in the 
Illinois State University, he being the president, 
the valedictorian, and held the highest position 
in the class of 1875, numbering thirty -six mem- 
bers. In 1880 he was made Master of Letters. 
He was appointed as a member of the Board of 
Trustees of his Alma Mater by Governor Cul- 
lom in 1882, and was re-appointed by Governor 
Hamilton for six years, resigning in the fall of 
1883. After graduating in 1875 he taught 
school for eight years in St. Clair County, Illi- 
nois, the last two years in the Belleville High 
School, after which he took the position of ed- 
itor of the Belleville Advocate, and after one 
year went to Bolivar, Missouri, where he owned 
a one-half interest in the Free Press. In De- 
cember, 1886, he came to Wisner, Nebraska, 
purchased the Chronicle, and issued his first 
paper January 1, 1887, since which time he has 
edited and conducted the same, nuiking local 
journalism the specialty of his life, a calling for 
which he seems well adapted, by reason of his 
liking his profession, in which lie is an honor, 
for be it said to his credit that the low and vile 
find no place in his columns. He is a forcible 
writer and his editorials impress one, with the 
candor and numliness wliich are characteristics 
devcdoped to a large degree in our subject. 

Mr. Kenower was nu\rried in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri, August 23, 1877, to Miss Mary J. Barth, 
born January 6, 1857. She is the daughter of 
J(jlin and Catharine Barth, and a native of St. 
Clair County, Illinois. 

The home of our subject has been )jles;eil by 
one son, Fenn C, horn -Iiine 20, 1878, at Mas- 
coutah, Illinois. 

MAXIMILIANO.GENTZKE, editor and 
|)roprietor of the Nebraska Volkshlatl 
and Cuming Count}' Advertiser of AVest 
Point, will form the subject of this notice. He 



430 



NOR THE A S TERN NERBA SKA . 



was born in Berlin, German}', Janiiar\' 28, 1858. 
He grew to manhood and received his educa- 
tion in ills native country. With his wife and 
onecliiid accompanied his parents to this coun- 
try in 1882. His father was Adoiph and his 
mother Louisa (Daue) Gentzke. They are the 
parents of two sons and one daugliter : A. F. 
W. Gentzke, now engaged in newspaper work at 
Fremont, Nebraska ; our suljject, and tlieir sis- 
ter who is now deceased. 

After coming to West Point Mr. Gentzke en- 
gaged in tlie insurance business, and in 1884 
bouglit the Nebraska VolksUaii of Dr. L. 13. 
Sciionlau. 

Our subject was married in 18SU to Miss An- 
tonie Pomni. Their four living children are: 
Magaret, AVaiter, Ella and Clara. 

Mr. Gentzke received a liberal education in his 
native country, and upon his arrival in America 
at once determined to master the Englisii bin 
guage, whicii he has done to a good degree. He 
is an untiring worker, as will be observed by 
reference to the newspaper history of West 
Point, found elsewhere in this work. As a 
business man few have succeeded as well on the 
small capital with which they began, as he 
has. 



CARL J. HAHN, cashier of the State 
Bank at Hooper, came to Dodge Coun- 
ty' in the fall of 1881, when he found 
emplovment in the county clerk's office at 
Fi-emont, and there remained for six months, 
and'then came to Hooper, where he engaged as 
book-koe|ier and grain bu3'er for Spooner & Co. 
in what is now the Nye-Schneider elevator. He 
held this position for six years, since which 
time he has been cashier of the State Bank. 

Mr. Hahn is a native of Germany, boi'n 
April, 1805, the son of L. C. and Martha Hahn, 
who.se eight children were : Fannie, C. J., Er- 
nest, Julia, Lena, Henrietta, Fred and Emil. 

Carl J. remained in Germany until he was 
seventeen years of age, when he came to Balti- 
more, Maryland, and from there to Fremont, 
Nebraska. He had excellent school piivileges 



when young, and graduated from the high 
school at Norden. 

He was united in marriage October 30, 1887, 
to Julia, daughter of G. and Anna Pegau, 
natives of Germany and Denmark, respective- 
ly, whose six children were : Julia, Augusta, 
Luella, Charles, Edward and Leroy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have one child : (ijadys, 
born August 2, 1888. 

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
order, and in politics a Democrat. 



JOHN IIEIMRICH, of Hooper, located in 
Dodge County in the spring of 1868. 
He first located at Fremont and engaged 
in the manufacture of brick, which busi- 
ness he continued for seven years, then sold out 
and moved to Hoojier, where he entered into 
brick manufacturing and farming. He built a 
brick house in the village, costing $2,000. He 
is now experimenting in burning brick with 
crude oil. His ynA\] has aca]iacityof 2,000,000 
brick per annum. Upon coming to Nebraska 
our subject possessed about 8T00, some of which 
disappeared as a result of tiie grasshopper rav- 
ages. 

He was born in Ohio in February, 184(>, the 
son of John and Susan Heimrich, of Germany, 
who had five children. He lived in Ohio until 
he was twenty-two years of age and then came 
to Nebraska. His early advantages for an edu- 
cation were not good, having to leave the com- 
mon school when he was eleven years of age. 
He was united in marriage in 1873 to Elizabeth 
Knoell, whose jjarents' sketch appears else- 
where in this work, 

liy tliis marriage union two children have 

been born: John, 1870; Rosa, February, 1S78. 

Politically Mr. Heimrich is a Democrat. He 

belongs to Hoojier Lodge No. SO, of the Knights 

of Pytliias. 

CHARLES S. FOWLER, editor of the 
North Bend Argus, came to that place 
in January, 1879, and worked on a 
farm bv the month in that vicinitv for about 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



431 



six years, after which he bought a farm in 
Saunders County, and remaineil there until 
April. 1S90, when he sold and came to North 
r.end, and established the Arcjus., in company 
with his brother William K. In September, 
189(1, he ])urcliased his brother's interest (see 
an account of this paper elsewhere). 

Mr. Fowler was born in Bergen County, 
New Jersey, August 7, 1862, the son of W. K. 
and Mary A. (Sterling) Fowler, both natives 
of Scotland. He remained at home with his 
parents until seventeen years of age, when he 
came west on a prospecting tour, and stopped 
in Dodge County. The last nine years, he 
remained at home. Ilis parents lived in New- 
York City. 

He was united in marriage at North Bend, 
Nebraska, October 22, 188.5, to Miss Mary E. 
Wallace, daughter of W. J. T. and Mary A. 
(Allingham) Wallace. Our subject and his wife 
are the parents of two children : Emma Iluth, 
born November 21, 1887, and Mary Mable, 
February 18, 1891 ; she departed this life Dec- 
ember 20, 1891. 

Mr. Fowler is a member of North Bend Camp 
No. 1016, of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

Politically, he espouses the cause of the Inde- 
pendent party, both personally and editorially. 

Of his ]3arents as well as of his wife's people, 
it should, here be stated, that Mary E. (Wal- 
lace) Fowler was born in Warren County, 
Illinois, August 5, 1866, and came with her 
jiarents to Dodge County, in 1SS3. Her 
father died at North Bend, June 20, 1889, at 
the age of sixty-four years. Iler mother still 
survives and lives with Mr. and Mrs. F'owler. 
Mr. Fowler's mother died in Onondaga Counts', 
New York, in 1869, at the age of thirty-three 
years. Her husband, the father of our 
subject, resides in the city of North Bend, Ne- 
braska. 

HON. GEORGE W. E. DORSEY, ex-con- 
gressmana nd a resident of Fremont, is 
tlie son of Hamilton M. Dorsey, and 
was born in Loudoun Countv, Virginia, where 



he was reared until the close of the Civil War, 
and in 1866 came to Nebraska and engaged in 
farming and raising cattle. He located a claim 
on Maple Creek, where he opened up a farm, 
attended to that and at the same time read law. 
In 1868, in connection with E. H. Rogers, he 
opened a law and real estate olKce and were 
associated together for three years, when our 
subject succeeded Mr. Rogers and continued for 
more than ten years, when he was compelled 
to abandon his law office to attend to private 
affairs. In 188-4 he was elected toCongiess, 
representing the third district for three terms 
in succession. Was chairman committee on 
banking and currency in fifty-first Congress. 
Previous to hiselection to Congress Jle was ciiair- 
man of the Republican State Committee, and 
also one of the directors of the asylum. 

He is president of the First National Bank 
of Ponca, and the organizer and of tlie Saun- 
ders County National Bank of Wahoo. He is 
connected with almost ever\' enterprise that has 
had its inception in Fremont for the public 
good, including the stockyards, street railway 
company, creamery, etc. The Farmers and 
Mei'cbants National Bank of Fremont origin- 
ated with our subject about J 876, when he 
started a private bank under his own name, a 
history of which will be found elsewhere in 
this volume. 

CHRISTIAN W. ACKERMAN, county 
treasurer of Cuming County, came to 
this section of Nebraska in March, 
1876. He is a native of Putnam County, 
Illinois, born August, 1860. He is the 
son of John Ackerman, who was born 
in German}' and came to America in 
about 185<i, settling in Illinois. He was a 
cooper by trade, anil followed the same for a 
livelihood for many years. They were the pa- 
rents of four sons and two daughters: John, 
Christian W., our subject; Charles, Sophia, 
Fred and Emma (deceased). The mother died 
in Illinois, in 1878, and the father is now re- 
sidinir at West Point. 



432 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA, 



f Politicallj', our subject is identified with the 
Democratic party. 

lie is purely a self-made man, having made 
all he possesses by his own exertion. In 18S9 
he was elected to the office of county treasurer- 
and re-elected in 1891, and has held the office 
with credit to himself and the count}'. 

He was married in 1885 to Miss Malinda 
Beckenhauer, by whom three children were 
born: Emma M., born December G, 1885; John 
C, born October 2G, 1887, and Eva Esther, 
born December 1, 1890. 

ilr. Ackerman is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and stands most excellent in the 
conimunitv in wliicli he lives. 



HON. JOHN DERX, who was elected to 
the office of county treasurer at the 
general election of 1SS9, and re-elected 
in 1S91, will form the subject of this notice. 
He has been a resident of Dodge County, Ne- 
braska, for twenty-two years, arriving in this 
section of what was then the new West during 
the month of March, 1SG9. 

He is a native of Germany, born in Hessen 
Darmsleadt October 24, 1850. He is the son of 
John and Catherine (Hofi'man) Dern, both of 
whom are deceased. The father died in Ger- 
many, while the mother passed her last days in 
Fremont at the home of our subject. Mr. Dern 
grew to manhood in his native countr}', receiv- 
ing a good education, both in the public schools 
and college, and at the age of fifteen years 
came to America, locating at Peru, La Salle 
County, Illinois, where he remained onh' four 
years, and then came to Dodge County, Ne. 
braska, where he at once engaged in farming. 
After being a resident of the county a few 
years he purchased a (puirter section of land 
on Maple Creek which was at the time unbroken 
by the plowshare. This ho improved, and here 
ho made his home until 18S0, when he engaged 
in the grain, lumber and live stock business, 
which he followed one year at Scribner, Ne- 
braska. H'? then sold and removed to Fremont, 



and. in company with William A. G. Cobb and 
George W. E. Dorsey, engaged in the lumber 
and grain business, and was associated with 
them one year, after which he removed to 
Hooper and engaged in the grain, lumber and 
live stock business. The first three years he 
was in company with B. F. Morehouse, after 
which he purchased the entire interest and con 
tinned the same alone until 1891. He was one 
of the founders of the Hooper State Bank, with 
a one-third interest. This concern was estab- 
lished in 1886, with a cash capital of $15,000. 
In the autumn of 18S9 he became treasurer of 
Dodge County, which official position of trust 
and responsibility he still holds. He was a 
menibei' of the State Senate during the session 
of 1889, and has held many other public posi- 
tions since his residence in the county. Polit- 
ically, he is a strong supporter of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, 
belonging to Hooper Lodge No. 89 of A. F. it 
A. M.; Signet Chapter No. 8, of Fremont ; also 
belongs to the Commandery Knights of Pythias, 
Hooper Lodge No. 89. 

Our subject is a successful business man, being 
interested in many important entei-prises. He 
is president of the Fremont Brewing Company, 
whose fine plant was completed in the spring of 
1892. He is also interested in real £state in 
Salt Lake City, and has valuable mining inter- 
ests in Utah. He is president of the Mercer 
Gold i\lining and Milling Company. He owns 
a fine stock farm of 320 acres on Maple Creek. 
Dodge County, Nebraska, besides real estate 
interests in Fremont and Hooper. As an evi- 
dence of his financial tact, it should be said 
that all he possesses has been made through his 
own efforts. 

Mr. Dern was united in marriage December 
14, 1871, to Elizabeth Dern, also a native of 
Germany. They were married in Fremont, 
Nebraska, and are the parents of five children : 
Mary E., George II. (who is his father's assist- 
ant in the treasurer's ottice), MatiUla IL, Fred 
C. and Lizzie A. The fauiilv are connected 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



433 



with the German Liitiieran Church. He is a 
liberal-hearted, generous raan, deserving of all 
that the good people of Dodge County have 
bestowed upon him. 

In concluding this notice, which would 
scarcel}' be complete without such a statement, 
it may be said that our subject is a living ex- 
ample of the wonderful opjiortunities afforded 
in this form of government, whereb\' a youth 
reared in a foreign land may come to hold some 
of the highest positions, both socially' and po- 
litically, within the gift of the intelligent people 
of a great commonwealth. It will be remem- 
bered that our subject was but fifteen years of 
age when he bid farewell to the scenes of his 
childhood in Germany and embarked upon the 
rolling waves of the broad, deep ocean, headed 
for the New World, and that notwithstanding 
he is just in the prime of life — forty-two years 
of age — he has achieved success in the role of 
a financier and public officer, having represented 
the people of his county in the State Senate, as 
well as loolcing after the financial interests of 
Doilge Countv as its treasurer. 



HON. WILLIAM FRIED, mayor of 
Fremont and vice-president of N\'e 
tt Schneider Company, whose genera' 
offices are at Fremont, where he resides, is a 
gentleman whose iiistory very justly finds its 
place in the records of the Elkhorn Valley. 

Mr. Fried is a native of Sweden, born May 
20, 1811, the son of Samuel and Carrie (Sanden) 
Fried, both of whom died in Sweden. Our 
suliject is of a family of five children, two of 
whom still survive : Samuel, his brother, is a res- 
ident of Boyd County, Nebraska, engaged in 
stock raising. Our suliject was reared in 
Sweden, where he received an education in the 
higher branches and at the age of twenty-one 
\'ears completed his education and came to 
America, locating for a time in Henry County, 
Illinois, with three of his brothers : Samuel 
John and Carl A.; the two latter now being 
deceased. Carl A. died in Omaha, August s, 



1887, at the age of forty-four years ; he was one 
of the leading business men of Omaha, and 
was a member of the Lee-Fried Comjiany, whole, 
sale hardware dealers ; he being the founder of 
that concern, and had been a resident of 
Nebraska since 1808, having located in Oak- 
land for a short time, after which he spent 
twelve vears in Fremont, prior to going to 
Omaha. John, the other brother, died in Ill- 
inois. William, our subject, enlisted in the 
Engineers Corps of Company I, in Chicago, in 
the autumn of 1863, and served in the Union 
Army, until the close of the Civil War, in May 
1865, when he was discharged at Chicago. 
He then took a position as clerk on the steamer 
"Benton"', ph'ing betweeen St. Joseph and 
Grand Haven, running as far up as Manistee and 
IMuskegan. He followed this for two 
years and then came to Fremont, Nebraska, 
engaging himself with Nye, Colson k. 
Company, with whom he remained until 
1871, as an employe, and at that date was 
taken in as a partner, which interest he still 
retains. He has been one of the active mem- 
bers of this company, assisting itsgrowth from 
acomparative small plant, until it assumed its 
]iresent large capacity, ile was made vice- 
president of the Company in 1888. He is a 
man [)ossessed of fine business quality, as was 
realized by the original members of the firm, 
and his admission to the same was duly appre- 
ciated by them. 

Politically, Mr. Fi-ied is a supporter of the 
Republican party, and in the spring of 1801 
was elected mayor of Fremont. Pis political 
career, however, began prior to that time, for 
he was elected as a member of the Nebraska 
State Legislature in 188(i, and has filled many 
])ositions of lionor and ti'ust. IJe is a member 
of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging 
to McPherson Post No. -1. He is identified 
with the INIasonic fraternity, belonging to 
Fremont Lodge No. 15, A. F. i*c A. M., Signet 
Chapter No. 8. ; Mt Tabor Commandery No. 
0, and is also a member of the Scottish 
Rites. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Fried was united in marriage, May 20, 
1874, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Miss Carrie C. 
l>obeck, a native of Illinois, born November 29, 
1857, the daughter of Ottoe and Anna Lobeck. 
Mr. and Mrs. Fried are the parents 
of two children : William, born in 1880 ; Thvra, 
born in 1883. Mrs. Fried is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

Among the business interests of our subject, 
it may be mentioned that he is a stockholder 
of the Fremont National Bank ; also of the 
Fremont Street Eailway and Stock Yards and 
Land Compan\'. He is president of the board 
of trade of P'remont, and has been one of the 
most active business men of the place. He is 
a self-made man, who counts his friends by one 
word, legion. Pie possesses real estate in 
both Fremont and Omaha, and for a man of 
his years has been exceptionally successful. 

That it pa3's for a youth to properh' edu- 
cate himself, and then follow some one given 
role for a livelihood, each step being marked 
by honesty, and uprightness, has never been 
questioned by men of good understanding, 
in any age of the world. Where one hundred 
men reach the top-most round of social and 
financial success, bj' habits of established 
business principles, aided b}' temperance and 
manliness, one achieves success through specu- 
lation, scheming and wrecklessness, sur- 
rounded by associates of immorality and 
intemjierance. But few districts send men of 
the last named class to help make and revise 
laws. Few cities choose them for municipal 
honors ; and few communities commend them 
for their daily walk in life — the world ailmii-es 
order, sobriety and uprightness, all of which 
graces adorn the character of our subject. 



HENIIY J. LEE, of Fremont, Nebraska, a 
hardware merchant and prominent 
figure in business circles of the place, 
is the fourth child of James and Jane Lee, and 
was born on a farm in Bradford County, Penn- 
sylvania, August 25, lSo7. lie remained at 



home with bis parents until he was past his 
majorit}', devoting himself to farm labor until 
he was twent3'-three years of age, when he 
entered a store and spent one year, and then 
came to Fremont, Nebraska, bidding farewell 
to the old homestead in the Keystone State in 
the month of February, 1865. When he first 
came to P'remont he went to selling goods on 
the road between Omaha and Kearney, Ne- 
braska, which he followed four years, at the 
end of which time he and his brother erected a 
business room, which they rented to O. M. Car- 
ter for five j'ears, but the following January 
(1870) our subject purchased the stock of Car- 
ter, which consisted of hardware goods amount- 
ing to four thousand dollars. This stock was 
added to by degrees, the circle of his trade en- 
larged and he soon began the jobbing business 
on a small scale, the trade being limited, owing 
to the newness of the country. But as the 
county began to settle up and the demand for 
goods became greater he increased his stock. 
The first four or five years he did most of his 
traveling himself (looking after his customers), 
but then found that he was needed at his es- 
tablishment and hired men for the I'oad. He 
remained in the first building until 1878, when 
he erected his present house, which has a depth 
of one hundred and twenty-five feet by thirty- 
three feet in width, the same being three 
stories high with a basement undei' the entire 
building. He carries about a twenty-five thou- 
sand dollar stock of goods. His annual sales 
will average sixty thousand dollars. He has in 
his employ seven men, and has one of the most 
complete hardware establishments in this part 
of the State. 

In March, 1880, he, in company with C. A. 
Fried, established a wholesale jobbers' hard- 
ware establishment in Omaha, under the firm 
name of II. J. Lee & Co., but which was soon 
changed to Lee, P'ried »t Co., who, after several 
moves, finally located on the corner of Twelfth 
and Harney streets, where they carry a two 
hundred thousand tlollar stock, the present 
name of the firm being Lee-Clarke-Anreesen 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Hardware Companj', who succeeded Lee, Fried 
iV Co. in January, 1888. Thei" business ex- 
tends over a great portion of Iowa, Nel^raska, 
Soutli Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. 
Tliey have nine salesmen on tlie road and 
enipio}' thirty five men in the liouse, their 
annual sales amounting to from six to eight 
hundi'ed tliousand dollars. Our subject, who 
was the father of the concern, now spends his 
time in Fremont, looking after his business in- 
terests there, having two farms of five hundred 
acres in Dodge County, which are devoted to 
stock and agriculture. In 1891-2 he erected a 
handsome pressed-brick residence on the corner 
of Sixth and C streets. 

Politically, Mr. Lee affiliates with the lie- 
publican party, and since living in Dodge 
County has been one of its couimissioners three 
years. 

He was united in marringe March 10, 1869, 
to Sophrona S. EUswortii, who was born in 
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1849, 
the daughter of Charles and Ruth Ellsworth, 
who were genuine Yankees. Mr. and Mrs. Lee 
are the parents of two children : Eva J. and 
Myra S. 

The father of our subject was a strong advo- 
cate of temperance, neither using any kind of 
beverage or tobacco in any form. Both he and 
his wife v/ere members of the Baptist Church, 
he being a deacon in that church for many 
years, although he was brought uj) in the 
Church of Entjland. 



REV. THOMAS WELSH was born in 
Kill:enny County, Ireland, made iiis 
studies and was ordained priest at St. 
John's College, Waterford, in June, 18SG, and 
came to this State in the following September. 
Since then he has served in Seward, Lincoln 
and Lexington. His parish is comprised of 
the missions of Norfolk, Battle ('reek, Tildcn 
and Oakdale. 

In nearly ever\' new country the Catholic 
missionary is anmng the van-guard of pioneers, 



and too much credit cannot be attached to 
those early heralds of the Cross, who deprive 
themselves of the comforts and luxuries of life, 
that they might establish the religion and 
church of which tiiey are devotees. 

The organization of the Catholics of Madi- 
son County was cfi"ected by Ilev. J. M. livan. 
who visited Battle Creek, celebrated mass and 
administered bajaism in the house of P. J. 
O'Neill, of that place. Shortly afterwards the 
charge of that place was exercised by Father 
Bedood who was then pastor of a congregation 
of French Catholics near Clearwater. Battle 
Creek was next served by Father Smith, of 
O'Neill who there erected a church, organized 
a congregation at Norfolk, and jnirchased lots 
on which to raise a church. To Father Smith 
in care of Norfolk succeeded Fi-.Horne, of West 
Point, and he in turn was succeeded bv Rev. 
T. M. Carney, who built the parsonage and 
church in 1881. When Father Carney was 
transferred to Plattsmoutli, the Rev. F. Lcch- 
leinter was appointed pastor and acted in that 
capacity; the present pastor, Rev. Thomas 
Welsh, was appointed in Februai'v, ISito. 



CLARK C. McNISII, an attorney-at-law, 
and prominent business factor at Wis- 
ner, came to Cuming County, March 17, 
1875, and by reason of iiis active business 
career, the profession he so ably represents, 
and his general connection with the history of 
the Elkhorn Valley, he very naturally finds 
place in the history of this book. 

He is a native of Green County, Wisconsin, 
born February 14, 1852. He is the son of Archer 
McNish, born in Scotland, who came to Amer- 
ica when a young man and located in the above 
named county, where he became acquainted 
with Miss Elizabeth Chadwick, a native of 
Pennsylvania, whom he married. Two sons 
blessed this Union : Clark C. and Alexander. 
The father died in about 1857,and Mrs. McNish 
married Alexander i\rcNish, a brother of her 
former husband. Mrs.:^[cNisll died in December, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1872. Our subject's half-brothers and sisters 
were: John, Amanda, MarViWilliam (deceased); 
Edith, Albert and Lizzie. After the death of 
his father, our subject lived with the Chadwicks 
until he was fourteen years of a<?e, when he 
Ijegan teaching school. In the fall of 1868, he 
commenced attending the Wisconsin State 
University' at Madison, graduating from the 
Law Department in 1873. At this time he was 
in the law office of Lewis, McKenney ifc Ten- 
ney, a pi'ominent law firm of Madison, with 
whom he remained until 1875. when he opened 
up his office at Wisner. He makes a specialty 
of collection and real estate law. After coming 
to the place, he was one of the town trustees. 
He was the third postmaster at Wisner, and in 

1879 was elected states attorney for the Sixth 
District, which composed one-third of the State, 
and was re-elected in 1881. He is a member 
of the Tlepublican Central Committee of Ne- 
braska, chairman of the Congressional Com- 
mittee in the Third District, and a member of 
the Executive and Finance Committee, and 
has been a thoroughgoing worker for the Re- 
publican party. In 188(', in compan}' with A. 
R. Graham, he started a bank at Wisner, and in 

1880 assisted in establishing the First National 
Bank of that place, and is to-day one of its 
directors and one of its heaviest stockholders. 
He has in his own name fifteen hundred acres 
of land in Nebraska, besides a large landed in- 
terest in company with Andrew R. Graham. 
He owns a one-half interest in a hardware 
store at Wisner, and an interest in a town-lot 
company, and a one-half interest in a creamery. 

He was married in 1877, to Miss Eliza M. 
Graham, of Scotch descent. By this union two 
children iiave been born : Jesse C, July 5, 
1878; Mable, born April 21, 1881. 

He was one of the cliartei- members of Wis- 
ner Lodge, A. 1\ imd A. M,, and was made the 
first master. Ho iils(j belongs to Fremont 
Chapter and Mt. Tabor Commandery No. 14. 
He is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, in 
which he has always taken great interest. He 
has one of the (inestlaw libraries in that State, 



outside of Omaha. In 1888 he built a fine resi- 
dence, costing him seven thousand dollars. It is 
supplied with a furnace, bath rooms, etc., all in 
modern style. 

Mr. McNish has always taken an active in- 
terest in educational matters, and served on the 
school board for a number of years. He was 
instrumental in getting the school house site, 
and was a member of the school board at the 
time the high school building was erected. In 
1883 the bank building was erected by McNish 
& Graham ; the same is 45x70 feet, two stories 
and a basement. They are at present erecting 
a brick business -Jiouse on the opposite side of 
the street from their bank building. 

In concluding this notice, it may be added 
that he of whom this bif)graphy is written, not 
unlike his associate in business, Mr. A. R. Gra- 
ham, has met with more than ordinary success 
thus far in life. Indeed, he is just in the prime 
of life, and is beginning to reap the reward of 
a well-spent young manhood. By close ap- 
plication to his profession, he has improved the 
gifts bestowed upon him by nature, and is al- 
ready in the possession of a witle circle of 
friends, whose name may be expressed by the 
one word legion. Surrounded with all the 
comforts of life, a good home and an interesting 
family, his position is indeed one to be cher- 
ished by any ambitious youth. To gain wealth 
and social distinction, without the aid of a 
legacy from one's parents, requires self-sacrifice 
coupled with a good business sagacity, and our 
subject has pioven that integrity and persever- 
ance in this day and age is not without its 
reward- 

Wl LLl AM F. WESTBHALEN, a farmer 
of Section 7, Everett township, came 
to Dodge County, in December, 
1871, in company \yitli his parents. His father 
took a homesteiul in Everett township, and 
maile the necessary improvements, ])assing 
through all the hardships coincident to a 
homesteader's life. As time went on he added 
to his land until he had six hundred acres. He 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



remained liere until the time of his death, 
September 10, 1S91. He came to Dodge 
County witliout means, and his nearest market 
place was Fremont. Our subject remained 
wit!) his parents until he arrived at the years 
of ills majority, when his father gave him the 
farm he now occupies, which consists of one 
liuudred and twenty acres, upon which he 
built a house 14x22 feet, and a barn 14x2-1 
feet. Also provided a bored well, with wind 
power attachment, and everything about the 
place shows Iiim to be a man of thrift and 
oi'der. 

]\Ir. Westjihalen was born in "Wisconsin, 
May, 1802, and is a son of John J. and Cath- 
rena Westphalen, of German birth. In his 
father's family there were nine children : Mag- 
gie, Dora, Henry, William F., Anna, Charles, 
Ellen, Carrie, Gustave. 

Our subject remained in Wisconsin until he 
was eight years of age, at which time his 
])arents came to Dodge Countv, Nebraska. His 
earl3' advantages for an education were good. 
He was married March, 1886, to Maggie filler- 
man, daughter of Peter and Sophia Ellerman, 
natives of Germany, who had seven children, 
named as follows : Maggie (deceased). Henry, 
Amelia, Nicholas, William, Charles, Castena. 

Our subject's wife died May 30,1891, leav- 
ing two children: John H., born December 10, 
1887, and Charles P., born January 26, 
1889. 

Politically, our subject is a supporter of the 
Kepulilican part}', and in religious matters 
both he and his wife were members of the 
Lutheran C-lnnrh. 



SAilUEL W. PETERS, an enterprising 
farmer of Section 18, Nickerson town- 
ship, dates his settlement in Dodge 
County from the spring of 1855. However, he 
was but seven years of age at that time, but his 
parents located at Eontanellc, and he remained 
with them until sixteen yeai's of age, and then 
went to Ohio. Prior to that time he attended 



the district schools of Dodge County, during 
the winter months, and worked on tiie farm 
tluring the summer. Upon going to Ohio our 
subject entered the high school at New Lisbon, 
in which school he remained for four years, 
after which lie came back to Nebraska and pre- 
empted one hundred and sixty acres of wild 
land. He made the necessary improvements; 
remained there two years and took advantage 
of the homestead act, and in this way secured 
eightv acres more land. He planted out an 
artificial grove, also an orchard of one hundred 
trees, together with one hundred pluin trees. 
After remaining on that ])lace seven years he 
sold out and bought the farm he now occupies. 
The same consists of two hundred and three 
acres, which was partly improved, but to which 
he added very many valuable improvements, 
including good building, wells, etc. He has an 
orchard of two thousand trees, and has two hun- 
dred acres of land under cultivation. During the 
grasshopper scourge he met with heavy losses, 
including the jiartial destruction of his 
orchard. 

Mr. Peters is a native of the I'uckeye State, 
born in Columbiana County December 11, 1847. 
He is a son of James H. and Jane Peters, who 
had a family of the following children, of whom 
our subject was the oklest. Tlie family weie : 
Samuel AV., James R., Emery J., Mary (deceased), 
Thomas J. (deceased), Edward M. (deceased), 
Henry A. (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Lena 
and Luna, twins. Samuel remained in Ohio 
until he was seven years of age. 

He was united in marriage February 18, 1871, 
to Stella Covey, the daughter of Suel and Laura 
Cove\', natives of Vermont, who had a family 
of six children, of whom our subject's wife was 
the fourth : Myron, Laura, Lucinda, Stella, 
Ada and Willie. Our subject and his wife have 
had born to them six children, as follows: 
Emma J. (deceased), born February IS, 1873; 
Ida Maude, August 9, 1870; Blanche A., Janu- 
ary 10, 1878; Henry P., September 5, 1880 ; 
cfilTord C, January 22, 1883: Frank L., April 
14, 1887. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. and Mrs. Peters are members of the Chris- 
tkin Cliurcli, and in liis pijlitics he is asupporter 
of tiie Proliiijition party. 

Tile man wliose name lieads this notice is a 
son of pioneer James II. Peters, who endured 
tiie liardsiiips coincident to the early settle- 
ment at Fontaneiie. (See sketch elsewhere in 
this work.) 

PAUL II. BETIIGE, of Fremont, dealer in 
wall paper, paints and oils, engaged in 
the trade of painting, also i)aper hang- 
ing and ai'tistic decorating, of 33G Main street, 
will form tiie subject of this notice. 

He is a native of Berlin, Germany, born May 
12, 18G2, the son of Fred and Dorathea (Gen- 
seke)Bet!ige, both residents of Rock County, 
Nebraska, where they own a half section of 
land. Our subject is of a family of twelve 
children, nine of whom are still living. He 
was reared in his native land, and up to his 
sixteenth year he was educated in the private 
schools and tlien took a course at the college 
"Gewerbe School."' In this institution he took 
a fiva years' course, perfecting himself in the 
languages, after which he entered a bank, and 
express company's employ for a period of four 
years. In 1881, he came to America, located in 
La Salle County, Illinois, and remained two 
years, engaged at various occupations. In 1883, 
he went to Brown County, Nebraska, remained 
eiglitoen months and moved on West, to the 
Black Hills, Wyoming, and northwestern 
Nebraska, where he spent some two years, herd, 
ing cattle, and one year at freighting from 
Valentine to Rapid City, Deadwood, Chadron, 
etc. During this time, he took a pre-emption, 
southeast of Gordon, whicii he proved up and 
has since disposed of. In spring of 1886, he 
went to Illinois and spent a few months and on 
his return engaged with the engineers corps of 
the Fremont, Elkliorn A: Missouri Valley rail- 
way, as rod-man and pile inspector, with which 
company he was associated for three years, 
after which he engaged in business with his 
brother Rudolph in iiis present line in Fremont 



After eighteen months, he assumed full control 
of the business and now does a general deco- 
rating and painting business, being among the 
most prominent in this branch of work in Fre- 
mont : having in his employ from six to twelve 
men. 

Politically, he is identified with the Demo- 
cratic party. He belongs to the City Fire 
Department and takes great interest in every- 
thing connected with the welfare of the place. 



CARL WOEPPEL, a farmer of Maple 
Creek precinct, Stanton County, whose 
farm home is on Section 13, township 
21, range 2, came to America in 1872, landing 
at New York, and went from thei'e to southern 
Illinois, where he leased a farm for three 
years. He lived one year in Petersburg and 
then moved to Cuming Coui^ty, Nebraska, 
where he rented land three years. In 
the spring of 187S he came to Stanton 
County and filed on a homestead upon which 
he nbw resides. Lie constructed a rude dug-out 
and lived in the same for seven years, wiien he 
built a frame house. 

Oursubject was born in Prussia, May 10, 1833> 
and is the fourth son of Joliann C. F. Woeppel, 
a civil officer at Furstenwald Province, Braden, 
burg, Prussia. He received his education at 
the public schools, after wliich he learned the 
blacksmith's trade, following it for seven years 
in European cities, after which he engaged in 
business for himself at Letschin Oderberg for 
eighteen years. 

He was first mairied to (Jaroiine Krueger, by 
whom 'Cwa children wei'e born, three of whom 
are living: Augusta, who married Herman 
Draude, a farmer of Stanton County, they 
have three children ; Emily, married Schuiz, 
and they have a family of five sons; Albert, a 
renter in Stanton County. The mother of these 
children died during a cholera epidemic in 1866, 
and a year later Mr. Woeppel married Henri- 
etta, the oldest daughter of Henry Disterhaupt, 
by whom one child was born, and died in in- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



fancy of diphtheria. Six years later the mother 
ilicii from a tumor, after which he married lier 
sister, by whom ten children were born, named 
as follows: Richard, Anna, William, Gnstav, 
Paul, Edward, Lillie, Lind, Herman and Ilulda- 

Mr. Woeppel and his famih' are members of 
the German Lutheran Church, and politically 
h(> votes the Farmers Alliance ticket. 

In common with most settlers in the Elkhorn 
N'alley who resided there in the seventies, our 
subject was a great loser by the grasshojiper 
plague. Two years in Cuming Count\' and one 
year in Stanton County they destroyed his 
crops, and in-lSSl his crop was nearly all de- 
stroyed by hail. Upon coming to the county 
he only possessed a team and one cow, but by 
steadily pressing onward in the great battle of 
life, conquering where others have failed, our 
subject has accumulated a handsome property, 
including a half section of land, sixt^'-three 
head of cattle, eighteen head of horses and one 
hundretl and twenty head of swine. From 1883 
to ISSS he lost one thousand dollars worth of 
horses by disease. 

Our subject is an exemplary Christian and is 
liuly thankful for the possession of health and 
strength, although sixty years of age. lie is 
hap])}' in the thought that he has done his duty 
towai'd his famih' and his God, and rejoices in 
his cliildren, who are all respected and intlus- 
trious. 



JAMES r. lUACK of Section 28, Union 
township, came to Dodge County in the 
spring of 1876, and the following spring, 
in company with his brother W. R .rentetl 
aijoiit nine hundred acres of land and farmed 
three hundred acres. They handled large quan- 
tities of cattle in company with J. O. Milligan. 
In 1884 he homesteaded the farm he now lives 
upon. It was "smuggled" for a long time, but 
linally it fell into his hands and lias now come 
to be a well improved and valuable farm. In 
all, our subject has one hundred and forty 
acres of land in Union township, one hundred 
and twentv in his home farm andtweiitv acres 



of ha}' land on the Platte Valley. Concerning 
his earlier life let it be said that he was born 
April 15,1852, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 
the son of J. L. and Cassie (Moore) Black of 
A'irginia. He remained at home with his 
parents until he was twent^'-one years of age, 
and then farmed I'oi' himself until he came to 
Dodge County. 

lie was united in marriage December 10, 1879, 
in the Old Dominion State, to Hiss Jennie 
Echard, daughter of AVilliam K. and Agnes W. 
Echard, who were both natives of Virginia. 
Mrs. Black was born in N'irginia, February 1, 
1857, and remained at home with her parents 
until the date of her marriage. 

Mr. and Mrs. Black are the jiarents of five 
children: AVilliam P., Carrie A., Nettie M. 
and Floyd (twins) and Charles B. 

Mrs. Black and the family are members of 
the Methodist Episcopal (church and in politics 
our subject belongs to the Independent party. 



JOHN R. WALLACE, a highly respected 
farmer of Section 4, Elkhorn township, 
came to Dodge County in the fall of 1SS7, 
when he located u|)on the farm he now 
occupies, which consistetl of three hundred and 
eighty acres of impi-oved land. 

He was born in Scotland, January 20, 1850, 
the son of Adam and Esther Wallace, natives 
of Scotland, whose children were as folloM's: 
Samuel, Isabel, Mary, Wdliam, Robert, John 
and Elizabeth. Mr. Wallace remained in Scot- 
land until he was sixteen years of age, and 
then came to .America, landing at New York 
Harbor, and from that point went^to Berling, 
Connecticut, where he remained one year, and 
then went lo Springfield, Massachusetts and 
from thence to Hamilton, Canada. After a 
short time at the last named place, he went to 
Dundash, Canada, where he worketl on a farm 
for one year, and became a renter of land in 
that section for five years, which brought him 
to 1865, during which year he removed to 
Macon County, Illinois, where he farmed four 



440 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



years and came to Butler County, Nebraska. 
Here he aviiiled himself of the homestead act 
by taking iiis claim, upon which he built a sod- 
house in which he lived for six years. He 
added to his homestead, until he had two hun- 
dred and forty acres of land, one hundred and 
thirty of which he had under cultivation. lie 
sold his pi'opcrty and removed to Jewell 
County, Kansas, where he bought one hundred 
ami twenty acres of land and finally owned 
three hundred and twenty acres, and lived 
upon the same four years; one season he liad 
two hundred acres of corn which was nearly all 
destroyed by hail. He sold his Kansas farm 
and went on the road selling books and pic- 
tures, which business he followed until he came 
to Dodge County. 

His educational advantages were good. He 
entered college and fitted himself for the min- 
istry of the Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. AVallace was united in marriage in the 
autumn of IS.^G, to Margaret Duncan, whose 
parents were Thomas and Rachel Duncan, 
natives of Scotland, and whose children were 
as follows : JVIargaret, Mariah, Fannie, Betsy, 
Minerva, Susan, Mary, llachel, an infant, Han- 
nah, William, John, David and Joseph. 

By this marriage four children were born : 
Robert, Mary, Rachel and AVilliam. 

In the sprijigof 187C, for Ins second wife our 
subject married Mary Plymate,of Penns3'lvania, 
who was one of a family of four children: Joseph, 
James, Nanc}' and Mar}'. By this marriage two 
children were born : May and Elizabeth. 

October, 18S8,Mr. Wallace married the widow 
of the late John Pollock, who was one of the 
pioneers of Dodge County. He came in April, 
18*)0, and took a homestead on Section 10, and 
built a log house, which was covered with a dirt 
roof. He broke sixty acres of this land, re- 
mained two years, sold out, and bought the 
farm Mrs. Wallace now lives upon, which was 
all wild land at that time. Mrs. Walhice and 
husband broke it out ; built a house and barn; 
set out an orchard of two hundred trees together 
with shade trees and shrubberv. 



By Mr. Pollock, onr subject's wife had thir- 
teen children, ten of whom are living. The 
names of the children areas follows: Eliza- 
beth, Sarah, Montgomery, James, Josephine, 
John, Ervin, Madora, Oscar, Martin, Otto, 
William and Ruth. Mr. Pollock died July 24, 
1886. His wife's maiden name was Elizabeth 
Burnett, daughter of Thomas and Dorothy 
Burnett, natives of Glasgow, Scotland, who 
were the parents of three children : Elizabeth, 
James and Elnora, all living in Nebraska. The 
parents died in this country. 



WILLIAM WHEELER, a representative 
farmer of Cot.terell township, residing 
on Section 9, came to Dodge County 
in April, 1887, and bought the farm he now 
occupies, purcliasmg one hundred and sixty 
acres, pa\'ing foi-tyfive dollars per acre. .It is 
what is known as the Cotterell farm, and is 
considered one of the best in the county. 
When he bought the place the improvements 
were good, except the matter of fences, which 
he has added. Our subject has added to the 
place until he now has four hundred acres, two 
hundred and twenty-live of which is under cul- 
tivation, and the. balance is in pasture and 
meadow land. 

Mr. Wheeler was born in Clay County, Indi- 
ana, September 24, 1831, the son of Joshua 
and Elizabeth (Duly) Wheeler, both natives of 
Kcntuck3\ The father was born in 1791), and 
died in Boone County, Iowa, September 17, 
1891. The mother was born in 1803, anil lives 
in Boone County, Iowa, with her son Isaac. 
The parents came to Boone County in the 
spring of 1850. They started from Indiana in 
the autumn of 1819, but wintered in Hlinois, 
C'impleting their journey in the spring, Mr. 
Wheeler left Indiana in the spring of 1850 for 
Boone County, Iowa, coming through by team, 
as that was in the early days of railroading 
wiien there was not a mile of railroad west of 
Chicago. Our subject's father located two miles 
north of where Boone now stands and was tlie 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



first settler in this part of Boone County. 
After William came to Boone Count}' he run 
a cabinet shop in the town of ljoonesl)oro ajid 
reniainctl in tlial business until 1S69 and came 
to Saunders County, Nebraska, homesteaded 
eighty acres of land and bought eighty acres 
adjoining. He at once set about improving 
his place, and added to his land until when he 
sold, in 18S7, he had four hundred acres, which 
he sold for forty-fivo ilollars per acre cash. 
This same land he bought (aside from the 
homestead) at four dollars per acre, giving 
him a profit of forty-one tlollai's per acre. 
Aftei' purchasing his present farm, or 
one hundred and sixty acres of it, the 
man of whom he purchased offered him 
five luuulred dollars to back out of the trans- 
action. 

Our subject was married in Clay County, 
Indiana, in June, 1850, to Miss Sarah Ballard, 
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Decker) 
Ballard, both natives of Kentucky. Sarah 
(Ballard) Wheeler was born in Harrison 
County, Indiana, and died in Boone County, 
Iowa, about ISGl. By her marriage three 
childien were boi'n : Willis, Julia and Cath- 
arine. 

Mr. Wheeler was again married, July 2i. 
lS(i2, in Boone County, Iowa, to Miss Martha 
Anderson. l)y which union five children were 
born : Benjamin, Orlando, Maggie, Joshua 
and Thomas. The first three of his children 
are living in Saunders County, Nebraska ; Ben- 
jamin is living in Oregon ; Orlando and Mag- 
gi(! are bcjth married and living in Saundei's 
County, while Joshua and Thomas are living at 
li()m(\ 

William was the oldest of six in his fatliei''s 
family, four sons and two daughters. The 
daugiiters are both deceased, and the brother 
is living in Boone County, Iowa. 

Mr. Wheeler is a Democrat in his political 
belief. In leligious matters he makes no pro- 
fession, but his wife is a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 



DR. J. M. IIAKDY located in the city of 
Fremont September 1, 1891. He is a 
native of Wyoming County, New York, 
born June 27, 1856. His parents were S. I*. 
and D. C. (Bui'idiam) Hardy, both natives of 
the Empire State, and of New England parent- 
age. Our subject was but eleven years of age 
when he came west to Ohio. He was educated 
principally in Abbingdon College, in Illinois, 
and began the study of medicine under C. P. 
Johnson, of Springfield, Illinois, when nineteen 
years of age. He took his fii'st medical course 
at the Rush Medical College, and -graduated 
from the medical college at Columbus, Ohio, 
in 1877. He entered the practice of his profes- 
sion in Illinois, and has divided his time be 
tween Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. He came 
to Nebraska in the spring of 1888 and to Fre- 
mont at the time above indicated, having prac- 
ticed at Staplehurst, Seward County, prior to 
coming to Fremont. He makes a specialty of 
surgery and obsteti'ics. 

He was united in mai'riage to ]\Iiss Emily J. 
Laning, of Elniira, Nebraska, wiio is a native of 
England. They are the parents of one (•liild : 
Estella S. 

The doctor and his wife are anujng the iiighly 
respected citizens of Fremont. Politically, the 
doctor is not at all radical, but thus far has 
cast his vote with the Rejmblican party. 



JAMES A. MATlIESON,a farmer residing 
on Section 33, township 23, of Stanton pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, was born in Wal- 
worth County, Wisconsin, March 17, 1858- 
He is the son of Duncan and Catharine (Bu- 
chanan) Matheson, who were natives of Ross- 
shire, Scotland. The latter still lives at Fayette, 
Wisconsin, but the former died July G, 1871, 
aged fifty-six yeai's. He came to Wisconsin 
ai)out 1838 and was counted among the pioneers 
of that county. Three of the eight children 
born to Duncan and Catharine Matheson are 
living in Stanton County, while the remainder 
of the survivors live in Wisconsin. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Our subject received a limited education, and 
when eighteen years of age left home and 
began life for himself in Stark County, Illinois, 
as a farm laborer. He continued there for four 
years and in 1S79 came to Stanton County, 
Nebraska. The next year he rented a farm near 
Pilger, and in 1883 purchased his present farm. 
He has improved the same until it is now under 
good cultivation. In ISSi he purchased another 
farm in Butterfly precinct, lie now owns three 
hundred and twenty acres of land in all. In 
1885 he bought an interest in a grocer}' and 
meat market in the village of Stanton, which 
he carried on for one year, but since which time 
he has rented the building to another dealer. 

Politically Mr. Matheson is a Republican. 
He has servetl one year as assessor of his pre- 
cinct. He is a member of the Congregational 
Church and belongs to the Knights of Pythias 
Order. For two years, 1883-84, he was en- 
gaged in buying and shipping live stock at 
Stanton. 

GEOPtGE W. SWEIGAP.D, a resident of 
IIoo])er, Dodge County, accompanied 
his parents, in the spring of 1878, to this 
locality. For four yeai-s the father rented land 
in Hooper township, and then bought two hun- 
dred aci'es of partly im])roved land, upon which 
he built a house, costing seven hundred dollars, 
and other necessary buildings. George remained 
with his parents until he arrived at his major- 
ity, when he rented land for five years, and 
then bought two hundred acres, which he after- 
ward sold, and engaged in the livery business, 
which he still conducts at Hooper. 

Mr. Sweigard was born in Snyder Count}', 
Pennsylvania, August 20, ISGo, the son of 
Henry and Margaret Sweigard, also natives of 
the Keystone State, and whose children were : 
L. M., John, Samuel, Henry, Hannah, George 
W., Peter (deceased) and Daniel. George W. 
remained in Pennsylvania until he was a lad 
thirteen years of age, when he came to Ne- 
braska. His atlvantages for obtaining an edu- 
cation were somewhat limited, as his parents. 



came to Nebraska poor people. September 7, 
1889, he was united in nuirriage to Mary Tank, 
the daughter of Be^nnix Tank, a native of Ger- 
many, who was the father of twelve children, 
four of whom still sui'vive : Dora. Mary, Henry 
and Ollie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Sweigard have two children : 
William II., born January 15,1890, andCai'l J., 
born November 7, 1891. 



ISAAC T. SHIIIYEK, a representative far- 
mer of Section G, Cotterell township, came 
to Dodge County, Nebraska, in the spring 
of 1875, and rented land until 1SS4. In the 
autumn of 1883 he bought the farm he now 
lives upon, consisting of three hundred and 
twenty acres of land, all bi'oken out except sixty 
acres. During the time he was a renter he 
also bought a quarter section of wild land, upon 
which he built a house, and improved it, and 
subsequentlv sold one-half of it to his son John, 
and afterwards sold the other half to a widow 
woman ; but it is now owned by his son. Mr. 
Shrivers home farm has been improved in (ir.st- 
class manner in l)uil(iings, both those he occu- 
pies himself and those of his i-cnter. ]\Ir. 
Shriver is a i)i'atical fai'uier and has nuule all 
he is worth in this county. For ujiou coming 
here, he only had enough money to buy a team 
and provisions to live upon until harvest. He 
has a syrup factory costing $500. He 
has three excellent wells, which virtually cost 
him .?;400, but he feels paid, for he now has a 
good supply of water. At this time he keeps 
nothing but fullblooded Ilolstein cattle. and only 
keeps horses enough to do his farm work, lie 
has an oi'chard of one hundred and twiiity-livc 
apple trees, just commencing t(^ bear. 

He was born in Adams County, Pennsyl- 
vania, November 1, 1832, the son of George L. 
and Mary (Fisher) Shriver, both natives of the 
Keystone State, aiul of German oi'igin. When- 
eighteen years old, his father died but he re- 
mained at home until he became of age, and 
farmed the place for his mother. He next 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



bought a farm of his own and operated it until 
187 1, when he sold out and moved to Davison 
County. North Carolina, where he farmed until 
the spring of 1875 ; sold out and came to Dodge 
Countv, Nebraska. 

He was maried in Adams Count}', Pennsyl- 
vania, January 31, ISoi, to Miss Mary E. 
Feeser, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Favorite) 
Feeser, natives of Maryland. Siie was born in 
Frederick County, Maryland, October 8, 1831- 
They are the parents of twelve children : James 
A., Mary J., John L., Charles N., Emma E., 
Samuel b., Anna B., "Williara T. C, Jacob H., 
Howard C, George W., Francis A. 

Mary J. died January 5, 1804 ; Charles N. 
died December 18, 1863, and Emma E. died 
January 3, 1864. 

Samuel D. is married and lives in Cotterell 
township ; Anna B. married Albert Phillips 
and lives in Creighton, Nebraska ; John L. is 
married and lives in Dodge County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shriver are consistent members 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in 
politics he is a Republican. 

Our subject keeps an accurate account of 
everything he sells from his farm, and the fol- 
lowing amounts are shown by years: 

1882 he sold $ 376 1887 he sold $1,785 

1883 he sold 923 1888 he sold 923 

1884 he sold 929 1889 he sold 1,178 
18S5 he sold 2,220 1890 he sold 2,015 
1886 he sold 1,998. 

Mr. Shriver enlisted in the Union .\riuy at 
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1863, as 
a member of Company F, One Hundred and 
Sixty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 
and was in the engagement at Suffolk and was 
wounded there and sent to the hospital at 
Hampton Roads, and was finally sent home to 
Ilarrisburg, after a service of nine months, and 
mustered out. He then enlisted in Company 
II, Seventy -fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer 
Infantry, which was a German company made 
up at Pittsburg. They did guard dutv, being 
placed at different points in Maryland. Our 
subject served two years, or until the close of 



the war. Their principal service was fighting 
bushwhackers. 



AE. TUNBURG, a grain dealer at the 
village of Hooper, came to Dodge 
County in August, 1867, and settled in 
Logan township, where he bought a claim of 
eighty acres. He broke it out and built a 
house 12x16 feet, in which he lived for about 
twelve years, and them built one 24x28 feet, a 
barn 30x40 feet, provided a grove of twelve 
acres and an orchard of three hundred trees. 
He has added to this land until he now has one 
half section; two hundred and forty acres of 
this is under plow, while the balance is in 
pasture and meadow land. Mr. Tunburg re- 
mained on the farm until the spring of 1889, 
when he moved to Hooper, and engaged in the 
lumber, grain and live stock business. When 
he came to this county he was so poor that he 
was unable to ]nirchase a pair of boots and 
went bare-foot for a number of months. But 
he has lived to see the darkcht side of life's 
picture. To acquaint the reader with some- 
thing concerning his earlier career, it may be 
said that he was born in Sweden, January G, 
1852, the son of Hans and Engra Tunburg, na- 
tives of Sweden, who had the following chil- 
dren: Cbristena (deceased), Sophia, A. E. (our 
subject), Fred, three deceased, Louisa and 
Henry. Our subject remained in Sweden until 
he was fourteen years of age, at which time his 
parents emigrated to Omaha, Nebraska, his 
father taking a homestead in Burt County. 
After A. E. was sixteen years of age he worked 
out by the day until he came to Dodge County. 
Owing to thecii'cumstances of his parents, he 
had poor educational advantages. 

Li j\[arch, 1874, he was united in marriage 
to Augusta M. Klingbeil; they are the parents 
of three children: Carl E., .\nton F. and 
Dora F. 

Politically, he affiliates with the liepublican 
party, and is a member of Hooper Lodge, No. 
226, Ancient Order of United Workmen. 



NOJi THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



EZRA C. USHER, one of the oldest set- 
tlers of Fremont, and an ex-coiinty 
judge, is justly entitled to a personal 
notice in tiiis connection. To review 

the events of his life, in the order in which 
the}' have transpired, it will be staled that he 
was born in Madison Countj', New York, 
Janiiar}' 28, 1832. lie is the son of Horace 
and Olive (Brainard) Usher, natives of the 
Empire State, where they were reared and 
passed their days. The old Usher homestead 
was cleared up by the grandfather of onr 
subject, whose name was Robert R. Usher. 
His native State was Connecticut^ but his years 
were mostl\' spent in New York on a farm. 
He came to that state when a young man, 
opened up a farm in the forest, and there 
remained until his death, at the advanced age 
of eighty-one years. His wife was Lucy 
Brainard, wiio was of Scotch descent. The 
pai'enls of Ezra C. devoted themselves lo farm 
life and reared a family of five children : Ezra 
C, Lucine (tieceased) ; Almira M., a resident 
of Oneida County, New York ; Guert G., a 
resident of Pennsylvania, and Robert M., a 
native of Oneida County, New York. Our 
subject grew to man's estate in his native 
county, living upon a farm and receiving his 
education at tiie jiublic schools. He remained 
at home until twenty -two 3'ears of age, when, 
in the autumn of 1856, lie started or Illinois, 
in which State he spent two years upon a farm, 
and in July, 1858, came to Fremont, Nebraska, 
whicli has been his home ever since. When he 
first came, he entered one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, situated about two miles north 
of Fremont; this he improved and retained 
until the spring of 1891, when he sold it at 
fifty dollars per acre. lie also possessed forty 
acres of timber land, which he purchased about 
1800, wliicii lie sold four years later. After 
having lived at Fremont about two years, he 
engaged at freighting from Fremont to Den- 
ver, continuing the same for six years, after 
which he engaged in the furniture business at 
Fremont, and followed that for fifteen years, 



his being the first furniture store in the place ; 
his original stock was valued at about two thou- 
sand dollars. He was succeeded about 1870 by 
Frank Bullock. The first newspapereslablished 
in Fremont was issued over Mr. Usher's furni- 
ture store — the Tribune. After retiring from 
the furniture trade, Mr. Usher made a prospect- 
ing trip to the Black Hills and also engaged in 
merchandising in that country in a small way, 
continuing for one year; returned to Fremont 
and engaged in the second-hand business for two 
years. This he followed until he retired from 
active business. January 1, 1801, he took the 
management of Love's opera house, which he 
is still managing in a creditable manner to 
himself as well as to the community. 

Mr. Usher was united in marriage in his 
native state, when he was twenty-two years of 
age, to Betsy M. Nye, who was born in Madi- 
son County, New York, March 9, 1834. They 
have an adopted daughter, Annie E., at home. 
They have a beautiful home on North Nj'e 
avenue, the residence being built in 1887, at a 
cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. 
Our subject is interested in the National Shelv- 
ing Company, of Fremont, which manufacture 
a device for ready shelving. Tlie company was 
organized in April, 1S91, he being one of the 
stockholders and vice-president. 

Politically, he is a Republican, and held the 
office of county judge of Dodge County from 
1867 to 1869; and police judge of the city of 
Fremont in 187i and 1875, as well as justice of 
the peace for two years. He is identilied with 
the Knights of Honor order. 

Since he first looked upon tiie fair and unim- 
proved domain of Dodge County, away back 
in the "fifties," vast have been the changes 
wrought out in this portion of the West. Ne- 
braska was then but an unsettleil territory, the 
great Platte River, as well as the Missouri, 
were then unbridged, and the Star of Empire 
hail not aiipeared, with its full brightness, west 
of the Mississippi Valley. Mr. Usher has lived 
to see Nebraska become a state, his county 
well improved and his home town become a 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



447 



city of the second class, while he has the re- 
spect of his community. 



ANDREW 11. GRAHAM, president of the 
First National Dank at Wisner, and 
also .president of the Pilger, State 
Uank. who has grown to manhood in Cuming 
County, and is to-day one of its most success- 
ful business factors, will form the subject of 
this notice. 

He was born at Invermay, Canada, April 6, 
1854. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. 
His grandfather, William James Graham, emi- 
grated from the north of Ireland at an early 
day, settling at St. Albans, Vermont, and sub- 
sequently' removed to Brockville, Canada. 

Andrew R.'s educational advantages were 
quite limited, and he may well be called a self- 
made man. He has risen simply by his inher 
ent energy, close application to business, and 
good principles, from assistant telegiaph 
operator in a then small office, to an honorable 
and prominent position in the business com- 
munity. His business training and experience 
in the management of large financial interests, 
as well as his reputation as a business man, 
would seem to mark him as a man calculated 
to fill abnost any position in life. When 
twenty-one years of age he set forth to 
better his condition in life, his only 
capital being a strong constitution coupled 
with a will to ■work. He first found employ-' 
ment on a farm, then a man-of-all-work around 
a hotel at Wisner. In 1873 he went to work in 
the railroad depot at Wisner as a freight hust- 
ler. While there he took up telegra|)hv which 
he soon mastered, and was given Scribner 
station. From there he went to Missouri Val- 
le}', Iowa, as night train despatcher, and after 
one year's service at that place was sent to 
West Point, Nebraska, where he was agent and 
operator for two years and a half, and was 
then made railroad agent and operator at Wis- 
ner, which place at that time was the terminus 
of the railroad. In the spring of 1879 he 



resigned his position and was appointed by 
the company as a right-of-way man where he 
derived much valuable infornnition. He 
received an appointment as general land agent 
for the Elkhorn Land and Town Lot Company, 
having cljarge of one hundred thousand acres 
of their land in northeastern Nebraska. In 
the sjiring of 1880 he formed a partnership 
with C. C. McNish, and in 1881 they started 
the Wisner Bank, which subsequently was 
succeedetl by the First National Bank, he 
being made president of the same. In 1889, 
Mr. Graham with C. C. McNish operated a 
bank at Pilger, Stanton County, and a year 
after it was organized into a state bank. 

Politically Mr. Graham is a stanch supjjorter 
of the Republican party. In 1884, he was a 
prominent candidate for state treasurer ; the 
northern portion of Nebraska standing b}' him 
to a man. He has been for the past four years 
one of the supervisors of Cuming County, and 
was instrumental in bringing about a radical 
change in the county government. 

Our subject was married in Washington 
County, Nebraska, March lo, 1S77, to Miss 
Jennie E. Parker, the accomplished daughter 
of J. M. Parker, a promineni fanier of Wash- 
ington County. Mrs. Graham is a member of 
the Congregational Church and president of 
the Women's Relief Corps. Mr. Graham is a 
member of the Masonic fraternity, being a 
member of the Grand Lodge in 1890-91, hav- 
ing hekl the positions of grand junior, deacon 
and grand orator. 

.Mr. (iraham slartetl in life without nu-ans or 
influential friends, and has in a few years 
acquired a competency, and there is not one 
of his fellow citizens to say that all of his 
transactions have not been of the most honora- 
ble character. His early life was all calculated 
to make a strong man of him, both physically 
and from a business point of view. At the age 
of nine years he accompanied his parents to 
Nebraska, they being among the early settlers 
in Cuming County, having lived two years in 
Omaha. He also accom))anieil his father, who 



448 



NORTHEASTERN NERBASKA. 



was a contractor on the Union Pacific railroad, 
in tlie West, an extended account of which is 
given in the slcetch of George Graham; his 
experience in crossing the phiins b}' ox teams 
at a day when Indians were troublesome, was 
full of interest, however, not always pleasant, 
for he rehxtes man\' a thrilling instance in con- 
nection with those exjicditions, including night 
herding, which dut}' was jierformed in turns by 
various members of the compan}'. The West- 
ern plains were anytiiing but a paradise, even 
at noonday, but the reader can imagine the 
feelings of a mere stripling youth during the 
long, weary hours of the night, with nothing 
to break the monotony save an occasional bark 
of the ])rairie dog. 

Integrity has marked every step in this 
man's life. His faithfulness was seen in the 
first telegraph office he entered, and has been 
more and more appreciated as his sphere of 
operations has been enlarged to a prominent 
business man. 

C II MILES SCIIROEDER, a prominent 
farmer of Section 18, Everett town- 
ship, came to Dodge Count}' in the 
spring of 1872. He first located on the farm 
he now occupies, consisting of eighty acres, 
whicii he claimed as a homestead. Here he 
made substantial improvements, and has since 
added to his land until he now owns one hun- 
dred and forty acres, ninety acres of which are 
under cultivation. When he first came to the 
county, Fremont was his nearest market 
point; during the years of the grasshopper 
plague he was damaged to a great extent. 

Charles was born in Germany, May, 1843. 
He is tlie son of William and Charlotte Schroe- 
der, whose ciiildren were: Koljert, August, 
Ciiarles, Bertha, Matilda, Minnie and Emma. 
He lived in his native land until he was four- 
teen years of age, spending his youthful days 
as is tiie custom of most boys, of his native 
country. At tliat time iiis parents emigrated 
to America, and settled in Wisconsin, where 
tiiey worked out by the month. His father 



finally bought a farm,and remained there until 
he came to Dodge County, Nebraska. His 
early advantages for an education were poor. 

November, 18G3, he enlisted as a Union sol- 
dier in the Thirteenth Wisconsin Battery, un- 
der Capt. E. R. Gi'iffilh, and was mustered in- 
to service at Milwaukee; was sent from there to 
Louisiana,and ilid forti-ess duty at Baton Rouge. 

February, 1872, he was united in marriage 
to Paulina Schrocder, daughter of Fredei'ick 
and Charlotte Schroeder, natives of Germany, 
whose children were: Albert, Paulina, Frederick, 
Bertha (deceased), Herman, Matilda and Henry. 

Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder were cousins, and 
they are the parents of six children, born in the 
following order : Max, August 3, 18G7 ; Iled- 
wig, Apr 1 11, 1873 ; Clara, October 18 ; 1874 ; 
Alma, June 3, 1876; Ida, November 20, 1877, 
and Erick, December 19, 1878. 

He and his wife are members of the Lutii- 
eran Ciiurch,and he votes the Democratic ticket. 

EDWARD L. ROHR, one of the enter, 
pi-ising and representative farmers of 
Platte township, and whose home is sit- 
uated on Section 4, accompanied his parents to 
Dodge County in the winter of 1873. They 
located on the place that he now occupies, con- 
sisting of one iiundred and sixty-seven acres, 
upon which there had been some improvements 
made. 

Edward was born in Wisconsin, January, 
^871. His parents were Abraham and Maria 
Rohr, natives of Switzeiland and Germary- 
respectivelv. 

Cur subject received a common-school educa- 
tion. His people were Free Thinkers and the 
father was a Democrat in his political views. 

Edward is at this time a single man and is 
operating the homestead, his l)rothers and 
sisters living with him. 



FRED PANNING, an enterprising farmer 
living on Section 10, of lIooi)er town- 
ship, came to this part of the Elkhorn 
Valley, with his ])arents, July 5, 1864. He 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



449 



remained at home and worked until he was 
twenty-one years of age. lie purchaser one- 
lialf section of hind which was partly improved. 
He added other improvements, and also bougiit 
more land until he had four hundred and forty 
acres ; he then sold out and purchased the farm 
he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and 
sixty acres. Upon this tract he built a good 
house,granar3', machine-house and cribbing,with 
cattle sheds; he also provided a well two iiun- 
dred and ninet\'-two feet deep, to wiiicii wind 
power was attached and a system of water- 
works put in, the fountain head of which was 
a tank holding one hundred barrels ; the water 
is used for domestic and stock purposes. lie 
has an orchard of two hundred trees, and an 
artificial grove of four acres. He has since 
added to his land until he owns five hundred 
and twenty acres, one hundred and thirty-five 
of which are under the plow, and the balance 
in pasture and meadow land. lie commenced 
in Dodge County a poor man ; was here 
tlirough the grasshopper years, when the crops 
were nearly all destroyed ; was also overtaken 
by hail storm, and experienced all of the ups 
and downs of frontier life. 

Fred, was born in Germany, May 20, lSi6j 
the son of Henry and Margaret Panning, who 
were also natives of Germany, and the parents 
of three children : Catharine, Henry and Fred- 
erick. When six^'earsof age, our subject came 
to America with his parents. From New York 
harl)or, they went to Dodge Count}', Wisconsin, 
where ihey lived until their comingto Nebi'aska. 
Ilis advantages for schooling were very poor, 
as they lived five miles from a school-house. 

June, 1877, maiked a new era in this man's 
life,forit was during that month and year that he 
was united in marriage to Dorothy Shrader, of 
Germany, who was of a famil}^ of five children. 

May 10, 1889, for his second wife, our subject 
married Lillie Wager, daughter of Gustave and 
Dorothy Wager, natives of France and Ger- 
many, respectively. By this marriage union 
seven children were born : Henry, June 2, 
1878; Katie, July 2, 1S79; Earnest, January 6, 



1SS2; Anmi, March 5, 1884; Ida, January 6, 
1S8C; Lulu, December 15, 1890; AthJlph, 
August 13, 1891. The two last nametl are cliil- 
dren by his last marriage. 

Politically, Mr. Panning alliliatts with the 
Democratic party, while ho ami his wife are 
both believers in the l.utliiTiiii faith. 



TEETER A. NELSON, a resident of Nicker- 
_57 son township, living on Section 21, came 
to Dodge County in the Spring of 1881, 
and first located on the farm he now occupies. 
The same consisted of eighty acres of wild land, 
upon which he built a house 24x28 feet, a barn 
16x32, a granary, shedding, etc. His well is 
provided with an excellent wind-mill, and his 
whole premises show him to be a man of thrift 
and order. He has a fine orchard of one hun- 
dred and twenty trees, and also a large number 
of shade trees. In adilition to this eighty-acre 
farm he has ten acres of grass land on Sec- 
tion 2-1. 

The subject of this sketch was born in Den- 
mark, November 2, 18-K>. He is the son of Nels 
T. and Maria Nelson, natives of Denmark, who 
liad five cliildren: Peter A., Anna, Aisia 1\L, 
Anna X. and Peter. 

Mr. Nelson lived in Denmark until he was 
twenty-two years of age, when he sailed for 
America, and went to Howard County, Wis- 
consin, remained tiiere about six months, and 
went to Ogle County, Illinois, where lie lived 
ten years. He worked out by the moiitli on a 
farm until he came to Nebraska. 

While he lived in his native country he re- 
ceived a common-school education, but came to 
this country ]ioor. In August, 187f;, he was 
mariied to Anna T. Egland, daughter of 
Thomas Egland and wife, of Norway, whose 
family consisted of five children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of one 
child. Anton Nelson, born February, 1877. He 
and his wife are both members of the Lutheran 
Church, and in politics he votes with the Re- 
publican party. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



JOHN C. MIDDAUGH, a farmer of Section 
II, Platte township, has been a resident 
of Dodge County since the fall of 1873. 
He first located on the farm he now occu- 
pies, which consistetl of 160 acres of partly im- 
proved land. lie made a good class of im- 
provements on the farm, including buildings, 
an orchard of 500 trees, a grove of ten acres, 
an has eightj'-five acres under the plow, with 
the entire tract suiTounded bv a fence. This 
gentleman was born in Luzerne County, Penn- 
sylvaiiia, February, 1831, the son of David 
and Elsie Middaugh, natives of iS'ew Jersey and 
Pennsylvania, respectively. They were the 
parents of seven children : Albert, Margaret. 
John. Eliza, Ella, Mary and David. Only four 
of this number survive. John C. remained in 
Pennsylvania until twenty -seven years of age, 
and moved to Mercer Countv. Illinois, wliere 
he rented land for eleven years ; then came to 
Dodge County, Nebraska. His early education 
was (]uite limited, as his pai-ents died when he 
was eight years of age, from wiiich time he had 
to ]n'ovide for himself. In order to do this his 
education was somewhat neglected. 

Mr. Middaugh was married, June 10, 1862, to 
Nancy Brancht, daughter of David and Johanna 
I3rancht, natives of Pennsylvania, whose chil- 
dren were as follows : Mary (an infant, de- 
ceased), Nancy, George, Phoebe, Addie and 
Henderson. Mr. and Mrs. Middaugh are the 
parents of the following children : George 
(deceased), born April 12, 1864 ; Lyman, August 
19, 1866 ; p:dith, February 26. 1869 ; William, 
July 11, 1872 ; Raymond, May 26, 1879 ; Frank, 
October 7, 1881. lie and his wife are members 
of the Seventh Day Advent Ciiurch, and polit- 
ically he is a supporter of the Republican party. 
His grandparents were in the Revolutionary 
War, and his grandfatiier on the paternal side 
was killed by the Indians. 

Mr. Middaugh was a resident of Nebraska 
during the grassliopper years, which were times 
tliat ti'ied men's souls and devastated their crops. 
Thebuildings on his farms were erected at an 
early day, thelumi)er being hauled fromOmaha. 



ROBERT M'VICKER. real estate, loan 
and msurance agent at North Bend, 
came to Dodge Count}' in the spring of 
1864, and bought a quarter-section of land two 
miles east of North Bend, in Cotterell township. 
He lived on that farm until the si)ring of 1875, 
and moved to Peru, Nemaha County, to 
educate his children, as that was where the 
State Normal School was located. He lived 
there until 1885, and then i-emoved to North 
Bend, where he has since been engaged in the 
real estate business. He has disposed of his 
old home farm but has considerable real estate 
in Dodge County. 

Mr. McVicker was born in the north of Ire- 
land, January 3, 1825. His parents were Will- 
iam and Mary (Graham) McA'icker. The 
father was a farmer by occupation, and our 
subject remained at home until Mav 2U, 1849, 
when he sailed for America, landing in New 
York Harbor July 1, 1849. He worked in a 
wholesale dry goods store in that city until 
October 20 of that year and then sailed for his 
native land, arriving home November 20, 1849. 
He remained in Ireland until the following 
March, when he again sailed for America. He 
sailed in a vessel that was caught in a storm 
off the coast from Boston ; the storm drove 
them back to sea, causing a week's delay, and 
making his journey seven weeks in length. 
They finally landed at Belfast, Ireland, the 
same place tiiey had sailed from, having had 
an experience on the briny dee)) which he never 
cares to repeat. I'ut liaving his mind set on 
the opportunities afl'orded him in this countrv, 
June 1, of the same year, when all was calm, 
he sailed again, and landed in New York iiar- 
bor July 20. He again went to work for the 
same dry goods firm with which he had been 
employed previously, and remained with them 
until May, 1851, and went to Huntington 
County, New Jersey, at the town of Clinton, 
and there engaged at farming until March, 
1856. We next find him in Carroll County, 
Ohio, where he purchased a farm and operated it 
until ho same to Neln'aska,in tiie spring of 1804. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBkAStCA. 



He was marrieti in Ii-elantl, in the month of 
November, ISIO, to Miss Maggie McKee 
daughter of William anil Ann (Wilson) McKee. 
Mr. and Mrs. McKee were the parents of a 
family of children born in the following oi'der: 
William J., November 2-t, 1S51 ; Ann, March, 
1853; Joseph M., November 2G, 1855; James 
G., November, 1857; Minnie, August 6, 1859; 
Maggie W., December 10. 1860 ; Hugh G , 
April 27, 1803. 

William J. is married and living in North 
Bend. He is superintendent of the gold quartz 
mill at Joiianasburg, but his family I'euiain at 
North Bend. 

Ann married A. S. Taiglit, and is living in 
Johnson County, Nebraska. Joseph married 
Luna Logan, ami he is living in Lincoln, Ne- 
braska, engaged in the real estate business. 
James G. lives in South Dakota, working in a 
quartz mill. Minnie married W. J. Gregg, 
and lives in Cotterell township, Dodge Count}'. 
Maggie W. married E. M. Leppilt, professor of 
music in the normal school of Perry, Nebraska. 
Hugh G. (single) is managing editor of the 
State Journal a,x\(\ connected with the editorial 
department. 

Mr. McVicker and wife are members of the 
United Presbyterian Church at North Bend, 

Politicall}', our subject affiliates with the 
Eepublican l)arty. 

In the fall of'l892, when about iialf of the 
business portion of North Bend was destroyed 
by fire, Mr. McVicker's office was also burned. 
In the office he had a safe filled with papers, 
the value of which amountetl to a snug sum, 
but upon breaking open the safe he found tliem 
only slightly damaged, which was somewhat of 
a relief to his mind at least. 



JOSEPH D. McDonald, of the lirni of 
McDonald, Penlield & Com|)any, and a 
j)r(jniinent railway contractor, i-esiding at 
Fremont, wdl form the subject of this 
notice, he being one of the representative men 
in Dodjre Countv, and Nebraska in •■•eneral. 



He is a native of Perth, Ontario, Canada, 
born April 17, 1846. He is the son of Duncan 
and Anna (Jordan) i^IcDonald, who were 
natives of Scotland and England. Oursubject 
was reared and educated in his native country, 
subject to the same routine of habits and cus- 
toms which surround the ordinary youth, there 
having been no little amount of labor inter- 
sperced with his school days. In 1865, just as 
lie was looking from youth-hood across the 
threshold of young manhood, he came to the 
States and made a trip through the southwestei-n 
part of the United States. In 1SG6 he retraced 
his steps as far north as Ilock Island County, 
Illinois, where he engaged in teaciiing school 
winters and following farm life summers, he 
being the superintendent of a large farm. He 
remained thereuntil 1870, and removed to Spen- 
cer, Clay County, Iowa, and took a homestead 
of eighty acros there, making it his home until 
he engaged at railroad work. At first he was 
in the civil engineer corps and was thus em- 
ployed on the Iowa Central Railway, when he 
became a contractor, taking a large contract 
during the panic of 1873; but he did little work 
until 1878, as he was devoting most of his time 
to ills farm, which lie had increased to two 
hundred and forty acres. Owing tostringencv 
in the money markets, the railroad work of the 
country was at a stand-still, so his public work 
was confined to county and other similar work. 
From 1878 to 1882 he was engaged at railroad 
work through Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. 
In 1882-83 he followed the construction of the 
Canadian Pacific Railway and during two years 
constructed sixty-five miles of that road. In 
the autumn of 1883 he took the contract to 
build the Diagonal road (now known as the 
Chicago, St. Paul cfe Kansas City) from Mar- 
shalllown to Des Moines, and the following 
spring built the branches of that road 
from Hudson to Cedar Falls, Iowa, as well as 
from Hudson to Waterloo. His next work was 
a contract for John I. Blair on a forty-mile 
line of road from Kansas City to Clinton, Mis- 
souri, completing the same in July, 1885. In 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



September of the same year he was with the 
Chicago & Northwestern, doing bridge work 
on tiie Centreville & Yankton line. In the 
spring of 1886 he removed from Iowa to Ne- 
braska, and went to work on the Lincoln line. 

The firm of McDonald. Penfield »fe Company 
was organized in tlie si)ring of 1887. They 
succeeded Miller & McDonald, who were estab- 
lished in 18SG. The compan}' was formed for 
the sole purpose of railroad construction. In 
1886 Miller & McDonald built the line from 
Fremont to Lincoln, and part of the Scribner 
branch. In the spring of 1887 this firm was 
succeeded by the firm of Miller, McDonald & 
Company, and they constructed the radroad 
from Platte River bridge to Geneva, Nebraska. 
The}' also had a contract wilh the Burlington 
& Missouri Iviver Railway the same year. 

In 1888 this lirm was succeeded by McDon- 
ald & PenfleUl, tlie members being our subject 
and C. S. Penfield. Tlie\' have completed 
railroad lines from Geneva to the State line of 
Kansas; also laid the track from Glenrock to 
Casper ; from Rapid City to Wiiitewood ; also 
constructed a line from Whitewood to Minicela, 
and completed a line for the Ilomestake Mining 
Company from Piedmont to the Lead City line. 
They had a large contract with the Union 
Pacific Railroad and the Cheyenne & Northern 
road, and others. 

Mr. McDonald organized the Fremont Man- 
ufacturing Com])any and is president of the 
same. He established a plaster parismillat 
Stergis, Black Hills. He is connected with the 
Fremont National Bank as a stockholder ; also 
with the Commercial National, foi-merly Ger- 
man-American Bank, as director and stock- 
holder. He is a stockholder of the Fremont 
Stock Yards and Land Company. In 1888 Mr. 
McDonald erected a residence in Fremont, at a 
cost of twenty-seven thousand dollars, which 
together with the other improvements about 
the premises cost thirty-one thousand dollars. 

He was united in marriage, in 1871, to Miss 
Lydia A. Reed, a native of Rock Island County, 
Illinois, by which marriage union threechildren 



have been born : Charles G., Laura A.. 
Edith R. 

Politically he affiliates with the Republican 
party, having yet failed to observe where 
either of the other contending political parties 
offer a better protection to the mass of Amer- 
ican citizens. Like a majority of the foremost 
business men of his time, lie is connected with 
the Masonic order, being a member of both 
the Blue Lodge and Chapter. 

It will not be considered as underrating 
other men's efforts, who have met with success 
in the great conflict of life, to state that Mr. 
McDonald is one of the few men of his day and 
generation who have made more than an ordin- 
ary success, even a complete success. He has 
not been like the over careful man of old, who 
wrapped his talent up and laid it away for safe 
keeping; he has used the ability with which he 
was endowed ; taken advantage of the times in 
which he lived, and pushed forward, knowing 
no such word as fail ; and now mark the con- 
trast which has been wrought out by this man's 
activities in the last score of years. He might 
have been seen in 1871 domiciled beneath the 
crumbling walls of a sod house in that beauti- 
ful, yet bleak, wild prairie country in north- 
western Iowa, " holding down " an eighty-acre 
homestead which had been vouchsafed to him 
through the liberality of our laws, though he 
was not a native born citizen. He i^ now sur- 
rounded by all the comforts of life, and the pos- 
sessor of one of the finest palatial residences in 
his state ; interested in many of the leading 
industries of his home town, and ranks high in 
business circles everywhere for a man of indom- 
itable will power, splendid executive ability, 
and all that goes toward making up a typical 
business man of the nineteenth centur}'. 



FREDERICK LADEHOFF,a farmer whose 
home is situated on Section .SI, Pleasant 
Valley township, came to Dodge County 
in the spring of 1874, and purchased two hun- 
dred acres of railroad land, included in his 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



453 



pi-esent farm. He built a frame liouse, 16x24 
feet, and in 1891 provided about as much more 
house-room. In ISSl he built a barn of large 
proportions, and in 1884 built a double corn- 
crib and wagon-shed. He also has a good 
granary and machine-house. His present farm 
consists of two hundred and eighty acres, two 
hundred of which are under cultivation, while 
the remainder are in pasture and meadow land. 
He usually keeps thirt\' head of cattle and 
twelve head of horses. Everything about his 
premises indicates that he is a frugal, thriftv 
agriculturist. 

Our subject was born in Germany, February 
IT), 1S42, the son of Casper and Mary (Dirks) 
Ladehoff. Frederick remained at home with 
his parents on the farm, working for his father 
until he was about twenty-five years of age 
which was in the spring of 1867. He then 
came across the ocean to seek a home in the 
New World. The first three years he spent in 
Scott County, Iowa, after which he rented land 
until he came to Dodge County, Nebraska. It 
was not his good fortune to bring any money 
with him to this country, but found this far 
superior to his native land for a field of opera- 
tion. 

He was united in marriage in Scott County, 
Iowa, September 5, 1808, to Miss Annie 
Stoltenberg, a native of Germany, born August 
11, 1845. As a result of this marriage nine 
children have come to bless their home: Minnie, 
Dora, Henry, August, Annie (deceased), William 
(deceased), John, Frederick and Lena. 

The family are members of the German 
Lutheran Church. Politically, he is a Democrat 

Anna Stoltenberg, the mother of Mrs. Lade- 
hoff, came to America three years after her 
daughter and has made her home with our sub. 
ject's wife ever since. 



LEWIS LARSON, a resident of Section 9 
Nickerson township, came to Dodge 
County in the spring of 1883, and first 
located on the land owned by Doctor Sexton, 
of whom he rented for six years, at the end of 



which lime he bought the farm he now occupies; 
the same was eighty acres of improved land, for 
which he ])aiil thirty-five dollars per acre. His 
farm life in Nebraska has not all been sunshine 
and prosperit}'. In fact there are more cloudy 
davs in every man's life than there are of sun- 
shine. Mr. Larson came to Dodge County a 
poor man, and the first year he was in the 
county he lost three valuable horses. 

He was born in Denmark, November, 1857, 
the son of Seberg and Caston Larson, natives 
of Denmark, who had a family of nine children, 
named as follows: Andrew, Caston, Ann, 
Seberg, Tena, Peter, Louis, John, Steine. 

Lewis lived in Denmark until nineteen years 
of age, and then sailed for America, and came to 
Ogle County, Illinois, where he worked on a 
farm by the month for a time; then went to 
Winnebago County, Wisconsin, where he re- 
mained two years and a half, during which 
time he was engaged in fishing on Lake Winne- 
bago. 

He was united in marriage, January, 1882, to 
Louisa Johnson, the daughter of John and Mar}' 
Nelson, natives of Denmark, who had a famil}' 
of five children : Louisa (deceased), Peter, ]\Iin- 
nie (deceased), Senie, and an infant. Mr. and 
Mrs. Larson have been ble.ssed with five chil- 
dren, born as follows: Walter, April 5, 1883: 
Arthur, January 17, 1885; Ida, September 22, 
1SS6; Mable, February 14, 1888: Gertie, Sep- 
tember 17, 1889. 

Politicallv, our subject is identified with the 
Republican party, and the family are members 
of the Lutheran Church. 

In February, 1891, Mr. Larson met with the 
greatest loss of his life, in the death of his wife, 
who left the scenes of this life, with her bright 
family growing up around her, during that 
month. 



J 



OliGEN LAIISEN, who is a representative 
farmer of Nickerson township, living on 
Section IG, came to Dodge County in the 
summer of 1879. He first located on the 
farm he now occupies, which at that timeconsist- 



454 



tfORTHEASTERtf ffEBRASI^A. 



ed of eighW acres of wild land. He Iniilt a house, 
16x2-1 feet, with an addition, 18x2(3 feet; a barn, 
211x32 feet, double crib granary, provided a well 
with a wind-mill, and set out an orchard of one 
hundred and fifty trees. 

Of his earlier life it may be said that he was 
born in Denmark, July, 1851, the son of Lars 
and Carrie Jorganson, who had six children : 
Mary A., Andrew, Marion, Hans, Henry and 
Jorgan. Four of the above family are living, 
and all but our subject reside in their native 
land, where he remained until he was twenty- 
two years of age and then sailed for America. 
He landed at Portland, Maine, and from that 
place went tu Chicago, where he worked by the 
vearinS^ nursery for two years. We next find 
him in Rochelle, Lee County, wiiere he worked 
by the month on a farm for four years, after 
which he took a trip back to his native land, 
and returning, located in Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. He received a common school educa- 
tion, but came to this country Svith no means. 

He was united in marriage, in November, 
1877, to Carrie M. Kasmussen, daughter of Nels 
and Casten Kasmussen, who had four children, 
all living in Dodge County, Nebraska, except 
the first born, who is deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Larsen are the parents of seven 
children: Nels (deceased), Matilda (deceased), 
Emma, Louis, Agnes, Camilla. 

Mr. and Mrs. Larsen are members of the 
Lutheran Church, aiW in his political belief he 
is a Re])ublican. 

^fuch credit should be attached to a man com- 
ing fi'om a foreign shore, without means, and 
doing the amount of hard work that our subject 
has; working i)y the month so many years in 
order to build for himself and family a home; 
indeed this country affords no better class of 
;ul()|)tcd citizens than those reared in Denmark. 



JOHN M. KUEADER. a farmer of Section 
35, Hooper township, came to Dodge 
County, in the spring of 1871, with his 
])arents. They first located on Logan 
creek, where they purchased a (juarter section 



of railroad land, upon which good improve- 
ments were made. He remained at home with 
his ])arents until he was of age, when he bought 
eighty acres of land in Hooper township, and 
lived on the same for ten years. He, too, went 
through the laborious task of improving a wild 
prairie farm. He finally disposed of this place 
and bought the place he now occupies. 

Concerning his earlier history, it may be said 
that he was born in Kalamazoo County, Michi- 
gan, May 12, 1858, the son of Samuel and 
Maria Kreader, natives of Pennsylvania and 
New York, respectively, who were the parents 
of seven children: Sarah (deceased), Ledrean, 
John, Edithj Orin, Delmer and Elmer (twins). 

The family lived in Miciiigan until John was 
twelve years of age. His early advantages for 
securing an education were not good. 

March 19, 1881, he was united in marriage 
to Minnie Brown, daughter of Lewis and Mary 
Brown, natives of New York, whose two chil- 
dren were Minnie and Edna. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kreader are the parents of four children: 
Colman, Ethel, Edna and Altii. 

Mr. Kreader belongs to the Masonic Lodge 
at Hooper, and is a member of the Board of 
Supervisors from Hoo))er township. 

Politicall}', he is a Republican. 



THOMAS F. KEETON, manager of the 
Farmers' Co-operative Association Ele- 
vator at North Bend, came to Dodge 
County in April, 1866. The first year he 
stopped with George Turton, and had the ague 
a greater part of the year. In the winter of 
1800-67 he taught school, and the following 
summer broke prairie and farmed, and continued 
to work at such labor for two or three years, 
and then clerked in the storeof Gillis & Pur- 
cell. After working for tliem eighteen months 
he engaged with Frank Stouffer for three 
years, clerking in his general store. He then 
bought Mr. Purcell out, and formed a partner- 
ship with Peter (iillis, and was engaged in gen- 
eral merchandising three yeai's. The next three 
years he was not engaged in any jiarticular 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



4SS 



business, but in September, 1SS9. he took charge 
of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator. • 

Mr. Keeton was born in Wyoming County, 
New York, April -4, 1842. His parents were 
Joim and Sarah (Buckle) Keeton, botii natives 
of England. Thomas remained at home until 
he was about nineteen years old, when he 
formetl a j)artnership with his brother William, 
and engaged in the drug business in the town 
of Castile, Wyoming Count\', New York. He 
remained in that business three years, when he 
sold his business and went to clerking in a drug 
store at Hornersville, New York, remaining 
eighteen moths, after which he went to Perry, 
New York, and clerked in a general store until 
A[)ril, 1866, and came to Dodge County. 
Nebraska. 

In Sejitember, 1808, he was united in mar- 
I'iage at North Bend, Nebraska, to Miss Geor- 
'giana Young, daughter of George Young. She 
was born in 1853, in Illinois; accompanied her 
jiarents to Nebraska in 1856 and remained at 
home until the date of her marriage. Mr. and 
Mrs. Keeton are the parents of seven children : 
Allie, Adda, Bruce, Grace, E;irl, Glen and 
Vesta. 

Politically, Mr. Keeton believes in the ])rin- 
ci[)les of tlie Republican part\'. He belongs to 
the North Bend Lodge of the Modern Wood- 
men of Ameiica. Both he and his wife are 
members of the United Presbyterian Church. 



FELIX F. KUEN, of the firm of Kuen 
& Plamback, insurance and real estate 
agents, of Fremont, was born July 18, 
1S51, the son of Joseph Kuen, who now resides 
in X(jrway, Iowa, at the age of seventy-four 
years. He has followed farm life for a number 
of years, retiring from the same three years 
atro. He possesses a farm of three hundred and 
si.\ty-five acres in Iowa County, Iowa. While 
living in the old country he followed shoemak- 
iiig, and served seven years in the French army. 
He was twice married and was the parent of 
six children. 



Felix F., the subject of this notice, was but 
eight months old when his parents embarked for 
America. lie was reared on a farm in Iowa 
Count}', Iowa, antl educated in the public 
schools of the Hawkeye State. lie remained 
at home until he was twenty-three^yearsof age; 
engaged in the clothing business at Toledo, 
Iowa, for three years; moved to Carrol, Iowa, 
engaging in the drug business, which he followed 
for three years, coming to Fremont, Nebraska, 
in October, 1880. At Fremont, for three years, 
he was handling wines, liquors and cigai'S ; then 
traveled for a St. Joseph house six months ; 
after which he purchased a half interest in the 
Platte River Zeititng, which concern h e wa s 
associated with eleven months, and estaiSj^fed 
his present business, operating alone for five 
years. L. C. Tym became his partner and 
remained with him eleven months ; he then 
operated alone for a time, then associated him- 
self with his |)resent partner. 

Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the 
Democratic party, and has served as police 
judge for four years, and has been on the reg- 
istration board for two ^^ears. He belongs to 
Triumph Lodge, No. 32, Knights of Pythias; 
also the Legion of Honor. He has been a member 
of the fire department for the past seven years. 

He was united in marriage, December 26, 
1876, to Ella Leach, a native of Michigan. 
Henry J. is their only child. 



1^— 



CHARLES C. SIEVERS, a farmer of 
Section 20, Pebble township, came to 
Dodge County, in October, 1869. He 
si)ent the first winter with his brother in 
what is now Ridgely township, then known as 
Pebble Creek, and the following March located 
where he now lives. He first took a homestead 
of eighty acres to which he has added eighty 
acres more. He has about ninety-three acres 
under cultivation, including three acres of an 
artificial grove. He has a good story and one- 
half fi-ime farm house, a barn and other out- 
buildinos. 



456 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He was born in Holstein, Germany, Decem- 
ber 1-t, 1845, tlie son of Christian and Margaret 
(Doze) Sievers, wlio came to America with a 
family in 1858. They touched our shores in 
New York and came direct to Moline, Illinois, 
where the father worked out the first season. 
Then lie engaged at farming and followed that 
until 1869, when he came to Nebraska, where he 
died December 31, 1888. His good wife passed 
from the scenes of this life, June 1, 1878. 

Our subject attended school in his native 
countr}' aboutfive x'eai's and received two years 
schooling in this country. Four years just 
prior to coming to Nebraska, he rented land in 
company with his brotiier in Illinois. 

Mr. Sievers was united in marriage April 2G, 
1871, to Magaret Stageniann, the daughter of 
James and Marie (liartz) Stageman of Germany, 
who came to America in 1873. 

By this marriage union four children have 
been born : Henry Otto, born April 1, 1875 ; C. 
Edward, born April 25, 1876, EmmaC. D., born 
July 16, 1870, Amanda F. A., born May 1, 1885. 

Our subject has four brothers in America, 
two living in Dodge County, Nebraska, one in 
Missouri, and the whereabouts of the other is 
unknown to him. He has one sister, Mrs. Hans 
Martins, living in Pebble Creek township, and 
his wife has one sister, Mrs. Katie Ade, living 
in North Bend, Nebraska. Mr. Sievers is In- 
dependent in politics. 



MICHAEL JOHNSON, one of the enter- 
prising agriculturists of Union town- 
ship, residing on Section 21, came to 
Dodge County in the autumn of 1859, and took 
a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres 
on Section 8, of Union township. Here he 
constructed a dug-out twelve feet square in the 
hillside, the end built up with logs and covered 
with brush and dirt. This was his abode 
for two years, when he built a frame house, 
16x24 feet, one and one-half stories high, which 
at that time was considered one of the best 
houses in the countv. 



Upon arriving in this count}', Mr. Johnson 
only had a team of horses, and not long after 
one died, and he traded the other for a j'oke of 
oxen, which was his only team for over five 
years. He made three trips, hauling freight, 
from Omaha to Denver. He remained on Sec- 
tion 8 until the spring of 1877, when he moved 
to his present location, which he had bought 
of the railroad company prior to that date. 
Here one finds excellent improvements, includ- 
ing the spacious farm house. 20 x 30 feet, and 
two stories high, a barn 24x32 feet with twelve- 
foot posts. His present home farm contains 
four hundred acres, and he still owns his pre- 
emption, the first place he got in the county, 
to which he has added until he has two hun- 
dred and foi'ty acres there. 

He of whom we write is a son of the Emerald 
Isle; was born October 24, 1836, in Ireland. His 
parents were Edward and Jane (Piatt) John- 
son, Ijoth natives of Ireland. Michael remained 
in Ireland until about 1852, when he went to 
France, and was there until 1854, when he 
sailed for America, and located in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, to which city his mother had 
gone eighteen months before. He cle?ked in a 
grocery store in Philadelphia about two years, 
and then came to Warren County, Illinois, 
where he worked on a farm until the fall of 
1859, then came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

December 26, 1860, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Elizabeth Valentine, daughter of 
David and Maria Valentine, both natives of 
Vermont. Elizabeth was born in Ohio, Janu- 
ary 9, 1845, and died December 14, 1834, the 
mother of the following children : Maria, Wal- 
ter, James, Joseph, William, Mary, George and 
Emoia. 

In iiis political alliliations Mr. Johnson is, a 
supporter of the Republican party. 

J' OHN IIOLST, a harnessmaker, doing busi- 
ness at Hooper, came to Dodge County 
in the autumn of 18S2. He first located 
at Fremont, where he worked at the 
harness business one venr. He came to the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



county poor ; went back to Germany for a visit, 
nsturned and started his jiresent liarness busi- 
ness. He was born in Germany, the son of 
Henry and Margaret Hoist, who had five chil- 
dren : Margaret (deceased). Onus (deceased), 
Plenry, Dora (deceased) and John. John lived 
in Germany until twenty-six years of age and 
then came to America. The first two years he 
lived in New Jersey, from which state he came 
to Nebraska. 

Dora Tank 'became his life companion by 
their marriage Christmas da}', 1887. Her par- 
ents were Benjamin and Dora Tank, of Ger- 
many, whose four children were named : Dora, 
Marv, Henrv and Oliver. 



AB. HDNT, a druggist at Nortii liend, 
came to Dodge County in February, 
1888, and, in partnersliip witli AV. Wi 
Roberts, continued the drug business of Roberts 
i^: Smith, but dissolved partnership April 1, 
1889, when Mr. Hunt bought the drug business 
of E. J. Seykora, and has continued in trade 
ever since. 

xMr. Hunt was born in Bradford County, 
Pennsylvania, July 2, 1863, the son of Aurin 
aud Julia A. (Meeker) Hunt, both natives of 
New York. The father was a cooper by trade, 
and at the age of ten years Aurin left home 
and engaged to work in a restaurant in Glidden, 
Iowa, his parents having moved to that place. 
Wiien twelve years of age he went to work for 
B. F. Iloberts, a druggist of Scranton, Iowa, for 
the ])urpose of learning the business. He re- 
iiiaincd with Mr. Roberts until 1880, and in the 
fall of that year went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
where he clerked in a drug store for M. W. 
Alexundei', and remained with him, attending 
the St. Louis College of Pharmacy, until he 
graduated in 1882. He then returned to Scran- 
ton, Iowa, clerked for Mr. Roberts six months, 
and, in November, 1882, formed a partnership 
with him under the firm name of Roberts tfe 
Hunt, wiio started a drug store at Early, Iowa, 
our subject taking charge of that store. In 



1888 they sold their store at Early, and at the 
same time dissolved partnership, Mr. Hunt 
coming to North Bend, Nebraska. 

April 15, 1883, he was married, in Lincoln 
County, Kansas, to Miss Phoebe Dellinger, 
daughter of II. R. and Sarah Dellinger. 

Our subject and his estimable wife were the 
parents of two children : Mable O., born Jan- 
uary 17, 1881:, and Clarence B., born January 
25, \ 887. 

Phoebe (Dellinger) Hunt was born in Penn- 
sylvania, April 12, 1862, and prior to her mar- 
riage was a school teacher. She died in North 
Bend, Nebraska, January 26, IS'JO. She was a 
member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 
and an exemplary Christian lady. 
" Mr. Hunt is a member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to North 
Bend Lodge, No. 165; also tc the Knights of 
Pythias order. Triumph Lodge, No. 32, at Fre- 
mont. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Ptepublican 
party. 

At the town of Early, Iowa, l\Ir. Hunt was a 
pioneer, going there, as he did, when the town 
site was a corn field. 



PHILIP C. HOOPS, Fremont, is a native of 
Manchester, Michigan, born March 10- 
1844, the son of Joseph F. and Anna 
(Kelley) Hoops, natives of Ireland and both 
deceased. They reared a family of seven chil- 
dren : Thomas, a resident of Chicago; Philip 
C, our subject; Mary, wife of Joseph O'llare, 
of Chicago; Joseph, deceased ; William, a resi- 
dent of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a lumber 
merchant; Edward Bertram!, deceased; 
George, a resident of Ciiicago, dealer in gents 
furnishing goods. 

Our subject was reared in his native State, re- 
ceiving his education at tlie ])ublic schools, and 
at the age of fifteen started out for himself, 
engaging with the Michigan Central Railway 
in the capacity of check agent. After one year 
at this, he went to Chicago as assistant yard- 



4S8 



NOa THE A S TEKN NERliA SKA . 



master, and after six months was promoted to 
general yard-master. Followed the same four- 
teen months, when lie was placed in the position 
of "general transferayont, which position he held 
three years, and was placed in cliarj^e of a 
passenger train, haviiigacted as hrakeinan only 
nine days, hetween Detroit and Jackson, Mich- 
igan. He followed railroad life until January 
23, 1891, — a service of almost thirty years. 
During these years he was in the employ of 
three companies. After retiring from the rail- 
road service he formed a |)artnership with Cap- 
tain Russell, and they took the old Russel hotel, 
whii^h they renovated and relltted, making a 
(irst-class hotel of the same ; later Mr. Hoops 
became sole j)r()|)rietor, but sold out entirely in 
the fall of 1.S02. 

In his jtolitical belief, he is a Democrat. 

Of his marriage relation, it may be said that 
he was united to Miss .Josephine IJosmier, of 
Canada, by whom three children were born : 
Eddie. Millie and Lottie. Mr. Hoops' residence 
is located on Ninth street, between Nye avenue 
and K street. He also has foui' handsome houses 
on West Ninth street ; also one on tliecnnier nf 
Third and I'latte streets. 

Mr. Hoops is a self-mado man, having builded 
up his own fortune by dint of close application 
to his business. 

ROMANZO M. HAVEN, a resident of the 
village of Nickerson. came to Dodge 
County in the spring of ISt'.S, and 
located at Fontanelle, where he engaged at 
teaming, and helped move a grist-mill from 
Omaha to that point. He took a homestead 
near foiilani'lle, consisting of eighty acres, 
upon wliicii he made the usual improvements, 
and resided there for eight years; then bought 
the house he now occupies, at Nickerson, in 
which ho o])erates a hotel, the only one in the 
place. AVhen he came to the county the Elk- 
horn had not yet been spanned by a bridge, 
hence the waters of that river had to be forded, 
and the landscape, though beautiful, was still 
one "green, glad solitude." 



Mr. Haven was born in Qenesel County, New 
York, April 4, 1837, the son of. Williain and 
Lovinia Haven, who were natives of Massa- 
chusetts and ^'el'mont. They were parents of 
eleven children. 

Romanzo M. lived in New York with his 
parents until ho was twelve years of age, when 
the family removed to Mcllenry County, Hl- 
inois, remained six years, and moved to Dela- 
ware Count\', Iowa, and lived there until our 
subject had reached his majority. He pur- 
chased and managed a farm of four hundred 
acres, and remained in that county until he 
came to Nebraska. At the date of his coming 
to Dodge County he possesseil but six horses 
and thirty dollars in money, and the first few 
years after ^liis arrival endured many hard- 
shi|)s. 

During the civil war pei'iod he enlisteii in 
Company D of the Ninth Iowa Volunteers, 
underCaptain Joseph A. Burdicks,antl received 
his discharge at Louisville. He was at the 
battle of Chattanooga, and Lookout Mountain 
(the battle above the clouds). He also accom- 
jianied General "William T. Sherman on his 
famous "March to the 8ea."* 

He was united in marriage, in Ai)ril, I8r)('t, to 
Cordelia Seymour, daughter of John and Eliza- 
beth Seymour, of Illinois. I'.y this marriage 
union three children were born: Anson M., 
William W. and Harvey. 

For his second wife our subject maiTied. Feb- 
ruary IS, 18{)S, Jeruslia Wade, the dauohter of 
David and Sophia Wade, natives of England. 

INIrs. Haven was bereft of her parents when 
she was but seven years of age, tlicy . having 
been caught out in a bli/./ard near Montici'llo, 
Iowa, and polished. 

liy his second marriage he is the father of 
the following children: Frankie (deceased), born 
June 8, 1870; Clara, February 20, 1873; Jessie, 
September 24, 1875; Nettie, March 1. 1884, 
and Florence, January 27, 1887. 

Mr. Haven alKliates with the Republican 
party, and in his religious relations he is a 
member of the Raptist Church. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRA SKA. 



459 



GEORGE A. IlICKOK, real estate broker 
and insurance agentfat 149 East Sixth 
street, lias been a resident of Fi'emont 
since 1886. lie is a native of Mendota, Ill- 
inois, and was born Ma}' 11, ISCO. IIis))arunts 
were George P. and Plicehe L. (liailey) ilickok. 
The father died when our subject was hut four 
<ia\'s old. He was a contractor by trade. The 
mother resides in Marion, Iowa, and is now the 
wife of A. J. McKeene. (ieorge A. was reared 
in Marion, Iowa, receiving his education in the 
public schools, learning the printer's trade dur- 
ing vacation time, and wiien eighteen years of 
age purciiased the Rf porter, 'aI Odebolt, Iowa — 
or rather his step-father purciiased it for him, 
starting him in business. After conducting 
tlie paper eighteen months he disposeil of the 
plant and entered the Iowa University at 
Iowa City, remaining there two years, after 
which he entered the employ of Peel's Sun 
newspaper office, acting as associate editor for 
six months, when he returned to Iowa, locating 
at Cedar Rapids, where he entered the office 
of the Sioux City t% Pacific Railroad Company 
as general manager, and remained with the 
concern for six and one-half years. When that 
road changed hands, merging into the North- 
western system, Mr. Hall, his employer, was 
made superintendent of construction, and our 
.subject remained under him in the employ of the 
railroad comjjany, and located at Fremont, Ne- 
braska, at which point he was in their employ 
about three yea r.s. In April, 1889, he entered 
the employ of G.W. E. Dorse}', with whom he is 
still associated in his real estate business, first 
engaging with him as his private secretary, 
(luring the Fifty-lirst Congress, Mr. Dorsey 
being clerk of the Committee on Banking and 
Currency. 

Our subject handles some of the best fire and 
life in.surance companies extant, representing 
the "Norwich Union," Underwriters," Detroit, 
"Niagara," "Security," and the " Mutual Life" 
of New York. He also makes loans on city 
and farm projierty, and is a stockholder of the 
Farmers and Merchants" Naiional I'ank. 



In his [)olitical affiliations, he is a su|)|)oi'ter 
of the Republican party. 

He was united in marriage, December 20, 
1882, to Miss Alida J. Woods, a native of 
Williamsport, Indiana, born August 7, 1800. 
i'y this union one child has come to bless their 
home — Bertha A. Mrs. Hickok is a memherof 
the Presbyterian Church, and an exemplai'y 
Christian lady. Our subject, although a young 
man, is one of the leading business factors in 
the citv of FreuK^nt. 



GERHARD II. HEYNE,a farmer residing 
on Section 25, of Cuming township. 
Dodge County, was born in Germany 
in 1856, and came to America in 1869. He 
landed in New York and came direct to Section 
24, of Cuming township, where he located and 
lived for six years; sold to his brother and 
bought three hundred and forty acres on Sec- 
tion 25, where he now lives. 

Mr. Ileyne was united in marriage, in 1873, 
to Henrietta Otterman. who was born in Ger- 
many, November 19,1854, and came to Ameri- 
ca one year after our subject landed. By this 
marriage union five children have been born: 
George F.,Chai-les II., Ella F., Matilda II. and 
William H. 

Politically, oui' subject votes the Democratic 
ticket, and in religious matters is a Lutheran. 
When he came to Nebraska he had about three 
hundred dollars, and bought a yoke of oxen, in 
company with his brother, paying one hun- 
dred and sixty dollars. He was eaten out by 
the grasshoppers two or three years, and also 
damaged by the chinch bugs. He lived five 
3'ears on Section 24, and the balance of the 
time where he now is. Upon his place he 
has seventeen head of cattle, sixteen hor.ses 
and eighty -six hogs. Besides his home farm he 
owns forty acres on Section 23, which he bought 
in 1884, twenty acres on Section 32, and 
has eighty acres in Thurston County, Ne- 
braska. 



460 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



AH. HARMS, located at Hooper, came 
to Dodoje County in the spring of 
1870, in company with his parents, 
who located on a farm which the father bought 
when it was wild land. It contained two hun- 
dred acres. He improved the place and our 
subject remained at home until the 3'ear of his 
majority, after which he learned the shoemak- 
ing business, and followed that for a year or so. 
He then established his present business 

Mr. Harms was born in Germany, in April, 
1856, the son of Gerhard and Anna S. Harms, 
both natives of German}', and the parents of 
five children, as follows : Henry G., Frederick 
C, A. H., Catharine (deceased), Helen (de- 
ceased). 

A. H. lived in Germany until he was fourteen 
j'ears of age, at which time his parents came to 
America, and direct to Nebraska. His youthful 
days were spent as most German boys' are, at 
work and attending school. 

He was united in marriage, in March, 1883, 
to Barbara Bodewig, daughter of John and 
Anna M. Bodewig, of Germany, whose cliildren 
were : Jacob, Peter, Christian and Barbara. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harms are the parents of three 
children, born in the following order: Anna S., 
born August, 18SG ; Harry, January, 18S9, and 
Barbara, January, 1892. 

Politically, Mr. Haims supports the Inde- 
pendent ticket, and in his religious belief is a 
Lutheran. 

FRED. HAASE, a farmer of Section 19, 
Pleasant Valley townshiji, came to Dodge 
County in tlie spring of 1883, and bought 
one hundred and twenty acres of land where he 
now lives; there had been fifty acres of break- 
ing done on tlie ])lace, but this was the only 
improvement that had been made. He built a 
story and one-half house, 24x28 feet, and the 
same year built a barn with fourteen-foot posts, 
22.\32 feet, and now has one of the best im- 
proved places in the township. lie has two 
hundred acres of land, all undtu' cultivation 
but forty acres. 



Mr. Haase was born in Germany, April 12, 
ISil, the son of FrAlerick and Dora Haase, who 
hat! a family of seven children, of whom our 
subject was the oldest. He came with his 
parents, in 1851, to Davenport, Iowa, and two 
years after the father died and the mother 
married John Offerman, our subject remaining 
with his stepfather until twenty-three years of 
age, after which he worked six years on a farm 
and at teaming, until he came to this county. 

He was married in Scott County, Iowa, De- 
cember 22, 1809, to Miss Lena Stotenberg, 
daughter of Claus and Margaret (Damce) Sto- 
tenberg, who were the parents of twelve chil- 
dren, seven sons and live daughters. Lena was 
the youngest, and was born in Germany, July 
11, 1845. When twenty-two years of age she 
left her parents in her native land and came to 
Scott County, Iowa, where she was nuirried 
about one year afterward. This marriage union 
resulted in the birth of seven children : Dora, 
Bertha, Agnes, Hugo, Charles, Alfred and 
Tracy. 

Mr. and Mrs. Haase are consistent members 
of the German Lutheran Church, and, politic- 
ally, he is identified with the Democratic party. 

JOHN IIASCH, a representative farmer of 
Pleasant Valley township, residing on 
Section 29, came to Dodge County in 
the spring of 1680, and rented a farm 
two years in Itidgele}' township, after whicii he 
bought a farm of one hundred and twenty 
acres. Eighty acres of this is located on Sec- 
tion 19 and the remainder on Section 29. On 
the former there was a small house, which 
served him for a residence until the fall of 
1880, when bought another forty acres on Sec- 
tion 29, upon which there was a small house. 
He moved his original house to this point and 
built the two together. In 1890 he built a 
barn, 26x40 feet, and a granary, 8x24 feet. His 
farm now comprises one hundred and sixty 
acres, one hundred of which are under cultiva- 
tion. His place is finely situated and has a 
school-house across tlie road from his dwelling. 



NOKTHEAST/ AX X!/; /CASK A. 



Our subject was born in Germany, October 
IS, 1852, the son of John and Anna Hasch. 
When John was about fourteen 3'ears of age 
he commenced to work out for others, receiving 
very small wages, but b^' the time he was nine- 
teen years old he was earning one hundred 
dollars per year, lie came to America in the 
spring of 1S7S, stopping at Davenport, Iowa, 
where had two brothers. He worked in tliat 
city at whatever he could get to do for about 
three months; was engaged four months in 
an elevator, and worked about the place until 
he came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

Mr. Hasch was married in Germany in the 
month of May, 1870, to Miss Johanna "Wick- 
horst, of German birth, born March 20, 1853. 
The result of this marriage union was the birth 
of six children : Otto, William, Anna, Linda, 
Emma and Laura. 



WILLIAM L. HATCHER, one of the 
entei'prising citizens of Union town- 
ship, and a farmer on Section 9, 
came to Dodge County in the autumn of 1880, 
and rented a farm for three years ; he buui^ht 
tlie place he now occupies in 1880, but did not 
build on it until the fall of lS83,when he erected 
a good twostory house. 

He was born in the Old Dominion State- 
Ilockbridge County, Virginia, June 8, 1843, 
His parents were Henry M. and Margaret P. 
(lUirks) Hatcher, both natives of Virginia. Wil- 
liam L. remained at home until he was twenty- 
eight years of age, and then went to farming 
for himself in his native county, continuing at 
that until he came to Nebraska. 

December 6, 1871, he was married to Miss 
Alice Black, the daughter of J. L. and Cassie 
(Moore) Black. Mrs. Hatclier was born in 
Uockbridge County, Virginia, April 2, 1849. 
and remained at home until tlie date of her 
marriage. l>y this union two children have 
been born : Nena A. and Cassie if. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher, as well as their two 
children, are acceptal)le members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Churcli. 



Politically, Mr. Hatcher is a supporter of the 
Iiuiependent party. He is a member of the Ma- 
sonic order at North Bend, belonging to Lodge 
No. 119, A. F. & A. M. 



JAMES IIAKVIE, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 14, of Pleasant Valley township, 
came to Dodge County with his parents 
in the autumn of 1870, his father taking 
the homestead upon which tliey now live, and 
which James helped improve. He also took a 
homestead of eighty acres on the same section, 
and from time to time has bought more land 
until be now owns four hundred and forty 
acres, all under cultivation. Among the val- 
uable improvements of the place is an orchard of 
one hundred and thirty trees, which have been 
bearing many years. 

Mr. Harvie was born in Ayshire, Scotland, 
December 12, 1848, the son of Andrew and 
Margaret (Kirkwood) Harvie, and came with 
them to America in 1870. He is the fiftli in a 
family of ten children, who are all deceased ex- 
cept Andrew, Margaret and James. Margaret 
mairied Peter Gillis, and lives in North Bend, 
Nebraska. The n:imes of those that are de- 
ceased are: Janette, William and Thomas, who 
died in Scotland ; Jennie, who died in Omaha; 
Thomas, Elizabetii and John, who died in Dodge 
County, Nebraska. 

In religious matters Mr. Harvie has been a 
member of the Presbyterian Ciiurch from his 
childhood. He is a member of the Dodge 
County Grange and supports tiie Farmers' 
Alliance. When the Ilarvio family came from 
Scotland th(!y had but very little money, and 
for the first live years after coming here they 
scarcely mtide a living, on account of the grass- 
hoppers, but since that time iiave been jirosper- 
ous. At an early time, all they had to sell 
must be hauled to Fremont, and as they did 
not have the dollar to stay all night, they 
usually made tlie trip the same day, leaving 
home at three o'clock in the morning and re- 
turning at twelve o'clock at nigiit. At that 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



date there were but few settlers in Pleasant 
Valley township, and at first there was no 
school-iiouse within the limits of the township; 
school was held at a private house across the 
line, in llidgeley township, and later on at the 
house of Hu^h Robertson. 



MARTIN GAUGIIEN, a farmer of Sec- 
tion 9, Union township, came to Dodge 
Count}' in the spring of 1877, rented a 
farm for three years, during which time he 
purchased IGO acres, where he now lives. The 
same was wild land, upon which he erected a 
frame house, lGx2'l feet, one and one-half stories 
high ; also a barn, 28x40 feet. He now has 400 
acres of land, divided into two farms, each hav 
ing a good house. He generally feeds two car- 
loads of steers during the winter, and is one of 
the many exam]iles of thi'ift and industry in 
Dodge Count}'. 

He was born in Ireland in 1S44, and is a son 
of John and Mary (Harrison) Gaughen, born 
natives of Irelantl. In 1847 they came to 
America, and located in Carbon County, Penn- 
sylvania. At the age of eleven years Martin 
engaged in digging coal, which business he fol- 
lowed until he came to Dodge County. AVhen 
he first commenced to work in the mines his 
work was to pick slate out of the coal, and he 
first commenced to work at twenty-five cents 
])er day and boardetl himself. After he became 
older he usually worked by contract. 

May 28, 1886, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Langon, daughter of Hugh and Bar- 
baia Langon, both natives of Ireland. Mrs. 
Gaughen was born in Ireland, where her father 
died, after which her mother and herself came 
to this country. The mother died in Pennsyl- 
vania in November, 181)1, at the advanced age 
of o)ie hundred years. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eight children : John, Mary, Thomas, Barbara, 
Hugh J., Martin, Thomas P. and Catharine. 

Mr. aud Mrs. Gaughen and family are con- 
nected with the Roman Catholic Church, and 
politically he is a Democrat. 



Mr. Gaughen never met with an accident 
during all the years of his mining experience, 
but had a brother killed in the mines. His wife 
had three brothers killed in the coal mines: 
John, Thomas and Patrick. James Gaughen, 
his father, was also killed. 



THOMAS GAUGHEN, a farmer of Section 
15, of Union township, has been a resi- 
dent of Dodge County since Februai-y, 
1875, but had been in the county in July, 1874, 
and bought a half section of railroad land, where 
he now lives. Pie made two payments on the 
land and on account of grassho]ipersiiestroying 
his crops he had to let one-half of it go back at 
seven dollars and one-half per acre, and since 
then has paid twenty -live dollars for the same 
land. At first he built a small frame house, 
and he provided a small but well-built barn, 
lCx24 feet, with eight-foot posts. Since that 
time he has made large additions to his house 
and barn. In bis home farm he has five hun- 
dred and sixty acres, and forty acres of hay 
land on the bottom. 

He was born in Ireland in 1842, the son of 
John and Mary (Harrison) Gaugiien. Thomas 
came with the family to America in 1847, and 
located in Carbon County, Pennsylvania, and 
when nine years old commenced to pick slate 
from coal and followed coal mining until he 
came to this county. 

January 11, 1863, he was united in marriage, 
in Pennsylvania, to Miss Margaret Chapman, 
daughter of Luke and Bridget (Laughfey) 
Cha'pman, both natives of Ireland. Her parents 
both came to America when they were young 
and wei'e married here. Mrs. Gaughen was 
born in Pennsylvania, February 3, 1845, and 
remained there until the date of her marriage. 
She is now the mother of twelve children : John, 
Mary, Luke, Bridget, James (deceased), ^lar- 
garet, Ann, Thomas, Michael, Kate, Elizabeth, 
Martin. Mr. Gaughen and his family are mem- 
bers of the Roman Catholic Church, and in 
politics he is a Democrat, 




^ "^uaJ a:r-yu^>^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



REUBEN FALCONEIl, a highly respected 
citizen of Nickersou townsiiip, residing 
on Section 17, came to Dodge County 
in tiie spring of 1872. He purchased two 
hundred and forty acres of wild land upon 
which he still lives. He made the necessar}' 
improvements by breaking the prairie sod, 
building a house and barn with the ac- 
companying out-buildings, and dug a well 
which he provided with a wind-mill, and 
|)lanted out an orchard of three hundred trees, 
besides a fine artificial grove. lie has since 
added to his land, until he now has a half 
section, all under cultivation and well fenced. 
Through the grasshopper years he sustained 
considerable loss, but since that time the world 
has been coming his way. 

Mr. Falconer was born in Belmont County 
Ohio, January 12, 181:1, the son of Thomas and 
Elizabeth Falconer, the former a native of Ohio 
and the latter of Pennsylvania. Their family 
consisted of four children: Reuben, Sarah 
(deceased), Margaret and Samuel. Our subject 
lived in Ohio until ten years of age, Avhen his 
father moved to Appanoose County, Iowa, 
where he engaged in fai'ming. He remained 
with his father (his mother being dead) until 
he was nineteen years of age, when he enlisted 
in Company I Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry', and 
was mustered into the service at Keokuk^ Iowa. 
He was sent from that point to St. Louis and 
front thence to Memphis. He was in the 
Seventh Army Corps under General Steel. He 
was at the battle of Helena in 1863, and went 
from there to Fort Pemberton, back to Helena, 
and from there to Little Rock, Arkansas, where 
he was engaged in the battle. He then made 
a march to meet Banks and was captured and 
lodged in prison at Tyler, Texas, where he 
remained three hundred days and was then 
exchanged. At this prison their rations were 
a pint of corn meal (unbolted) and one-fourth 
of a pound of meat, each twent^^-four hours. 
After he was exchanged he went to New 
Orleans, where he was examined and found 
unable for duty, hence received a furhjugh of 



one month, after which he rejoined his regiment 
at Duvalls Bluffs, Arlvansas. After three years 
and a few days of service as a wearer of the 
loyal blue he was discharged, after wliicli he 
di'ifted back to Iowa, bought one hundred and 
twelve acres of land and pursued the peaceful 
calling of a farmer in the Ilawkeye State until 
he came to Nebr-iska. 

Our subject's advantage for an education 
were somewhat limited, but by having been 
over many parts of the country and a close 
observer, he has come to be a well-jjostcd 
man. 

He was united in marriage March 4, 1873, to 
Alaria E. Humphreys, daughter of Fielding and 
Louisa Humphrey's, natives of Indiana and 
Pennsylvania, respectivelv, and who were the 
parents of ten children : Emma, Jerome 
(deceased), Sarah, Maria, Rachel (deceased), 
Luella, Cora, Ruth, Marvin and Brooks; five 
of tliese children live in Iowa, and three in 
Nebraska. 

Mr. Falconer and wife have eight children, 
born as follows: Earnest H., boin December 
24, 1873; Lulu, November Ki, 1875; George, 
August 12, 1878 ; Etta, March 17, 1SS2 ; Rulh 
and Ruby (twins), December 17, 1883; Thayer, 
September 29, 18SG ; Blanche, September 11, 
1889. Our subject and his wife are members 
of the Christian Church, and in politics he is a 
Republican. 

In tracing our subject from his l)irtli])lace 
in the Buckeye State, through his checkered 
and eventful life, one will observe that his has 
been one of great toil and no little exposure 
and hardships. We trace him through his 
army career and ihink of him in the prison 
pen at Tyler, Texas, beneath the burning 
Southern sun enduring those terrible privations 
for the sake of his country, which, combined 
with his life of uprightness since he has been a 
resident of Dodge County, leads the historian 
to say that his has been a true life. He is a 
member of McPhcrson Post No. 4, Fre- 
mont. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



PETER EMANUEL, a farmer of Section 
21, Pleasant Valley township, came to 
Dodge County in the spiintj of 1S73, 
and bought eighty acres of railroail land, upon 
which he now lives, lie built a small frame 
house, 12x16 feet. His farm now consists of 
one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and 
twenty of which are under the plow and the 
balance in pasture and hay land. 

In order to inform the reader concerning our 
subject's earlier career, let it be said he was 
born in Germany, September 11, 1850, the son 
of Nicholas and Anna M. (Williams) Emanuel, 
both natives of Germany. They were the par- 
ents of four sons, our subject being next to the 
oldest. When Peter was six years of age his 
father died, but he remained at home with his 
his mother until twenty-three 3'ears of age, and 
worked out, helping to support the family. 
Five years of this time lie worked in a coal 
mine, receiving one dollar per day for his serv- 
ices, and boarded himself; that was before the 
days of the " eight hour system,'' for the writer 
is informed that our subject was expected to go 
to work at five o'clock in the morning and not 
quit until seven o'clock in the evening In the 
spring of 1873 he might have been seen on 
board a boat, sailing for the American shore. 
From the coast he came direct to Dodge County, 
Nebraska, where his brother John was 
living. His mother and brother followed h'm 
in the fall of the same year; the mother died 
in March, 1876. 

Having found the best country under the 
shining sun in which to live and labor, our sub- 
ject was still not satisfied with life, for as \'et 
he had no companion; hut January 19, 1875, 
he was united in marriage to Miss Mar\' E. 
Eckroat, daughter of Jacob and Barbara 
(Klise) Eckroat. The father was a native of 
Pennsylvania, while the mother was born in 
Germany. Mary E. was born in Stark County, 
Ohio, November 9, 1859, and when six years of 
age accompanied her parents to Henry (bounty, 
Illinois. In the autumn of 18(!9 they came to 
Dodge C/'ounty, Nebraska. 



To Mr. and ilrs. Emanuel have been born 
nine children: Barbara H., Lewis P., Caroline 
J., Elenora M. (deceased), Clara T., Emma M., 
Mary M., Agnes A. and Gertrude E. 

The family are members of the Roman Cath- 
olic Church. He is a member of the Pleasant 
Valley Grange, which was organized in Janu- 
ary, 1889. 

Politicall}' our subject is a Democrat, and in 
the autumn of 1891 was elected to the office of 
townshij) supervisor, acting as one of the county 
commissioners. For the past ten years he has 
been constable and road overseer. 



CASPER EIDAM, a jn-osperous farmer 
of Section 16, Maple township, came 
to Dodge Count}' in the spring of 1870, 
and located in Platte township, where he 
rented a farm for three years and then pur- 
chased the place upon which he now lives, 
which then consisted of eighty acres of wild 
land, upon which he jilaced substantial improve- 
ments, including a farm house, 16x22 feet, in 
which he lived fifteen years. He also built a 
barn, 40x48 feet; set out an orchard and an 
artificial grove of four acres, provided good 
wells, with a wind-mill,and has since built a two- 
story residence, 20x30 feet, with a wing, 16x30 
feet. He has added to his original land until 
he now has three hundred and sixty acres, all 
but thirty of which are under the plow. Upon 
coming to the count}' he was a poor man, 
fought the grasshoppers and hail storms, with 
other anno^^ances found in farm life, but has 
finally come off conquerer, as he is in possession 
of a very valuable farm-home. To acquaint 
the reader with his earlier history, let it be saiil 
that Mr. Eidam was born in Germany, Jul}-, 
1841, the son of Ernest and Elizabeth Eidam, 
natives of Germany, whose six children were : 
Henry (deceased), Comrad, Casper, G. C. (de- 
ceased), Margaret (deceased) and Christian 
(deceased). He remained in his native land 
until he was twenty-five years of age, when he 
came to America, landing at New York harbor, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



467 



and from there went to Iowa, working by the 
(lay and on a farm near Iowa City for about 
three years, and then came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. 

He was unitecJ in marriage, December, 1S66, 
to Anna Webber, daughter of Ludwicand Anna 
C. Webber, natives of Germany, whose three 
children were Anna, Elizabeth and Catharine. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
seven children, who were born in the following 
order: John, October 15, 18G7; Anna, April 
8, 1869; Henry, August U, 1870; William, 
February 22, 1872; Cathrena, August 29, 1874 ; 
Annice, deceased, born April 19, lS7fi, and 
Christena, June 7, 1878. 

Mr. and Mrs. Eidam are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and, politically, he atiiliates 
with the Democratic party. 



DIEDRICH DUNKEE, a farmer living on 
Section 20, of Pleasant Valley township, 
came to Dodge County in the spring of 
1872, and took a homestead of eighty acres, 
where he now resides At first he built a frame 
shanty, 12x1-4 feet, and one story high; the first 
year he managed to bi'eak ten acres. He lived 
in the above named house until 1883, when he 
built his present commodious farm-house. He 
has built a barn, 16x26 feet, and a cattle barn 
thirty-two feet square, with a thatched roof; 
also a granary and corn crib. In his home farm 
he has one hundred and sixty acres, all under 
cultivation. He also owns forty acres on Sec- 
tion 19. He has an orchard of fifty bearing 
fr'uit trees. When he came to the township 
there was no school-house, but shortly after 
one was constructed of prairie sod, which was 
about one and one-half miles from his house. 
l!ut to-day he is well provided for in this 
respect, as the school-bouse is upon his land. 

He of whom we wi'ite was born in Holstein, 
(Terniany, January 19, 1844, tiieson of Stephen 
II. and Paulina (Clauson) Dunker. The father 
was a l)lacksmith by occupation, and when 
Diedrich was two years of aiie his uncle, John 



C. Dunker, took him to raise on his farm; he 
remained with him until he was twenty-one 
years of age. In Jul}', 1865, he left his uncle, 
bid farewell to his native land and sailed for 
America, coming direct to Davenport, Iowa, 
accompanied by his brother Frederick. He 
then worked in Davenport, and on a farm near 
there, for three yeai-s, and went to Jasper 
County, Iowa, and worked on a construction 
train, following railroading for five years. At 
the end of this peiiod he came to Dodge 
County, Nebraska. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Ger- 
many, March 12, 18C5, toMiss WiebkeDorchei, 
and by this marriage the following children 
have been born : Earnhardt (deceased), Her- 
man, Mary A., William (deceased), Emm.i, 
Adelia, Gustie, Ludwigand baby boy and girl 
(twins) died in infancy. 

The mother of these children was born in 
Germany, November 1, 1839. 

The family are members of the German 
Lutheran (Jhuicli. There being no chuicli 
building near them, services are held at the 
school-house about once a month. 

Politically Mr. Dunkc^r votes with the Dem- 
ocratic party. 

When he came to Dodge County he had no 
means upon whioh to operate, and for the first 
three years the grassht^ppers ruined his crops. 
At first his team was oxen and whatever he had 
to sell was taken to Fremont; but there is no 
great loss without some small gain, on account of 
the grasshojjper raid his oxen were not over- 
taxed at hauling grain to market ! But when oc- 
casion did require a trip to Fremont, it was 
made the same day and night on account of the 
scarcity of money with whicii to pay hotel bills. 

Thus it will be seen that many were the hard- 
ships endured by the pioneers of Dodge County, 
even as late a day as our sul)ject's arrival ; 
but those things are all passed. The ox team 
has been superceded by valuable horse teams, 
railroails go hither and yon over the county, 
the prairie sod has been turned to fertile, well- 
tilled fields, and the sodhouse is seen no more. 



NOR THE A S TERN NERBA SKA . 



but beautiful farm houses surrounded by mag- 
nificent artificial groves are the rule on every 
section of land in the countv. 



JOHN M. DICKERSON, a farmer living on 
Section 18, Union township, came to 
Dodge County with his parents, David 
W. and Ann (Miller) Dickerson, in the 
fall of 1860, who located in Union township. 
The father took a homestead as soon as the 
law went into effect. John M. remained at 
home until he became of age, when he took a 
homestead on Section 34. He farmed his own 
land but lived at liis father's most of the time 
until he was twenty-six years of age, when he 
was married to Miss Mary Ikenberry Septem- 
ber 17, 1874. By this marriage union six chil- 
dren have been born: Willis, Ida M., Frank 
G., Cora E., Harvey M., and Leroy. 

Mr. Dickerson is a member of the Farmers 
Alliance and is Independent in politics. 

His farm now contains one hundred and 
twenty acres, all well improved. He disposed 
of his homestead some time ago and improved 
another farm of eighty acres, which he sold 
and bought his present farm. 



RODERICK 0. SMITH, of the firm of 
Davis & Smitii, editors of the North 
I'end Star, was born in Nortii Bend, 
December 21, 1858. His parents w^ere J. Mason 
and Janette (Bisset) Smith, llodei'ick C. was 
the first child born in North Bend. He re- 
mained at home with his parents until the 
autumn of 1875, when he went to Lincoln, and 
attended the State University one year; in the 
fall and winter of 1876 he learned telegraphy 
at Gibbon, Nebraska, with James Ogilvie. In 
tiie spring of 1877 he went to work for the 
Union Pacific railroad company, and continued 
in their employ as an o|)e/rator until 1884, dur- 
ing which time lie worketl one year in the 
superintendent's oliice at Clieyenne, and also 
in the superintendent's office at Laramie one 



year and six months, during which time he 
was train despatcher and manager of the 
Western Union telegraph company. We next 
find him in Pocatella, Idaho, engaged in tiie 
superintendent's office. In 1883 he went to 
Omaha and worked in the Union Pacific head- 
quarters until the spring of 1885, when he 
entered the service of the Western Union com- 
pany at Omaha. In the spring of 1886 he left 
Omaha and came to North Bend, where he 
worked nights for six months, returned to 
Omaha, and shortly afterwards was appointed 
all-night chief operator for the Western LTnion 
company, which position he held one year, 
when he made application for the agenc}' at 
Rogers, on the Union Pacific system, which 
was granted him. After eighteen months at 
that i)oint, he received an offer from the At- 
lantic & Pacific road at Needles, California, as 
train despatcher, but after five weeks in that 
country became dissatisfied and returned to 
the Western Union at Omaha. After four 
months he was offered a position at Des 
Moines, Iowa, with the Postal Telegraph com 
pany, as press ojierator on the Des Moines 
Leader; but upon arrival at Des Moines was 
appointed chief operator and held the position 
eighteen montlis, returned to North Bend, Ne- 
braska, and became a partner with Mr. Davis 
on the Star, he buying a one-half interest. This 
was in the spring of 1891, This office burned in 
the fall of 1892. 

He was married at North Bend. November 
4, 1886, to Miss May E. Armstead, daughter 
of G. W. and Lottie Armstead. Iler mother's 
maiden name was May. Our subject and his 
wife are the parents of three cliildren : ^lyrtle 
M., born August 3, 1887; John S., born 
August 12, 1889, and Lottie Mern, born August 
31, 1891. 

May E. (Armstead) Smith was born in Chil- 
licothe, Ohio, October 14, 1865, and when 
quite young accompanied her parents to Col- 
umbus, Ohio, where they remained until the 
spring of 1886, when the family removed to 
North Bend, Nebraska. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of 
Labor, and the Bi-otherhood of Telegraphers at 
Des Moines. Politically, he votes the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

SCOTT DAVIS, the man whose name heads 
this sketch, is now a resident of Section 
11, Platte township,.and was but seven 
3'ears of age when his parents removed to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1859. They first 
halted at Fremont for one year, and the follow- 
ing spring moved to a ranch and kept hotel, 
and there remained about si.K years. When 
Scott was fifteen years of age he went to Utah 
anti worked by the month at anytliing his hands 
could find to do. 

lie was born in TrumbleCountv, Ohio, Octo- 
ber 2, 1852, the son of Walter and Harriett 
Davis, natives of Ohio, who had two children: 
Itoss and Scott, both living in Nebraska. His 
mother married for her second husband Reuben 
W. Hazen. Our subject lived in Ohio until 
seven years of age and came to Nebraska, where 
he received a good common school education, 
lie was united in marriage in June, 1881, to 
Jennie Bryant, whose parents were natives of 
Maine, and had six children. Mr. and Mrs. 
Davis have one child, Irma, born July, 1886. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party. 

In 1870, he went to the Black Hills and was 
in the employ of the Express Corapan^^ nine 
years. From there he went to Oregon and 
Idaho, where hedealt in sheepand cattle in 1890, 
when he came back to Dodge County, and pur- 
chased the farm lie now occupies, seventy-five 
acres of which are under the plow. His farm 
house is a story and one-half building, 22x4-2 
feet. He has a barn, 20x30 feet ; drive-wells 
supplied by wind power; an artificial grove of 
fifteen acres and an orchard of one hundred trees. 

WILLIAM P. COLE, successor to C>Je 
6i Jensen, livery, feed and sale stable, 
corner Broad and Third streets, Fre- 
mont, will form the subject of this biographical 



notice. He is a native of Franklin County, 
Vermont, born January, 1852, the son of H.N. 
and Mary Cole. From the time William was 
nine years of age he was reai'ed in LaSalle 
County, Illinois, on a farm, but his earliest 
3'ears were spent in a -hotel. When eighteen 
years of age he commenced to " paddle his own 
canoe ; " going to Denver, Colorado, engaged in 
the hotel business, which he followed for three 
years, after which he returned to Illinois and 
followed farming for six years. Upon coming 
to Nebraska, in 1879, he located in Saunders 
County, on a farm which he purchased and I'e- 
mained upon until 1889, during which year he 
removed to Fremont and engaged in the liverv 
business, which lie has since followed. He 
keeps in his stable a fine black stallion. Bashaw 
Ned, sired by Butler's Bashaw, by "Green's 
Bashaw ; " " Old Polly " the dam bv " Red Bird " 
by "Sir Henry.*' This is one of the finest 
specimens of horsh flesh in Fremont. Mr. Cole 
has just completed arrangements and taken 
possession of the Sixth Street livery barn. He 
carries a full stock of livery, also operates a 
hack-line in connection. He does a general 
livery and boarding business. 

Politically, Mr. Cole is a supporter of the Re- 
publican jKirty. He is a self-made man in 
every sense of the word, and iuis, through his 
own efforts, accunuilated what ho has in a fi- 
nancial way. 

JH. CALDWELL, of Hooper, has been a 
resident of Dodge County since Apiil, 
, 1871. He first located on the Elkhorn 
River one and one-half miles from 
Hooper, where he pre-empted eighty acres of 
land, upon which he made some improvements 
and remained one year. He then removed to 
Hooper village, built a blacksmith shop, which 
he continued to operate for three years. He 
sold liis original farm and purchased a place 
south of Hooper, consisting of one-half section, 
most of which was wild land. Here he built a 
house, 10x22 feet, with numerous additions, 
also a barn 24x20 feet. He planted out an 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



artificial grove and an orchard of sixty trees ; 
lie also dug wells and i)rovided wind-power, 
lie remained on the farm until 1891, when he 
again moved to Hooper, and built him a com- 
modious residence, but still retains his farm. 
He of whom we wpite was born in Jordan, On- 
ondaga County, New York, in January, 1829, 
the son of John and Jerusha Caldwell, natives 
of Vermont, whose four children were: Eva- 
line C, J. H., our subject, Anna M. and Lewis. 

Our subject remained in the Empire State 
until he was thirty j'ears of age, when he came 
to Dodge County, Nebraska. In 1864 he en- 
listed in the Fiftieth New York Regiment, 
Company N, under Captain Jackson. From 
Auburn they were sent to Petersburg ; he was 
attached to Benhan's Brigade, and was with the 
army until Lee's surrender, and escaped with- 
out a wound. 

lie was united in marriage in October, 18G1, 
to Sarah E., daughter of Adam and Sarah (Coe) 
Dater, of New York, wliose six children were 
as follows : Jonas, Anna L., Mary, Jerome, 
Oliver and Sarah E. Mr. antl Mrs. Caldwell 
are the parents of three children : Ilattie, 
George and Russell. 

Politically he affiliates with the Democratic 
party. lie belongs to the Masonic Lodge and 
tlie Grand Army of the Republic. 



SIKE ClIRISTENSEN, a farmer, located 
on Section 21, of Nickerson County, has 
been a resident of Dodge County since 
the autumn of 1881, when he located on the farm 
he now occupies. 

He was born in Denmark, October 28, 1853, 
the son of Christian and Carren Larson, who 
had eight children, named as follows: Chris- 
tena, Lars P. (deceased), Anna, Sike, Cathrene, 
Else (deceased), Nels and Bertha. 

Sike remained in Denmark until lie was 
twenty years of age,then came to America, land- 
ing at New York, and from there went to War- 
ren County, Pennsylvania, where he worked by 
the month for nine vears. He came to this 



country a poor man, possessed no other capital 
than a pair of strong arms and a determination 
to do and dare. He Avas married, Februiry, 
1877, to Christena Anderson, daughter of An- 
ders and Annie Anderson, natives of Denmark. 

Mr. and Mrs. Christensen have five children : 
Frank, born August 19, 1S79 ; Mary, born April 
28, 1882 ; Albert,.born July G, 1885 ; Charles, 
born January 2, 1889; and Clarence, born May 
25, 1890. 

Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are both members 
of the Lutheran Church. Their mothers are 
both living, but their fathers are deceased. 

Politically, our subject is a supporter of the 
Republican part3\ 

After coming to Dodge County in 1881, and 
purchasing his eighty acres of wild land, he 
broke it out, built a house, 22x28 feet, two stor- 
ies high ; built stables, double crib, granar}', 
tool shop and tool house. He also set out an 
orchard of fifty trees, planted out a grove and 
now has a valuable, attractive and comfortab'e 
home. 

GEORGE J. CAMPBELL, manager of the 
G. F. Swift Bay State Stock Farm, will 
form the subject of this notice. 

Mr. Campbell was born in Polk County. 
Iowa, September 27, 18G0, the son of Runey 
and Euphenia (Fegan) Campbell. The fatiier 
was a native of Ohio, and the mother of Indi- 
ana. George J. remained at home with his 
parents until he was twenty-one years of age, 
and then went to Dallas County, Iowa, where 
he worked one year upon a farm, and then came 
to Dodge County, Nebi'aska, worked about 
three years for the Bay State Cattle Company 
and was made its manager. 

He was united in mari-iage in Dodge (bounty, 
Nebraska, February 22, 1SS7, to Miss Clara M. 
Wilbur, the daughter of George and Jane 
(I^fonlux) Wilbur, both natives of the Buckeye 
State. They are the parents of three children. 

Our subject and his wife are both members 
of the Methodist E))iscopal Church at North 
Bend. He belong's to North Bend Lodfre No. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



471 



119, of the Masonic Order, and in politics votes 
the Democratic ticket. 

The rancli with whicli he is connected was 
started in 1883 by the Cay State Live Stock 
Company, who handle about 2.000 head of cattle 
annually. In August, 1890, the property was 
bougiit by G. F. Swift, who liandles about the 
same number of cattle. They also operate an 
elevator at this point atul haiulle l.")(),0O(i 
bushels of grain per year. 



JOSEPH BRODIIUN, one of tlie directors 
of the Farmers' State Bank, and among 
the early settlers of Dodge Count}', was 
born in Germany January 6, 1846. He 
grew to manhood and received a liberal educa- 
tion in the schools common to that country. 
In 1870 he came to America, being the first to 
establish the faraiU' name in this country. He 
came to Nebraska a poor man and claimed a 
homestead and bought eight}' acres of railroad 
land. He first lived in a sod-house, after which 
he built a good residence. He remained on his 
farm until 1887, when he built the first build- 
ing in the village of Dodge, since which time 
he has been engaged in operating a saloon and 
dealing in live-stock. He was one of the orig- 
inal stockholders in the Farmers' State Bank. 

He was married in his native country in 
1869, and immediately the young couple started 
for the New World. The change was great to 
them, coming, as the}' did, from an old and 
well-settled country to what was then a prairie 
wiklerness. Mr. and Mrs. Brodhun are parents 
of two children : William, born August 31, 
1872, and Mary, born May 10, 1879. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Democratic party. 

He has served as township collector and 
treasurer for three years. In school matters 
he has taken an active part, having served on 
the school board as one of the directors, and 
served fifteen years as treasurer. He stands 
high in the communitv in wliicli he lives. 



ELMER E. DAVIS, Davis, & Smith, 
editors of the Noi'th Bend Star, was 
born in what is now Colfax County, 
Nebraska, near Shell Creek Post-office, Novem- 
ber 16, 1860, the son of William and Laura 
(Pearson) Davis, both natives of New York. 
They came to Nebraska in May, 1857, and 
settled in Platte County, a part of which is 
now Colfax. When land came into the market, 
his father took sixty acres, impi'oved it and 
lived on it until 1887, and moved to Schuyler, 
and is now living a retired life. Elmer E. 
remained at home with his parents until he 
was twenty -one years of age, and then went 
to Fremont, where he worked for G. W. E. 
Dorsey in his bank for about six months, then 
went to Schuyler, where he worked in the 
county treasurer's office for a short time, and 
formed a partnership with his brother I). F. 
Davis, and opened a real estate and loan office. 
Two years later he bought an interest in the 
Schuyler Herald and ran that paper in com- 
pany with his brother and II. D. Phelps. He 
sold his interest in the newspaper in 1885, and 
went to Oxford, Nebraska, where he accepted 
the position of cashier in the People's Bank ; 
where he remained until November, 1886, and 
came back to Schuyler ; he farmed his brother's 
farm (the old homestead) one year, remained 
in Schuyler another year, and December, 1888, 
bought theNoith Bend Protectov and changed 
the nameto the iS'ter. In April, 1891, he formed 
a partnership with R. C. Smith. 

Mr. Davis was united in marriage in Colfax 
County, Nebraska, March 31, ISS-f, to Miss 
Mary E. Phelps, the daugiiter of C. J. and 
Sarah E. (Wells) Phelps, both natives of Con 
necticut. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents 
of two children : Fannie B., born July 20, 
18SG, and Helen Mae, born June 6, 1890. 

His wife is a member of the Presbyterian 
Church at Schuyler. He is a member of the 
Masonic order, belonging to the Aca ia Lodge 
No. 34-, at Schuyler. 

Politically, healiiliates wilh the Democratic 
party. 



472 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mrs. Davis was born in Hartford, Connecti- 
cut, April 27, 18()3, and came with lier parents 
to Nebraska wiien she was quite small. They 
lived for a time in Omaha, until her father took 
a homestead in Colfax County. Since 1875 
her father has been living in Schuyler, practic- 
\n" law. 



GUST. J. BERGQUIST, one of the en- 
terprising farmers of Logan township, 
bought eighty acres of wild land on 
Section 24, in 1875. Here he built the custom- 
ary Nebraska pioneer house, a rude dug out, 
10x14 feet, in which he lived for four years, 
when he built a frame house twenty-four feet 
square. Subsequently he bought two hundred 
and forty acres on Section 13, all of which is 
under a good fence, with all tiie necessary 
buildings for stock purposes. 

He was born in Sweden, February 15, 1852, 
the son of John and Mary Bergquist, whose 
seven children were as follows: Charlie, Oscar, 
Alexander, Gust, Matilda, Edna and Mary. 
Gus left Swedeh in 18(59 with his parents, came 
to Quebec, and from there to Galva, Illinois, 
where he worked two years, and went west to 
Wyoming Territory, where he remained until 
he came to Dodge County, Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage in 1879, to Nellie 
Nelson, daughter of Peter and Hannah Nelson, 
whose three children were Nels, Nellie and 
John. 

Our subject and his wife were blessed with 
one child. Mr. liergquist was again maiTied in 
1888. 

WILLIAM BORKENIIAGEN,of Hoop- 
er, has been a resident of Dodge 
County since the spring of 1865, 
when he located at Fremont with his parents, 
who remained there about two years, and 
moved to Scribner, where they took a home- 
stead. After living on the farm about two 
years, they removed to the village of Scribner, 
and William remained at home until he was 



fifteen years of age. From that time on until 
he was about thirt}' years old he worked on a 
farm b\' the month. 

Our subject was born in Dodge County, Wis- 
consin, xVpril, 1858, a son of Frederick and 
Frederica Borkenhagen, natives of Germany, 
whose children were : John William Henry, 
Ernest T., Johannah (deceased) and Emily. 
Our subject was seven years old when his par- 
ents moved to Nebraska. He was united in 
marriage in June, 1884, to Antoetti Englisch, 
daughter of August and Henrietta Englisch, 
whose eight children were: Adelia, Agnes, Paul, 
Arthur, Antinetti, one died in infancv, Otto 
and Blanche. 

Mr. and Mrs. Borkenhagen are the parents 
of two children : Ray W., born February, 1880, 
and Aithur, born July, 1888 (deceased). 

Mr. Borkenhagen is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. 

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party, in religious matters is a member of the 
Lutheran Clnirch. 

He was appointed deputy sheriff of his count}' 
and served five years, and then sjjent two years 
at Hooper, engaged in the saloon business. 



CHARLES M. BLACK, residing on Sec-, 
tion 16, of Union township, came to 
Dodge County in the spring of 1884, 
and bought eighty acres of wild i>rairie land, 
upon which he has placed substantial improve- 
ments and made additions, until he now owns 
two hundred acres of land. 

He was born in Kockbridge County, Vir- 
ginia, November 11, 1857, the son of James L. 
and Cassie A. (Moore) Black, both natives of 
Virginia. Charles remained at home with his 
parents on the farm until the spring of 1877, 
when he came to Colfax County, Nebraska, and 
rented a farm until 1884, and came to Dodge 
County. His parents removed to Dodge 
County in the spring of 1878, and are living 
with their children. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



478 



Our subject was married in Dodge County, 
Nebraska, April 29, 18S0, to Miss Mary A. 
Scott, daughter of David and Belle (Johnson) 
Scott, both of whom are natives of Ireland. 
Mrs. Black was born in Bhiladelphia, Pennsyl- 
vania xVugust 5, 1S60, and came with her parents 
to Nebraska in 1803. They iiave two children: 
Myrtle M. and Theo B. 

Our subject and his wife are consistent mem- 
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and 
in politics he votes the Independent ticket. 



JOIIX ANDREWS, a representative farmer 
of Pleasant Vallev townsliip, whose home 
is on Section 8, came to Dodge County 
in the autumn of 1870, and homesteaded 
one hundred and sixty acres of land where he 
now lives. Being a soldier in the late war, 
he was entitled to one hundred and sixty acres, 
within railroad limits. After taking his claim 
he built a shanty boarded up and down, bought 
a poor horse team, and had Jim dollars in 
money left. All of his supplies and material 
had to be hauled from Fremont, and there was 
no work to be had, so he saw very hard times, 
lie was one of the first to settle in that part of 
the township, and his nearest neighbor lived 
three miles away. The first school taught in 
this part of the township was in John Brown's 
house in the fall of 1871, the same beingtaught 
b}' Miss Hattie Cook. Mr. Andrews has added 
to his landed estate until he now has four hun- 
dred acres, one-half of which is under the plow 
and the balance is seeded to timothy and clover, 
except forty acres, whicli is in wild grass. 
About 1887 he purchased two hundred and 
forty acres of land, at twenty-five dollars per 
acre, and relates that it was easier for him to 
pay for that than it was to hold his homestead. 
In 1876 he built a commodious farm house, 
24x28 feet, and in 1885 erected a barn made 
after the Eastern style, of very heav}' timbers. 
He also has numerous otiier out-buildings, all in 
first-class onler. He raises short horn cattle, 
keeps about one hundred head upon his place, 
and feeds cattle the year around. He also 



raises Cl\'de and Norman horses, keeping from 
fifteen to twenty-five on hand. 

He was born in County Louden, De\vr\', Ire- 
land, January 23, 1846, the son of Jeremiah 
and Elizabeth (Thompson) Andrews both na- 
tives of Ireland. They had three sons and 
three daughters, our subject being the second 
child in the famil}'. The mother died in Ire- 
land and the father came to America, and is 
now deceased. John was but a small boy 
when his mother died, and when his father 
came to this countr}' he went to live with an 
uncle, his father's brother, with whom he re- 
mained until he was sixteen years of age. 
In 1862 he came to America, worked two 
months in Brookl^'u, New York, and then, 
taking the advice of Plorace Greeley, came to 
Princeton, Illinois, from which place he enlisted 
as a Union soldier and a member of Companj' I 
Twelfth Illinois Infantry. He went south 
and participated in the following engage- 
ments : Resaca, Dalton, Big Shanty, Home 
Cross Roads, Calhoun Ferry and Marietta. He 
was with Sherman on his March to the Sea, and 
was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, July 5, 
1865. He then came to Chicago and engaged 
in the electrotype business, at number 90 
Washington straet, where he was engaged un- 
til 1866. We next find him on a farm in 
Bureau County, Illinois, which he rented until 
he came to Nebraska. 

Mr. Andrews was united in marriage March 
19, 1867, in Bureau Count}', Illinois, to Miss 
Jane Hunter, daughter of William and Mar- 
garet (Dougherty) Hunter, both natives of 
Ireland. They are members of the Presbyterian 
Church. He is a member of the Masonic 
order, Scribner Lodge No. 132, of A. F. & 
A. M. 

Politically, lie alliliates with the Democratic 
party. 

WILLl.VM H. ALDRICII, of Hooper 
township, came to Dodge County in 
April, 1873, and purchased a piece of 
land near the village of Hooper, consisting of 



KORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



one hundred acres of party improved land. He 
i-eniained on tin's place four years, sold out and 
bought the place he now occupies, consisting of 
one hundred and twenty acres of partly im- 
proved land. He completed the house, built 
barns and grffnaries, dug a well, and provided 
the same \vith'a wind-mill; set out an orchard 
of one hundred and lift}' trees and a grove of 
three acres. Upon coming to the county he 
brought sixteen hundred dollars with him, but 
saw many hardships during the grasshopper 
years. Of his earlier life it may be remarked 
that he was born in Ontario County, New York 
March, 18i3, the son of Semour and Mary 
Aldrich, who had ten children : David, Edmund, 
Wilson (deceased) , Mary, William, Emily, 
Anna (deceased) , Sar ih, Dewitt (deceased), 
and Ellen. 

Our subject lived with his parents until he 
had reached the years of his majority, when he 
went to work at roof slating, wiiich he followed 
two years, after which he rented land until he 
came West. His early advantages for obtain- 
ing an education were good, attending the com- 
mon schools, and afterwards Canandaigua 
Academy. 

He was united in marriage, March 30, 1809, 
to Anna Cad well, a native of New York, whose 
parents were John ainl Jerusha Cad well, whose 
live children were : Evaline, Sarah J. (deceased), 
James H., Anna, Louis (deceased). Mr. 
and Mrs. Aldrich are the parents of three 
children: Fred, born June, 1871; John and 
James (twins), born February, 1875. 

Our subject belongs to ^lasonic Lodge No. 72, 
at Hooper, and in politics affiliates with the 
Democratic pat'ty. 

JOSEPH IL EMLEY, cashier of the Citi- 
zens State Bank at Wisner, is the son of 
l)ioneer Joseph S. and Mary M. 
(Beard) Emley. who settled in Cuming 
County in 1865. 

Our subject was born in Clinton County, In. 
diana, April 24, 1853. A sketch of his parents 
appears elsewhere in this work. In his parents' 



family there were eleven children : Oliver, born 
December 25, 1842, a retired farmer of Wiscon- 
sin, and a soldier of the late war; Albert, 
born September 17, 18-14, a farmer of Cuming 
County, Nebraska; John I!., born February 
12, 1847, a farmer near Wisner ; Samuel, born 
October 27, 1849, a farmer of Holt County, 
Nebraska ; Sj'lvester, born October 6, 1851, 
lumber and live stock dealer at Wisner; Jos- 
eph H., our subject, born April 24, 1S53; William, 
born January 5, 1855, county clerk of Cuming 
County, Nebraska; Matilda, born March 15, 
1857, wife of Charles E. Traw, near Wisner; 
Rhoda L., born October 23, 1858, wife of D. 
A. Huston, of Ewing, Nebraska ; Daniel C, 
born April 21, 1863, now of West Point ; Mary 
M., born in Nebraska, September 7, 1865. 

The famih' moved from Wisconsin in 1SC5 
and took a homestead, upon which the father 
died February 12, 1887. The subject of this 
notice went to Nebraska with his parents when 
about two years of age and is a self-educated 
man, the most of it coming by the school of 
experience. In 1885 he moved to the village 
of Wisner and embarked in the live stock and 
lumber business, and in 1889 he, in com|)any 
with F. B. A^an Dorn, Henry Liesy, J. W. 
Keugel, W. M. Stuefer, Sylvester Emley, in- 
corporated the Citizens' State Bank, and upon 
the death of Mr. Yan Dorn as president, our 
subject was made cashier. 

He was married at Wisner October 8, 1884, 
to Miss E. D. White. 

Mr. and Mrs. Emley are the parents of three 
children: Ray II., born A])ril 20, 1887; Albun 
M., born June 1, 1890, and one died in infanc\'. 

Political!}', our subject is a stanch suppor- 
ter of the Democratic party, and has held 
man}' of the local offices. Mrs. Emley is an 
acceptable member of the Congregational 
Church at Wisner. 

Mr. Emley has seen Cuining County and all 
eastern Nebraska develop from the wild jiriirie 
wilderness, the home of wild animals and 
Indians, into a garden spot, second to none in 
the entire commonwealth. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



AUGUST WALTER, of Section 11, Mon- 
terey township, Ciiniing County, will 
form the subject of this notice. lie 
was born in Prussia, Gei'niany, Februar}' 25, 
182i, and came to America in 1858 and re- 
mained at Quincy, Illinois, until 1878, where he 
operated a grocery store, which he sold and 
came to Cuming C^ounty, Nebraska, and pur- 
chased two hundred acres of land for eleven 
hundred dollars, upon which he built a frame 
liouse 14x36 feet, a good barn and other out- 
buildings. He also planted a grove of three 
acres and set out an orchard. He has one hun- 
dred and ten acres under cultivation, while the 
i-eniainder is in pasture and hay land He is 
an unmarried man, thus far having fought the 
battle of life alone. His father and mother 
were natives of Germany and lived and died in 
their native land. Our subject had four 
brothers and one sister. One brother came to 
this country with his family and settled in 
Monterey township, where he finally died. Our 
subject's farm is fenced witli wire which cost 
iiim over three hundred dollars. He values 
his place at ten thousand dollars. 

Casper Guenther lives on his farm, he mar- 
I'yinga niece of our subject's. Mr. Guenther's 
parents were early settlers in St. Charles town- 
ship. Casper remained at home until a man 
grown and went to live with his uncle, August 
Walter. He was married in 1879 to Therza 
Walter. One child was born to them, now de- 
ceased. They have an ad(jpted daughter, an 
orphan child : Anna Guenther. 

They are members of the Roman Catliolic 
Church and live lives consistent with the reli- 
gion they profess. 



WILLIAM R. BLACK came to Dodge 
County in July, 1874, and is now a 
resident of Section 18, Union town- 
ship. He rented a farm in this townsliip for 
three 3'ears, and then engaged, in company 
with J. O. Milligan, in the stock business at 
Maple Grove. They luuulled seven or eight 



hundred head annually, he carrying on farming 
at the same time to the extent of aiiout live 
hundred acres. This partnership lasted seven 
years, and during that time he bought the farm 
he now occupies; at first purchasing one hun- 
dred and sixty acres, upon which there was a 
small house, and one hundred acres of breaking. 
He has since made substantial imi)rovements, 
and has added to his farm until he has two 
hundred and forty acres of excellent land. 

He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 
April 23, 1847, the son of James L. andCassie 
A. (Moore) Black, both natives of the old Do- 
minion State. He remained at home with his 
parents on the farm until he was twenty-two 
years of age, and then conducted a farm for 
himself until the spring of 1874, when he came 
to Dodge County, Nebraska, with one hundred 
and eighty dollars in money. The first two 
years after he came his crops were destroj'ed 
by the grasshoppers and he saw very hard 
times. 

He was united in marriage in \'irginia, Ma}'^ 
12, 1809, to Miss Callie G. Zallman, the daugh- 
ter of Henr}' and Elvira (Shaver) Zailman, both 
native of Virginia, where our subject's wife was 
born in 1851, and remained until the dale of 
her marriage; their Jiome has been blessed by 
the advent of six children : Ira, Georgia, Henry, 
Josie, Lawrence and Gordon. 

Mr. and Mrs. Black are both members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Ciuirch, an<l in })olitics 
he is an Independent. 



PETER WILSON, another farmer of Cum- 
ing County, now residing on Section 28, 
of Logan township, where he owns a 
two hundred and forty-acre farm, will form the 
subject of this personal notice. 

Mr. Wilson is a native of Indiana, in which 
State he was born April 25, 1843. He I'e- 
mained at iiome until twenty-four yearsof age, 
which brought him to 18(>7, when he came to 
Cnming County, Nebraska, and located a 
homestead on Section 20, upon which he lived 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



until 1883, sold and bought two hundred and 
forty acres three-fourths of a mile south of his 
original homestead. 

Our subject's father was Ijorn in North Caro- 
lina in 1810, was mai-ried and reared a family 
of nine children. 

The mother of tiiese children died in Indi- 
ana, and the fatiier still resides there. 

Mr. Wilson was married in 1861 to Miss 
Peters, whose parents were John and Sarah 
Peters, of Pennsylvania, now both deceased. 
Their children were : Elihue, Mary, Ilolli- 
da3% John J., Langham, Hannah, Tlobert, Sarah 
B., Martha and our subject's wife. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, of whom we write this 
notice, have nine children born in the follow- 
ing order : Hannah II., John, Burton £., Iva 
B., James W., Mary D., Lillie, Kobert and 
Peter. 

• Mr. Wilson votes the llepublican ticket and 
is a member of the Christian Church. 

Concerning his farm it may be said that one 
hundred and thirty -eight acres of it is undei' 
cultivation, while the balance is in pasture and 
meadow land, and all surrounded by a wire 
fence. He has a grove of seven acres of artifi- 
cial timber, a good orchard, with a good class 
of buildings on his premises. From 1874 to 
1877 his crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, 
and February 14, 1886, his farm house and 
contents were destroyed by fire. At various 
times he has lost much live stock, including the 
severe winter of 1880-81, when he lost six hun- 
dred dollars worth of stock in the fearful 
storms of that winter. 



STEPHEN THPtONOR, a resident of 
Monterey township, Cuming County, 
who owns four hundred and twelve acres 
of choice land in the county, will form the sub- 
ject of this notice. 

He was born in Germany in 1S3(! anil came 
to America in ISCC. From New York he went 
to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at 
brick-laying for three years, and in 1869 came 



to Dodge County, Nebraska, and took an 
eighty -acre liomestead, which he finally sold 
for six hundred and t^venty-five dollars. He 
then came to Cuming Countv and bougiit a 
quarter section of railroad land, for which lie 
paid six dollars per acre. Here he erected a 
log-house 12x14 feet, in which he lived six 
years, and then built a stor>' and one-half 
frame house, also a good bai'n, granary, and 
other out-buildings. He planted out a grove 
of five acres of forest trees and a good orchard 
containing some choice varieties. He now has 
one hundred acres under cultivation, while the 
remainder is in pasture and hay land. He 
fenced his entire farm at an expense of two 
hundred dollars, using barbed wire. To his 
onginal place he has added two hundred and 
fifty-two acres, and of this tract one iiundred 
and thirty acres are under cultivation. 

i\rr. Thronor was married in 1S66, in Ger- 
many, to Mary Campnaer, to whom has been 
born six children : Joseph, aged twent^'-five 
years; William, aged twenty-three years; 
Sophia, aged twenty years; Charle_y, aged 
eighteen years; Stephen, aged sixteen years, 
and Henry, aged thirteen years. 

Our subject's parents lived and died in (Jer- 
many. Their children were : George, Lizzie 
and Stephen ; Stephen being the only one in 
this country. Mrs. Thronor's parents were 
also natives of Germany and never came to 
this countr}'. 

During the grasshopper ravages in the sev- 
enties our subject's crops were materially in- 
jured for four or five years. When he com- 
menced operations on his homestead he only 
possessed one hundred dollars, with which he 
pui'chased a yoke of oxen. His nearest mar- 
ket point was West Point, but since that day 
great changes have come over the Elkhoi'u 
Valley. The grasshoppers are no longer a 
devouring pest, while railroads and market 
points are found on every hand. 

He and his family are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and in politics he 
votes the Democratic ticket. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



HENRY THEISEN, a farmer of Section 
11, Sherman townsliip, Cuming County, 
is a native of Wisconsin, born Novem- 
ber 22, 1858. When ten years of age he accom- 
panied his parents to Dodge County, Nebraska, 
where they claimed a homestead of eighty 
acres. Our subject subsequently came to 
Cuming County, near West Point, where he 
i)ought eighty acres of land, upon which he 
lived two j-ears, and then sold and bought a 
([uarter of Section 11, where he built a story 
and one-half house, together with good out- 
buildings, lie now has one hundred acres 
under cultivation, while the rest is in pasture- 
land. He has a good orchard, and four acres ot 
trees. 

He was united in marriage, in 188-1:, to 
Emma Kcrl, to whom two children have been 
born: William and Henry. His wife was born 
in Omaha, July, 1861, being the second child 
of John Kerl and wife, who were from Ger- 
many. The father is now deceased, and the 
mother lives at West Point. 

Politically, Mr. Theisen affiliates with the 
Democratic party, and his father's people were 
Roman Catholics. His advantages for obtain- 
ing a good education were not what might 
have been desired. His father and mother 
were born in Germany and came to America 
in 17.57, and bought a small farm in Wisconsin. 
Their family consisted of seven children, 
Ileni'v beinjj the third oldest of the number. 



FRED STUIIT, one of the business factors 
of the village of Bancroft, came to 
Cuming County in the si)ring 'of 1870 
and lirst settled on Section 35, where he bought 
a farm and took a homestead of one hundred 
and sixty acres. Here he made good improve- 
ments, including the planting out of a live-acre 
gi'ove and a small orchard. He now has one 
hundred and forty acres under the plow, while 
the balance is in pasture and meadow lantl. He 
remained on this place ten years, and moved 
to the village of Bancroft, where lie engaged in 



the liquor business for eight years, and then 
l)urchased the building he now occupies and 
engaged in the drug trade, under the firm 
name of Stulit & Rostrum, who carry a full line 
of drugs, paints, oils, varnishes, etc. 

He of whom we write this notice was Ijorn 
in German}' in August, 1845. He is a son of 
Fred and Mar\' Stuht, whose six children were • 
Charles;, Earnest, Fred, one deceased, Minnie 
and William. 

Fred remained in his German home until he 
was fifteen years of age and came to Amei'ica, 
stopping in Wahvorth County, Wisconsin, 
where he followed farming and logging until he 
came to Nebraska. He did not have the best 
opportunities for obtaining an education, which 
he very much regrets. 

Catharine McKee, daughter of John and 
Rosy McKee, became his wife January, 1882. 
In her parents' family were eight children ; 
Catharine, James, John, Turns, Mary, Thomas, 
Ros\' and Joseph. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
by one child : Mabel, born August, 1883. They 
belong to the Roman Catholic Church, and in 
politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. 



JOHN SCHWARTING, of Section 30, 
Bismark township, was born in Twel- 
becke, near Oldenberg, Germany, A])ril 
22, 1S61. He is a son of Join/ G. and 
Gesene Schwarting, who came to Cuming 
County in 1880, and now resiih? in Lincoln 
township. His parents had two children: 
George and John H. John attended school 
until fourteen years of age, when he learned 
the trade of a bricklaver and plasterer. In the 
month of March, 1880, he came to America 
ami worked at his trade near Scribner, for 
about three years. In 1882 he bought his pres- 
ent farm, and the following spring took ))osses- 
sion, built a house and began to break u]) the 
prairie sod. His nearest neighbor at that time 
was two and one-half miles away. He has 
been fortunate in securing good crops nearly 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



every year since he has been in Nebraska, and 
now owns a quarter section of good land, one 
hundred and eighteen acres of whicli is under 
cultivation. This tract of land has more than 
trebled in value since he owned it. Neighbors 
soon began to settle around him and at the 
present time all the lands about him are occu- 
pied. 

He of whom we write was married May 12, 
1SS2, to Mary Peters, daughter of John and 
Wilhelmena Peters, of Hooper, Nebraska. Mrs. 
Scliwarting was born in Arcade, Ohio. By 
this union five children were born : Fred, 
Hannah, Charlie, George and Anna. 

Politically Mr. Scliwarting is a supporter of 
the Democratic party and has served as con- 
stable and overseer of the liighwaj's. He is a 
member of the German Lutheran Church, and 
was a liberal contributor toward the building 
of St. Peter's Church near his farm in 1891. 



WILLIAM E. SCHULTZ, of the village 
of Eeemer, Cuming County, was born 
near Morgenvadea, Pi'ussia, March 1, 
18fi4. He is the son of Jolm and Caroline 
Schultz and accompanied liis parents to Cleve- 
land, Illinois in 1869, and the next year moved 
to Stanton County, Nebraska, where thefather 
homesteaded a farm upon which the son now 
lives. John Schultz, the father, died in ISSO, 
the mother one \'ear prior. William received a 
limited education, and at eighteen years of age 
left home and engaged as a clerk in a general 
store at Emerson, Nebraska. Later he clerked 
at Stanton, and in 1887 commenced clerking 
in a store at Beemer and afterwards at West 
Point. In April, 1892, he purchased a stock of 
goods at Eeemer and is now a general merchan- 
dise dealer. Politically, our subject is a Re- 
publican. 

He was married March 5, 1888, to Miss 
Maiia'a, daughter of Thomas and Milly Earran. 
Considering that our subject started with no 
capital, he has been very successful, as he is 
now one of the priucijial business factors of 



Beemer. Too much praise cannot be attached 

to one who succeeds in life, unaided by the 
wealth of others, but who by the dint of industry 
and business tact carves out his own fortune. 



^■)l nidlELM IlELLEKE, of Section 32, 

Y Y ^t. Charles township, Cuming County, 
was born in Prussia, May 28, 1837, 
and came to America in December, 1855, land- 
ing at New Orleans. He hired to a farmer in 
Missouri and worked for him from 18G5 to 18GS. 

He was married April 12, 18C8, to Harriett 
Rendal, and moved to Cuming County, Ne- 
braska, and located on a homestead. He left 
his bride in Fremont, where she worked for 
four dollars per week, and he worked through 
harvest for a man in Cuming County, and in 
the autumn of that year lie purcliased a yoke 
of oxen by paying one hundred dollars cash and 
giving his note for the remainder. His house 
was made by digging a hole four feet deep in 
the ground and laying logs up above the 
ground, the roof being made of slough grass. 
They lived in this abode for five years, and 
then built a one and one-half story house ; also 
a good barn. Their place is made more valua- 
ble bv an orchard and three acres of trees. 

Wilhelm was one of six sons of Christ and 
Thressa Kelleke, natives of Prussia, where they 
both died. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
eleven children : William (deceased), llenr^' 
(deceased), Dora (deceased), Sophia (deceased), 
Bad a (deceased), Eliza, born in 1870; Henry, 
born in 1878; Mary, born in 1881 ; Barta, born 
in 188-3; Katie, born in 1885; Wilhelm, l)orn in 
1888. 

Mr. Relleke is a member of the Roman Cath- 
olic Church, and politically votes the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

The first few years after he came to Nebraska 
his family were afflicted by sickness, the whole 
family having diphtheria except his wife. The 
same year tlie grasshoppers were so bad, and 
seemed to be getting worse vear bv vear. He 






1 



^ — 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



481 



became discouraged and took his team and left 
tlie farm, saj'ing he would no longer remain in 
the country. This was in 1S76. But the\' 
iinally reconsidered the matter and conoluded 
to remain. The sickness of the famih' that 
season cost him three hundred dollars, and four 
months of the summer affd autumn his wife 
was compelled to work out in Fremont. But 
things have changed with the development of 
the country ; he no longer has to take an ox 
team and market his grain at Fremont, camping 
out by the wayside, for market towns are es- 
tablished all arounti him, on the various lines 
of railway. The old mud hovel has long- since 
gone to decay and the frame farm-house taken 
its place, and where want and penury then 
existed now prosperity makes glad the house- 
hold. 



HENRY KLOKE, a prosperous farmer of 
Section 19, township 21, range 0, of 
what is known as St. Charles township, 
Cuming Count}', has been a resident of Ne- 
braska since 1868. He was born in Prussia 
March 10, 1842, and came to America May 18, 
1850. He remained in Sheboygan and Manito- 
woc Counties, Wisconsin, until 1868, when he 
came to Nebraska, arriving March 10 of that 
year. April 1, 1868, he located a homestead of 
one hundred and sixty acres in Cuming Count\'. 
Upon this tract of land he built a frame house 
14x17 feet, and had to haul the lumber fi'om 
Fremont, where he paid forty dollars per thou- 
sand. In 1870 he built another house, to which 
he made an addition in 1891. lie also has a 
good barn and an orchard with a grove of six 
acres. He has one hundred bearing apple 
trees besides a large amount of small fruit. 
His place is all under cultivation except fifty 
acres. 

Mr. Kloke is a son of Frederick and Eliza- 
beth (Fobbe) Kloke, who were born in Prussia, 
and accompanied our subject to this country. 
The father died in 1872, and the mother is liv- 
ing in West Point, Nebraska. 



1871 marked a new era in this man's life, 
for it was on the eleventh day of January in 
that 3'ear he was united in marriage (in the 
only church this side of Omaha) to Wilhelmina 
Krup, who was a native of Prussia. By this 
mari'iage union six children were born : Charlie, 
Frederick, Katie, Lena, Gustave and Agnes. 
These are the living children, while Frankie 
and William (twins) died in their infancy. Our 
subject's wife died July 13, 1873, after which, 
January 11, 1884, he married Barta Blake, his 
present wife, by whom five children have been 
born: Barta (deceased), Herman (deceased), 
Lizzie, Henry and Barta. 

Our subject has added to his original land 
until he has four hundred and twenty acres. 
He usually keeps nine head of horses, sixty- 
five cattle and one hundred and fifty hogs. 

During the grasshopper period his crops 
were destroyed for three or four years in suc- 
cession. His nearest market was thirty-two 
miles away, at Fremont, and for some of the 
necessities of life he had to go to Omaha. Out 
of five hundred dollars given him by his father 
he paid one hundred and fifty dollars for a 
yoke of oxen. He has been one of the supervisors 
of St. Charles township for two years, and was 
assessor for two years, and served as treasurer 
of the school board for the same period of 
time. 

Politically, he usually votes with the Demo- 
cratic ]iarty, but aims to vote for the best man, 
regardless of party lines. He and children be- 
long to the Eoman Catholic Church, while his 
wife belongs to the Protestant Church. 



OLOF OQUIST, a farmer residing on Sec- 
tion 20, Garfield township, came to 
Cuming Count}^ in the spring of 1882) 
and first located on the farm he now occupies, 
at the time consisting of eighty acres of Avild 
land, upon which he placed good improve- 
ments, including buildings, a grove of one and 
one-half acres, and an orchard of one hundred 
trees. His place now contains one hundred 



482 



NOR THE A i 7 ERN NEBRA SKA . 



and seventy acres, one liundred and twenty' of 
whicli is under the plow, and the balance in 
pasture and meadow. Upon coming to the 
county he brougiit one thousand dollars with 
him. 

Of his early life it may be saitl, he was born 
in Sweden, April, 1S42. He is the son of 
Anders and Christine Oquist, natives of Sweden, 
whose seven children were : Anders, Charles 
(deceased), John (deceased), Olof, Mary, Lars 
(deceased), and Stena (deceased). Olof lived 
in Sweden until twenty-nine years of age, at 
which time he came to America. He went to 
New Jersey, where he worked on a section one 
year, and then worked in the railroad shops 
for eight 3'ears, after which he came to Cuming 
Count}', Nebraska. In his early life he had 
good schooling advantages. 

He was united in marriage April, 1873, to 
Louisa Swanson, daughter of Swan and Anna 
Swanson, whose children were: Luiukjuist, 
Lundstrum, Matilda, Christene (deceased), 
Sena, Claus, John, Louisa, Johanna and 
Sophia. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
ten children: Alma (deceased), born May, 
1874 ; Adolph, June, 1875 ; an infant (deceased); 
Frank, born February, 1877; Charles, May, 
1880 ; Alexander, August, 1882 ; Harry, Sep- 
tember, 188fi; Eobert, in 1888 ; "Walter, April, 
1889; Arthur, deceased, born September, 
1890. 

Politically, our subject is ' a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party and in religious 
matters both he and his wife are members of 
the Swedish Methodist Church. 



JAMES McKEEGAN, a farmer of Section 
33, Bancroft township, came to Cuming 
County, in June, 1870, in company with 
his parents. His father took a homestead 
of one hundred and sixty acres in Logan town- 
ship, and improved ihe same. There was but 
one store at AVest Point at that time, and much 
of his lumber and buildin"- material luul to be 



drawn from Fremont. James helped his father 
develop the farm and remained at home until 
he was of age. His father assisted him to get 
his j5S||ent place, by paying one hundred dol- 
lars for the homestead rightJ^Upon this home- 
stead, our subject built a shanty 12x16 feet, in 
which he lived until 1876, when the grasshop- 
pers drove him out of the country, by des- 
tro^'ing his crops. He then spent one year in 
the Black Hills and in company with three 
others returned, which was a hazardous under- 
taking at that time, on account of the war-like 
disposition of the Indians. . After return- 
ing he went onto his land, and from time to 
time made substantial improvements, and 
has since bought one hundred and sixt}' acres 
of land in Cedar County; he now has two hun- 
dred and ten ;vcres under the plow, and the 
balance in pasture and meadow. 

Ouv subject was born in Connecticut, Janu- 
ary, 1855, the son of John and Eosa McKeegan, 
natives of Ireland, whose eight children were : 
Catharine, James, John, Terry, Mary A., 
Thomas, Rosa and Josejih. These children 
are all living in Nebraska. Our subject lived 
in Connecticut until his father removed to 
Dubuque County, Iowa, where he remained 
until coming to Cuming County. 

Mr. McKeegan was united in marriage, July, 
1880, to Maggie Deegan, daughter of Michael 
and Mary Deegan, of Ireland, whose five 
children were : Nellie, Elizabeth, Timothy, 
Mary, Jlaggie. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with six children : Agga, John, Anna, William, 
Enimett, Ettie. 

The family are devotees of the Roman Cath- 
olic Church. 

TElUiY McKEEGAN, one of the rep- 
resentative farmers of Cuming County, 
residing on Section 11, of Logan town- 
ship, was born in Iowa, Jfarch 4, 1850, and 
there remained with his parents until twelve 
years of age, at which date his father removed 
to Cuming County, Nebraska, and took a home- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



483 



stead in Garfield township. In 1SS2 our sub- 
ject left home and bought one hundred and 
sixty acres of laud on Section 11, on Logan 
township. 

His father was a native of Ireland and came 
to America at an early day and settled in 
Iowa, and renuiined until 1871, as above related. 
The father's name was John, and the mother's 
maiden name was Eosa Brady, They were 
the parents of eight children : Katie, James, 
John, Terry, Mary A., Thomas, Joseph and 
llosa. 

He of whom we write was married in June, 
lSS-1, to Catharine McDonough, by which mar- 
riage three children were born : James, Mary 
and Gertie. Mrs. McKeegan's parents were 
natives of Ireland, but both died in this country. 
Their family consisted of five children : Catha- 
rine, Elizabeth, Bonnie, Anna and James; all 
living in this country. 

Our subject's father is deceased, while his 
mother is living at Bancroft. 

In his political choice, he is a sup[)orter of 
the Democratic party, and in religious matters 
the family are devout Roman Catholics. 



JOHN A. LCJCAS, one of the early set- 
tlers of Cuming Coimty, a retired 
farmer now living at Wisner, was born 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7, 1833. He 
is a son of Andrew Lucas, and Mary Ann (Ga- 
lispie) Lucas. The father was born in Ireland, 
and the motlier was of Scotch descent. Soon 
after their marriage in Ireland, they came to 
the New World, to build for themselves a 
home. Their settlement was at Cincinnati, 
which was then but a small burg. Mr. Lucas 
was a shoemaker by trade, and carried on a 
shoe store, which he followed for a livelihood. 
Their children were : Ann, who married Mr. 
William A. Smith, now deceased. She still 
lives in Cincinnati ; Jane, married Edwin R. 
Cole, now deceased, his widow residing in Cin- 
cinnati ; Mary, married William Brown, now 
of the Pacific coast ; Isabel, married Washing- 



ton Bishop, residing at Covington, Kentucky ; 
and John A., our subject. Mr. Lucas, the 
senior, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, about 1834, 
his wife surviving until 18S-1, when she died at 
the same place, aged eighty -eight years. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 

The subject of this sketch was reared in the 
cit3^ of Cincinnati, educated in the common 
schools, and when twenty years of age heard 
much of the gold field of the Pacific coast, and 
located in Josephine Count\'^, Oregon, where 
he embarked in mining. He packed with 
mules over the mountains, and from Walla 
Walla. The Indians were very hostile at that 
time and the Civil War was raging. He 
camped out on those trips, and saw much hard- 
ship for two years, when he sold outand went to 
Boies Basin, where he engaged in mining. In 
1864, he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he 
joined a company, went South, and went to 
raising cotton. They leased land on the Stone 
River battle-field. From that point he went 
to Indian Bay, Arkansas and there leased a 
large plantation, upon which he did well, and 
finally sold his lease for a bonus, and emigrated 
to Nebraska, with William R. and Mark B. 
Turner. They imrchased a hotel at Elkhorn 
City, also eighty acres of land, which was run 
in connection with the hotel, selling his interest 
two years later to Mr. Turner. He moved to 
Wisner, purchasing land five miles north of the 
village, where he engaged in farming and stock 
growing. He continued this until 1889, and 
removed to the village of Wisner, where he now 
leads a retired life. 

Mr. Lucas was united in marriage at Elk- 
horn City, in 1868, to Miss Raciiel A. Turner, 
daughter of Emanuel and Isabel (Ross) Turner, 
natives of New Jersey. Their children were 
as follows: James (deceased); William, of 
Douglas Count}', Nebraska; Carrie, deceased 
at the age of fort}' years ; Elizabeth, wife of 
Frank Stockbower, of New Jersey ; Louisa, wife 
of Henr}' Ilenryson, of New Jersey ; John, of 
Cuming County, Nebraska; Mark, of Elkhorn 



484 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



City. Nebraska ; and our subject's wife, Rachel 
A. Mr. and Mrs. Turner died in New Jerse\'. 
Since Mr. and Mrs. Lucas came to Nebraska 
they have witnessed great changes in the 
country. The}' have seen the iiardsbips and 
also the joys of life and are now in possession 
of a good home. Mr. Lucas commenced life a 
poor man and b}' his own exertions has made 
what he possesses. He is a member of Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, iiaving passed 
through all the chairs of that order. Politi- 
cally, he affiliates with the Democratic party. 

MICHAEL KELLY, of the village of 
Bancroft, Cuming Count}', has been a 
I'csident of that vicinity since tiie 
■spring of 1867, when he located in Neligh 
township, and took a homestead of a quarter 
section, upon which he made a dug-out 10x12 
feet, which he covered with prairie sod. This 
served for a residence for the first year ; he then 
built a small frame house in which he lived six 
years, and built again, tiie same being burned 
in 1881 ; it being insured the loss was partly 
covered. He then built his present house, and 
made many substantial improvements upon his 
land. He planted out a grove of three acres, 
which adds a beauty to the place. He now 
has one hundred and ten acres under tlie plow 
and the balance in pasture and meadow. In 
1881, he leased his fai'm and engaged in the 
mercantile business at Bancroft, where lie car- 
ries a general stock of drygoods and groceries, 
invoicing about six tiiousand dollars. "When 
he came to the count}', be was in debt, and for 
the first few years was (himagcd mucli by the 
grasshoppers, but is now in good circumstances. 
He was born in Ireland, November, 1849, 
tiie son of John and Ellen Kelly, whose two 
children were Patrick and Michael, Patrick 
being deceased. Michael remained in Ireland 
until he was twelve years of age and went to 
Canada, remained six years and came to Cum- 
ing County. He was united in marriage in 
1872, to Hannah, daughter of liobcrt and Jane 
Evans, natives of Ireland. 



Our subject and wife were the parents of three 
children — Mary, Ellen and Robert. Mrs. Kelly 
passed from the scenes of this life April, 1890. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party, and in religious matters is a 
Catholic. He belongs to Bancroft Masonic 
Lodge No. 45. He has been identified with 
the iiistory of Bancroft village from its com- 
mencement, and has been an important factor 
in the ])lace. 

THOMAS HAYES, of Section 9, ^Visner 
to\vnship, Cuming County, was born at 
Onawa, Iowa, January 22, 1860. He is 
a son of Thomas and Emily (Riggs) Hayes. 
The former was a native of New Jersey, and 
the latter of Kentucky. Her parents removed 
to Burlington, Iowa, in 1836, being among the 
first settlers of that place. Thomas Hayes, 
Sr., died at V^ail, Iowa, December 26, 1876. 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hayes, Sr., were the 
parents of ten children : Amelia, Mrs. J. J. 
Erb ; Sarah E., Mrs. M. G. AViggins; Henry 
B., Mattie, Emma, Thomas (subject of this 
sketch), Callie E. (Mrs. J. P. Milligan), Silas, 
George and Jane. Four of the children now 
reside near "Wisner. 

Our subject attended the district school until 
twelve years of age, after which his services 
were required on the farm. Being naturall}'* 
ingenious, he has learned to do his owr work 
in the carpenter and blacksmith line. From 
the age of fourteen years he carried on the 
homestead, his father being a cripple several 
years previous to his death. But the real bat- 
tle of life commenced with our subject when 
twenty years of age, he rented the farm and 
carried it on himself. In 188c! lie removed to 
Wisner township and purchased his present 
farm, which was then a wild quarter section of 
land, but which under his skillful management 
has come to be well improved. 

Mr. Hayes was married April 3, 1883, to 
Miss Mary M. Milligan. They have four chil- 
dren : Ella M., Clarence Lester, Howard M. 
and Thomas P. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



485 



Politically, Mr. Mayes is a Eepublican. lie 
is tlie present collector and treasurer for Wis- 
ner township. 

Of our subject's fatlier's history, it siiould be 
stated in this connection that he \vas left an 
orj)han at an early age, and it is supposed that 
bis father was of a mixed Irish and'German des- 
cent, while his mother was a Scotch lad3^ Af- 
ter serving an apprenticeship as a shoemaker, 
he traveled westward as a journeyman, work- 
ing in Ohio, Chicago and various other places, 
lie finally reached Burlington, Iowa, where he 
was married Api'il 1, 18-i9, and in 1856 re- 
moved to Monroe county. The Indians were 
very numerous there at that time. The first 
winter was the much-talked-of deep snow win- 
tei" there was great hardship endured among 
the few settlers in Monroe county, as well as 
all over the West. 

WILLIAM D. GIBBON, M. D., of Bee- 
■ mer, was born in South Wales Novem- 
ber 12, 1850, the son of Thomas and 
Martlui (Davies) Gibbon. William was their 
oldest son. He attended Pembroke University, 
and afterwards studied medicine at Pembroke 
Dock, South Wales, for four years. In 1872 he 
came to America, and took a course at the St. 
Louis Medical College, which he completed in 
1873, and began to practice at Weeping Water, 
Nebraska, and there continued until 1885, when 
he removed to his jiresent location. He opened 
the first drug store in Beemer, which he con- 
ducted two years, since which time he has 
given his exclusive attention to his profession. 
He is an enthusiastic Republican, and is the 
present county physician. He is a member 
of the Masonic fraternity and Motiern W^ood- 
men of America. 

He was united in marriage, February 2ti, 
187-1, to Miss Julia E. Jenks, daughter of Wil- 
liam and Sarah P. Jenks, of Weeping Water 
Nebraska. The former was a native of Ohio, 
and the latter of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. 
Gibbon have been born three children, William 
D. Jr., Laverne and Irma. 



FREDERICK GASTER, a farmer of Cum- 
ing Counly, residing on Section 22, of 
Sherman townsiiip, is a native of Prus 
sia, born April 29, 1830, and came to America 
in 1853, landing at Quebec, Canada, and from 
there went to Wisconsin and remained until 
1865, during which time he was engaged in 
farming. The spring of 1865 found him in 
Cuming Count}', Nebraska, where he home- 
steaded a quarter section of land, his present 
farm. His first house was built of sod, and in 
it he managed to live for three years, when he 
built a log house, 16x23 feet, which was the 
first log house between Fremont and Norfolk. 
This served until 1880, when he built a frame 
house, which was joined to the pioneer cabin. 
His place contains forty acres of timber, both 
natural and artificial. He has a good orchard, 
and one hundred acres under tiie plow. His 
present place comprises two hundred and fort}' 
acres. 

Mr. Gaster was united in marriage in 1S51, 
to Mary Masstellei', b\' whom seven children 
were born: Fred, Charley, Sophia, August, 
John, Frank, Ferdinantl. 

Our subject's companion died in 1867. Her 
parents both died in Wisconsin. He was again 
married in 1878, and one child has blessed this 
union, Mary Thersa. 

Politically, our sul)ji'ct is identified with tlie 
Republican party. 

In a general way, concerning this man, it 
may be said that when he first came to this count}' 
Omaha was his nearest market, and he made 
trips there by ox team over unbridged streams, 
camping out by the wayside at night, his cattle 
subsisting on the prairie grass. Many times he 
was two weeks on the trip. Three years since 
his settlement, he lost heavily by thfc grass- 
hoppers. One year he had seventy-five acres 
of wheat all destroyed by them, except five 
acres. In 1866 he was caught in a blizzard 
and wandered all night to keep from freez- 
ing to death and was finally attracted to a 
house where a violin was being played, the 
loud music of wiiicli outrivaled the wintry 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



blasts. The same night old Mr. Noyes and 
son (neighbors) were frozen to death. 

-In 1892 our subject had his barn burned, also 
five head of horses, a loss of at least one thou- 
sand dollars. Xotwithstanding all these trials 
and losses he can look back over an eventful 
and honorable career, and is now well situated. 

FELIX GALLAGHER, a farmer of Section 
32, St. Charles township, Cuming County, 
was born in Ireland in 1834, and came to 
America in 186-Jr, landing at Philadelphia, and 
came from there to Kane County, Illinois, 
where he worked by the day and month for 
twelve years, and then came to West Point, 
Nebraska, and went to farming. He rented a 
farm west of his present land, upon which he 
lived four years. AVhen he came West he had 
three hundred dollars, out of which he bought 
a yoke of oxen, for which he paid one hundred 
and seventy-five dollars,and then bought a horse, 
for which he paid one hundred dollars, which 
took nearly all the means he had. It was in 
1882 that he took the claim he now lives upon. 

He was united in marriage in Ireland, before 
he came to America, to Bridget McLaughlin, 
to whom .nine children were born: Peter, Britl- 
get, Ellen, Anna, Felix, John, Eddie, Maggie 
and Hugh. 

Our subject anil his family are members of 
the Roman Catiiolic Church, and politically, he 
votes the Democratic ticket. 

The farm is '.veil improved, there now being 
one hundred acres under cultivation, while the 
remainder is in pasture and hay land. He has 
a good orchard and a stor\' and one-half frame 
house, surrounded by an artificial growth of 
timber. He also has one hundred and sixt}' 
acres, two miles west of his home farm in 
Elkhorn township, besides another quarter sec- 
tion located in Siierman township. As one 
views his broad acres to-day, and draws the 
contrast with those earlier days of jiioneer 
hardship, and three years of grasshopper plague 
which he passed through, they must congratu- 
late him upon his present surroundings. 



HON. THOMAS M. FRANSE, attorney- 
at-law at West Point, came to Cum- 
ing County in May, 1876. He was 
born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, July 
1, 1851. The Franse family came to America 
prior to the Revolutionary War and the great- 
grandfather was a soldier in that con- 
flict. Uis son, Thomas Franse, the grand- 
father of our subject, settled in Lebanon 
Count}', and married Miss Noland. They were 
parents of Abraham, William, George, and 
Thomas. The father of our subject married 
Barbara L. Wagner, of English descent, and to 
them wore born eleven children, nine of whom 
grew to adults : George, was killed b}' acci- 
dent, a tree fallmg upon him ; Caroline, married 
David Elliott, dying at Palm3n-a, Pennsylvania ; 
Lizzie, married Mr. Hickerman, who died ; she 
then married D. C. Elliot, of Palmyra, Pennsyl- 
vania ; Michael, a twin of Lizzie, died at the 
age of thirt}' ; Louisa, died in Philadelphia, 
aged thirty years ; Amelia, married Moses 
Gisch, and died at Lebanon; Ellen, married 
John Iluntzinger, and died at Fremont, Penn- 
sylvania ; Ada M., married W. II. Frye, of 
Ilarrisburg, Pennsylvania; Thomas M., the 
subject of this sketch. Two of the children 
died in infanc}' Our subject's father was a 
prominent business man. He died in 1851; his 
wif<J surviving him until 1856. They were 
both members of the Lutheran church. 

He of whom we write was educated in the 
free schools, graduating at Palmyra and an acad- 
emy in 1870. He then entered an office at 
Lebanon, studied law with William Seltzer, and 
finished with Judge Frances P. Hughes ; he 
was admitted to the bar at Pottsville, in 1873, 
and ))racticed his profession at that place one 
year. In 1876 he came to West Point, where 
lie opened a law office. In 1880 he was elected 
as a member of the Nebraska Legislature, and 
re-elected in- 1882. During his last term of 
office, he was candidate for speaker on the 
Democratic ticket. He was united in marriage 
in 1874, to Miss Mary E. Dodendorf, a native 
of Pennsylvania. To them have been 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



487 



born one son, Gordon, a graduate of the State 
University at Lincoln. Our subject is a mem- 
ber of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of the 
Masonic order. He is at present captain of 
the host and senior deacon of the Blue Lodge, 
llr. Franse is a good criminal la\v3'er, and 
makes law the specialty of liis life. 



SR. FLETCHER, at Bancroft, Cuming 
County, is agent for the Holmquist 
grain, lumber, coal and live stock 
company, of Oakland. In August, 1885, he 
came to Cuming Count}', and took charge of 
an elevator belonging to the Crowell grain 
and lumber company. About 1887, he con- 
tracted a colli, culminating in a sciatic trouble, 
by which he lost the use of his limbs, and 
since that time has had to wheel himself in a 
rolling chair. In connection with his other 
business, he operates a grocery and confec. 
tionary. 

He of whom we write was born in Maine, 
ila}', 1851. His parents were Foxweli and 
Rachel Fletcher, whoso four children were: 
S. R., Eliza (deceased), Lyndia J., and Robert 
(deceased). S. R. remained in Maine until 
tliirteen years of his life had passed, when he 
came to Washington County, Nebraska, where 
his parents engaged in farming, taking a piece 
of school land. His father commenced in 
Nebraska without means and was a genuine 
pioneer. 

When eighteen years of age, our subject 
commenced driving a stage between Omaha 
and Sioux Cit}', and one year later went to 
work on a farm ; we next find him at Blair 
clerking in a store. He then embarked in the 
grain business and followed that for three 
years, and tried farming, but was driven off by 
the grasshop|)ers and hailstorms. llis next 
work was husking corn at seventy-five cents 
per day, but an improvement on this came, 
when he got his uncle's team and hauled wood 
across the Missouri River, making three dollais 
per day. Later on he herded cattle by the 



month, and followed the agricultural imple- 
ment business at Lippincott. He then returned 
to the grain business for two years and went 
into the mail service, under the Republican 
administration, and continued four years, but 
upon change of the administration resigned 
and came to Bancroft. 

Mr. Fletcher was married, July 4, 1873, to 
Dora Lippincott, whose parents were natives 
of New Jersey and Virginia respectively. 

They are the parents of lour children : Eva, 
Roy, Everid and Stacy. 

Politically, Mr. Fletcher believes in the gen- 
eral principles of the Republican party. He has 
taken his first degree in Free Masonry. 



HENRY FANBELof Section 19, Grant 
townshi]i, came to Cuming County in 
the spring of 1872, and lii'st settled 
on the farm he now occupies, which he took as 
a homestead. Here he erected a story and one- 
half frame house, in whicli he lived nineteen 
years and then built his present commodious 
farm house, which is lGx2S feet, with a wing 
16x20 feet. He also built a good set of out- 
buildings, planted a grove of eleven acres, and 
set an orchard of three hundred trees. Of his 
present two hundred and eighty acre farm, two 
hundred and twenty acres are under the plow, 
and all enclosed with a good fence. 

Mr. Fanbelhas been upon his place ever since, 
with the exception of two years, traveling about 
in Wyoming and Colorado. 

He of whom we write this notice was boin in 
Maine in 1843, the son of John and Elizabelli 
Fanbel, natives of Germany, whose nine chil- 
dren were: Sophia, Elizabeth, Jacob (deceased), 
Margaret, Henry, John, Clara, Barbara and 
George (deceased). 

Henry lived in Germany until sixteen years 
of age and_ came to Cleveland, Ohio, where lie 
learnetl the shoemaking trade, followed it two 
years and enlisted in Com])any K Seventh Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, and at first was assigned to 
the Twelfth Aimy Corps, and later to the 



NORTHEASTERN NERBASKA. 



Twentieth, under General Joe Hooker. He 

was mustered in at Cleveland and sent to West 
Virginia, and in a skirmishing engagement was 
taken prisoner and sent to Riciimond, where he 
remained five weeks; sent to Xew Orleans, re- 
maining four months; from there was trans- 
ported to Saulsbury prison, North Carolina, 
where he was incarcerated four months and 
exchanged, after whicli he lay in the hospital 
at New York for two months. He was then 
taken to Columbus, Ohio, and from there went 
to the Potomac Army in Virginia, being in the 
service three years and three montiis. He was 
in the engagements at Chancellorsville and 
Gettysburg, and for a time was in the Army of 
the Cumberland and participated in the engage- 
ments at Lookout Mountain and Einggold. 
He was in the eight-days fight before Atlanta, 
where General McPherson was killed. After 
the close of the war, he went back to shoe- 
making at Columbus, Ohio, but after one year 
went to Lake Superior, remained one year 
and quit shoemaking, returned to Ohio and 
worked at common labor two years, fired a 
stationary engine two years in a paper mill. 
After all these weary marches and lonely 
wanderings, our subject came to Cuming Coun- 
ty, Nebraska. 

He was married May,lSOC, to Catharine Marc. 
She laid down the burdens of life in 1882. 

Our subject and his wife were the parents of 
seven children : Anna M., Catharine C, Han- 
nah W., Elizabi'tii E., Charles L., Rosetta S., 
Matilda M. ^^^ 

WILLIAM H. FLEMING, of Beemer 
township, residing on Section 16, was 
born at Point Pleasant, Monmouth 
County, New Jersey, November 30, 182G. He 
is the son of Joseph W. and Margaret (Brower) 
Fleming. His grandfather, James Fleming, 
was of Scotch descent, and his great-grand- 
father, Jacob Fleming, was a soldier in the Con- 
tinental Ann}'. He took part in tiie battle of 
Monmouth, and later was taken prisoner by the 
British forces. The family descended from 



three brothers who came to America from Scot- 
land, at an early day. Their names were : 
Jacob, John and James. One settled and 
founded the town of Flemingville, New Jersey. 
From him our subject descended. One of the 
original brotliers founded Flemingburg, Flem- 
ing County, Kentucky, and the third settled in 
New York State. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Fleming were the 
parents of ten children: Sarah J., John, Wil- 
liam H., Eraaline P., Thomas N., Charles, 
Susan J. (Mrs. J. Robins), Mary (Mrs. William 
Galbrath), Lydia M. (Mrs. C. Worrick), Andrew 
J. Of these, but five still survive. Mrs. War- 
rick resides at Deer Creek, Tazewell County, 
Illinois, while the others live in Nebraska. 

William H.,had only nine months schooling. 
His father was a sailor and owned a vessel, and 
was employed in transporting goods about the 
bay, also keeping a tavern on the beach, his 
patrons being chiefl\' the crews from cast-away 
vessels, whom he assisted in receiving goods. 
When not more than eight years of age, Wil- 
liam II. frequently accompanied his father 
upon his sailing expeditions. When fourteen 
years of age, the famil}' settled near Pekin, 
Illinois. His father was also a weaver by trade, 
and William II. used to assist him in weaving 
cloth worn by the family. At the age of 
eighteen, he ran away from home and went to 
Iowa, but like many another prodigal, he soon 
returned and remained under the paternal roof 
until his marriage, wnich event occurred Novem- 
ber 2G, 1850; he being united to Miss Jane 
Farran. The}' liave four living children : John 
L., Edgar A., Thomas C. and Joseph L. Three 
daughters are now deceased : Sarah JIargaret 
(twin sister of Joseph); Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. 
William Martindale) and Eva Fremont. 

Our subject and his wife have ten grand- 
children. 

February 9, 1805, JMr. Fleming enlisted in 
Company D Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Vol- 
unteer Infantry. He was honorably dischai-ged 
Septeml)er 11, 18G5, having served in the Arai\' 
of the Tennessee. In 1882, he moved to Cum- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



489 



ing Count}', Nebraska, and bought his present- 
farm on Section IG, of Beemer township, where 
he owns two hundred and ten acres of choice 
farming hind, the same being well improved 
and stocked. His house is among the best in 
the township. Besides his farm projiert}', he 
owns town lots in the village of Beemei-. 

Politicall\', Mr. Fleming aiKliates with the 
Repul)lican party, and has ever since its organ 
i/.ation. AVhile he is in no sense an office seeker, 
he is an enthusiastic party worker. From 
childhood, he has been a member of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Churclj, and is at the present 
time a member of the Grand Army of the 
Ilepublic. 

Mrs. Margaret (Bower) Fleming, our subject's 
mother, was a native of Monmouth Count\', 
New Jersey. 

CC. DOESCHEK, of Section 22, Elkhorn 
township, one of the representative 
farmers of Cuming County, and now the 
owner of over one section of land, is a German 
by birth. He came to this county in ISGS, 
and purchasetl a quarter section of land where 
he now lives. 

He was born at Mechlenberg, June, 1850, and 
came to America when ten years of age with his 
parents Frederick and ]\[innie (Suer) Doescher, 
whose five children were : C. C, Henry, William, 
Minnie and John. They landed at New York, 
and went from there to Wisconsin, locating in 
Iowa County. His mother is now deceased. Our 
subject worked on a farm and clerked in a store 
for C. D. Arnold, in Blue Mound, and in 1868 
came to Nebraska, bought his land and re- 
turned to Wisconsin, and worked foi- his former 
employer three years, and returned to Nebraska 
to remain. He built a small frame house U|)on 
his land, which cost him three hundred dollars, 
and in this lived for nine years. From time to 
time he added other good buildings, and now 
has an orciiard, and an artificial grove of tiiree 
acres, with other valuable improvements. 

Mr. Doescher was married Fel)ruary, 1871, 
to Minnie Schmidt, to whom have been born 



eleven children : Charle\% John, Emma (de- 
ceased). Bertha, Otto, Ida, Henry, Ella, Wil- 
liam, Elvina and Anna. All are at home. 

Mrs. Doescher's parents are natives of Ger- 
many, and came to this country about 1870, 
locating in Dane Count}', Wisconsin, but sub- 
sequently moved to the northern part of the 
state, where they still live. Their four children 
were: John, Minnie, Anna and Dora. 

For three years during our subject's early 
settlement in Nebraska, from 1871 to 1874, the 
grasshoppers destroyed nearly all that he 
raised ; at times they were so numerous that 
they darkened the sun at noonday, and ate 
nearly everything except sugar cane. Onions 
was pie for them. 



Til 7' ILLIAM L. DUTCHER, a druggist 
Y V ^^ Beemer, Cuming County, was 
born near Clinton, Iowa, October 
20, 1858. He is a son of Ephriam S. and 
Phoebe (Comfort) Dutcher. Ephriam Dutcher 
is now a resident of lied Willow County, Ne- 
braska. His wife died at Cordova, Illinois, 
about 1867. They were both natives of New 
York State. Tlie Dutcher family were origin- 
ally from New England. Calvin L. Dutcher, 
grandfather of oursul)ject, was born in Canada, 
and now lives in Lyons, Iowa. William L. 
was the second of a family of five children. 
When he wa^ a small boy the family removed 
to Cordova, Illinois. In 1870 they returned to 
Clinton County, Iowa, and William attended 
school until he was twenty-one years of age. 
He studied phai'macy at intervals until he was 
nineteen years of age. In 188-1 he came to 
Nebraska, and in company with his brother-in 
law, E. Adams, opened ad rue store at Wayne ; 
in 1887 he came to Beemer, and purcliased his 
present business. 

Politically, he is a Itepublican, but takes 
little interest in political afl'airs. He is a mem- 
ber of the Modern Woodmen of America. 

February 20, 1883, marked a new era in his 
life, for upon that day he was united in mar- 



490 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ria^e to Saloma, daughter of Silas and Soph- 
rona Hull, of Cordova, Illinois. 

To Ifr. and Mrs. Dutciier have been born 
two children : Maude and Liira. 



HANS DANKER, a farmer of Section 1, 
Lo<i;an township, Cuming County, was 
born in Germany, September 20, 1853, 
and in 1872 emigrated to America. He landed at 
New York harbor and came direct from that cit}' 
to Davenport,Iowa, near which place he worked 
on a farm for five years and moved to Pottawat- 
tamie County, Iowa, purchased a farm and 
lived upon the same four years ; then sold and 
came to Cuming County, Nebraska, where he 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land 
and soon after as much more, but subse- 
quentl}' disposed of one hundred and twenty 
acres of the last tract named. Pie placed 
suitable buildings upon his place and otherwise 
material!}' improved it. 

lie was united in marriage in 1881, to Katie 
Atpin, by whom three children were born : 
Peter, Mar}^ and Sophia. Our subject's parents 
were natives of Germany, and came to Amer- 
ica in 1874, locating in Iowa, where they still 
live. The}' were the parents of si.x children, 
Hans being the oldest. They were nameil : 
Ilans, Anna, Margareta, Peter, Claus and 
Mary. Ifrs. Banker's )>arents were also 
natives of the German Empire and came to 
America at an early day, the father making 
it his home with our subject, the mother hav- 
ing died in Iowa. Tlieir five ciiildren were : 
Katie, Minnie, Anna, Emma and Ilenr}'. 

Politically, Mr. Danker is identified with 
the Democratic party, and in religious matters 
is a member of the Lutheran Church. 



JOHN DECKER, a farmer living on Sec 
tion 23, of Monterey township, Cuming 
County, was born in Prussia, Germany, 
December, 1842, and came to America 
in 1S6G, and lived in St. Louis until 1890, fol- 



lowed gardening twenty-two years, and came 
to Nebraska. The land upon which he lives 
was purchased bv his brother in 1880. He has 
good improvements upon his place, including 
excellent buildings, a grove.of eight acres, fifty 
apple trees and three hundred grape vines. Ilis 
homestead consists of a quarter section, and he 
also owns a Cjuarter of Section 2(5 and forty 
acres on Section 15. 

He was united in marriage in 1870 to Anna 
Brinkman, to whom was born six children. 
His wife died in St. Louis in 1887. One year 
later his brother, who located the above land 
in 1880, died, and our subject married his 
widow and removed to Nebraska. 

Mr. Decker's father and mother were natives 
of Germany and died in their native land. They 
were the parents of four children. A daughter 
died in Germany, and two sons in this country, 
one in St. Louis and one in Nebraska. The 
names of these children were Anton, Barnard, 
John and Katie. His wife's parents were also 
natives of Germany, but came to Illinois in 
18G1, subsequently moved to Nebraska and 
died. Our subject is a member of the Roman 
Catholic Church. 



JAMES E. L. CAREV, Jk., an agricultural 
implement dealer, at Bancroft, came to 
Cuming county in the fall of 1880, and 
engaged in the live stock business; buy- 
ing, selling and feeding. He continued this 
for four years and went into the lumber busi- 
ness, which he followed one 3'ear and one-half, 
and engaged in the farm, machinery, and 
livery business, which he still follows. He 
handles the Moline wagon, John Deere and 
Eagle plows, Standard and McCormick reapers 
and mowers. 

He was born in Montgomer}' county. New 
York, October 1845, the son of J. E. L. Carey 
and wife, whose eight children were Alfred, 
(deceased) ; Mary, Catharine, Louisa. J. E. L. 
Jr., George, Harriett and Belle. 

James Jr. lived in the Empire state until 
twelve years of age, when his parents moved 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



491 



to Cedar county, Iowa, and engaged at farm- 
ing. He remained at home until he had 
reached the years of his majority, and tiien \ 
farmed for himself until he came to Nebraska. 

September 1884, Delia Gage, became his 
wife. Her parents were natives of New York 
State, she was their only child. Mr. and Mrs. 
Carey are the parents of three children : 
J. E. L., Jr., Rex and Lyle. 

Politically, Mr. Carey believes in the princi- 
ples of the Democratic party. He is identified 
in the upbuilding of anything that tends to the 
progress of Cuming County. but more especially 
the village of Bancroft. 



HENRY BEHM of Section IS, Monterey 
township, became a homesteader in 
Cuming County, in 1872. He was born 
Germany in 1825, and came to America in 
1849, spent two years in Eust and West Troy, 
New York, working at the cabinet business. 
He then went to Chicago and remained twenty- 
one years, working at the same business, and 
came to Cuming County, Nebraska, and filed 
on his homestead at the land office at West 
Point. 

Like most of the homesteaders, his first house 
was a dug-out in which he liveti seven years, but 
his place now contains a good class of farm 
buildings. He has one hundred and fifty acres 
under cultivation, a small orchard and a four 
acre artificial grove. 

He was united in marriage in 1851, to Magda- 
lena Young, by whom eleven children were 
born : Henry, Loui, John, Frank, Lena, Ed- 
ward, Carrie (deceased), Chailie, Adam, Fred 
and Carrie. 

Our subjects father and mother were natives 
of Germany, and are both deceased. Their 
three children were : Henry, Stephen and 
Katie. 

Of our subject's wife's family it may be said 
that lier parents were natives of Germany, and 
died in this countr}'. Their six children were: 
Katie, Margaretta, Thressa, Wendelina, Mag- 



dalena and Mary. Four of her sisters are in this 
country, and the remainder in their native land. 
Politically, our subject is a supporter of the 
Democratic party. He is a member of the 
Roman Catholic Church. At the present time 
he rents all but thirtv-five acres of his farm. 



HENRY BORGELT, of Section 34, Mon- 
terey township, Cuming County, the 
owner of a half section of choice land, 
was born in Germany, May 15, 1834, and came 
to America in 1861, landing at New Orleans 
the day upon which President Lincoln was 
elected. He soon found his way to St. Charles 
County, Missouri, and there remained fourteen 
years, where he rented a farm, and from there 
came to Cuming County, Nebraska, in 1874, 
and bought railroad land, for which he paid six 
dollars per acre. After coming to America he 
was married to Louise Benger, to whom five 
children were born : Fritz, Henr}', Jr., August, 
Katie and Anna. Tic at once set about im- 
proving his place, built a frame house, 14x18 
feet, in which he lived thirteen years, and then 
built again, but the second house and contents 
were destroyed by fire ; he received seventeen 
hundred dollars insurance money and rebuilt. 
He now has two hundred and forty acres under 
cultivation, besides his pasture and meadow 
land. 

Our subjects father died in the old countr}', 
and his mother came with him to America, and 
died in Cuming County. She was the mother 
of four children: Henry, Louise (deceased), 
Gustina and Fritz. 

His sister, Gustina, lives in St. Louis, anil his 
brother in Cuming County. 

Mrs. Borgelt was the daughter in a family 
of three children. Her parents came to St. 
Louis about the same time as our subject. 

Upon coming to Cuming County Mr. Borgelt 
had one thousand dollars, but had much bad 
luck the first two years. For two seasons the 
grasshoppers de-itroyed all that he i-aised, and 
he lost two horses in a barn that was burned 



492 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



at West Point. His present place is well im- 
proved and stocked with good animals. 

rolitically, he of whom we write tliis notice 
is a supporter of the Democratic party, and in 
religious matters he and famil\'^ are Lutherans. 
During the Civil War he served four years in 
the Union Arm v. 



surrounded by a charming grove of artificial 
timber, wliich he planted at an early day. 



ERNST BKEITKREUTZ, of Section 5, 
IJismark township, Cuming County, 
was born near Frankfort, Germany, 
November 22, 1840. He is a son of Frederick 
and Sophia Breitkreutz, whose four children 
were: Ludwig (deceased), Caroline (Mrs. 
Hochne), Ferdinand, now of Dodge County, 
Wisconsin, and Ernst, of wliom we write. 
Young Breitkreuntz attended the common 
schools and worked at farm labor until twenty 
years of age, when he entered the German 
army, serving three j'ears. Subsequently he 
took part in the Austro-Prussian War. He 
escaped without wounds, and in 1S67 came to 
America. After spending a few weeks in Wis- 
consin he came to Nebraska and homesteaded 
his present farm in Bismarck township. All 
was new and wild at that time, his nearest 
neighbor living one mile distant. He bought a 
yoke of oxen and began breaking the piairie 
sod, upon which lie raised eight hundred bush- 
els of wheat the following season. He drew 
his wlieat to Fremont, where he sold it at thir- 
t3'-five cents per bushel. His farm now com- 
prises four hundred and eighty acres of well 
improved land. In 1888 he built a commo- 
dious residence, second to one in the township. 

Our subject was united in marriage July 29, 
1872, to Amelia Lierman, daughter of August 
and Amelia Lierman, of the same township in 
which our subject lives. They came to Cum- 
ing County in 1S64 One son has been born 
to them : Ernst, tlie date of his Ijirth being 
May 15, 1873. 

Politically, our subject afliliates with the 
Democratic party. By industry and persever- 
ance, he has become one of the most pros- 
perous farmers of his county. His residence is 



JACOB SCHAEFER, one of the prosperous 
farmers of Cuming County, residing on 
Section 31, of Neiigh township, came to 
the county in the spring of 18GS, when he 
located on a homestead of one hundred and 
fifty-four acres, a part of his present farm. The 
house which he erected upon this land, ^vas the 
first in the township, and there was but one 
dug-out between his i)lace and West Point. 
His original house served twelve years, when he 
built his present residence. He placed substan- 
tial improvements upon his land including good 
out buildings, a five acre grove, an orchard of 
one hundred trees, besides grapes and small 
fruit. He has added to his land until he pos- 
sesses four imndred and forty acres, two 
hundred being under the plow and two hun- 
dred and forty enclosed by a fence. He brought 
three hundred dollars to tlie county with him 
and with Omaha for his nearest market point, 
he necessarily saw several 3'ears of hard times. 
After he had located his homestead, so new 
was the country that it was with great difii- 
culty, that he found his land the second time. 
Mr. Schaefer was born in Germany, March 
1, 1833, the son of John and Elizabetii Sciiael'er 
whose si.x children were : Jacob, John, Henry, 
William, Herman and Charles. Jacob lived in 
Germany until twent\' seven years of age, and 
then sought a home in the New World. He 
came to Adams County, Hlinois, where he 
worked at blacksmithing and boiler work, until 
he came to Nebraska. His early advantages 
for an education were not good. He served in 
the German Army, but saw no hard fighting. 
He was married May, 1866, to Margaret, 
daughter of Adam and Anna Hill, natives of 
Germany, whose seven children were: Peter, 
Margaret. Catharine, Elizabeth, Henry, Adam 
and Sarah. Elizabetii is deceased and the re- 
mainder of the children, except our subjects' wife 
live in Germany. 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer have seven children 
born in tiie following order : Bertha, June, 
1867 ; Elizabeth, December, 1869 ; Saraii, Sep- 
tember, 1871; Charles, June, 1873; Henry, 
August, 1875; Pauloiph, March, 1878 ; Ida, 
September, 1S80. 

Politically, Mr. Schaefer is a Republican. 
He has assessed his township four years, and 
has been a member of the board of supervisors. 
He belongs to the Knights of Pythias order 
and stands high in the community in which he 
lives. 

SYLVESTER EMLEY, one of the business 
factors of Wisner, Cuming County, en- 
gaged in the lumber trade, was born in 
Intliana, October 6, 1851, and accompanied his 
parents to this county. He was united in mar- 
riage in the fall of 1889 to Miss Anna W. Av- 
erill, a native of Rhode Island. The}' have one 
son, Bruce "W. 

Joseph S. Emley, deceased, the father of our 
subject, was among the earliest settlers of Cum- 
ing County. The date of his settlement was 
June, 1865. He brought his family to the 
country with him, and is indeed worthy of a 
place in this work. When a new country is 
opened up for settlement with such attractions 
of soil and climate, such prospects of future 
growth and development, as to make it a prom- 
ising field for young men, hundreds alv.^ays 
tiock thither to take their chances in the great 
untried race of life. At the start all seem to 
be on equal footing, but if the I'eader would 
pass that wa}' in a quarter or third of a century 
he would find only a few yet together of those 
who started out in the vigor of young manhood. 
Tiie majority of such settlers remove to greener 
pastures before the race is fully ended ; a few 
return to their old homes, while still others 
have the hardihood to remain and im})rove the 
country, while from out tiie number others will 
fall by the wa3'side and ilrop into that dream- 
less sleep we term death, which was the case 
of the man of whom we write. No more con- 
scientious, honorable pioneer looked out over 



the broad prairies of Cimung Cmuay at an 
earlier day than Joseph S. Emley. 

He was born in Green Count\', Indiana, Jan- 
uary 12, 1819, and married in 1839 to Miss 
Alary M. Beard. Siie was born near Abbing- 
ton, Virginia, August 26, 1519. Tliey were the 
parents of eleven children, born as follows: 
Oliver, December 25, 1842, now a retired farmer 
of Wisner; Albert, Sejjtember 17, 1844, a resi- 
dent of Cuming County ; John D., February 
12, 1847, a farmer of Cuming County ; Samuel, 
October 25, 1849, a farmer in Holt County, Ne- 
braska; Sylvester, October fl, 1851, a lumber 
dealer at Wisner; Joseph H., April 24, 1853, 
cashier of the Citizens' State Bank, at Wisner; 
William, January 5, 1855, now county clerk of 
Cuming County ; Matilda Ann, March 15, 1857, 
wife of Charles Traw, a resident of Cuming 
County; Rhoda L., October 23, 1858, wife of 
D. A. Huston, of Ewing, Nebraska; Daniel C, 
April 21, 1863, ex-county, superintendent of 
schools of Cuming County ; Mary Ann, Sei)tem- 
ber 7, 1865, born in Nebraska. 

In ,1855 Mr. Emley emigrated from Indiana 
to Wisconsin, remained ten years, and removed 
to Nebraska, locating on a homestead in what 
is now Beemer township, lie built a house 
upon his homestead, broke up the prairie sod, 
and in time made a good home. He added to 
his original quarter section, until he had 600 
acres, one-half of which was under cultivation. 
At tiie time he came the country was unsettled, 
and its brightness could never have been 
dreamed of, much less realized by a non-resident. 

Politically', this pioneer was a stanch sup- 
porter of Jefferson and Jacksonian principles. 
He died in Cuming County, February 12, 1887, 
his good wife having passed away I\Iay 23, 



HENRY LAMBRKCIIT, residing in the 
village of Beemer, was born at Water- 
town, Wisconsin, July 19, 1863. He 
came with his parents to Cuming County when 
a mere ciiild, and has here received ago('d com- 
mon-school education in l)<)th Eni'lish and Ger- 



494 



A'OA' THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



man. When fifteen j'ears of age he began tu 
learn the milling trade, which occupation he 
still follows. lie has succeeded liis father in 
business in this line and now has entire charge 
of one of the best roller mills in the Elkhorn 
Valle\\ He was one of the incorporators of 
the Beenier State Bank, and is still a stock- 
holder in that institution. 

December 20, 1883, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Amelia Linneman. daughter of 
Henr\^ and Minnie Linneman, of Glassgow, 
Missouri, who were natives of Germany. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Lambrecht liave been born 
four children : August, Dora, Agnes and 
Paul. 

Politically he of whom we write this notice 
is an ardent supporter of the Democratic part}', 
and in religious matters is connected with the 
Lutheran Church. Mr. Lambrecht is one of 
the enterprising business factors, which makes 
the little village -of Beemer the valuable busi- 
ness point that it is. For more concerning the 
Lambrecht family, the reader is referred to the 
sketch of Autrust Lambrecht. 



FRED BERGER. recently of Kingsburgh 
precint, Stanton County, but now a 
general merchant in the village of Pil- 
ger, came to Stanton County August, 1882, lo- 
cating at Pilger, where he built a residence 
and blacksmith shop, he being the first black- 
smith of the place. He followed his trade at 
that point for seven years and bought a farm. 
Tliis was in 184-i, he run his farm and also 
worked at blacksmithing until the spring of 
1888, when he moved to his land, which, when 
he purchased, was a one hundred and sixty 
acre wild tract, upon which he placed good 
and substantial improvements, including 
house, barn, granary and shop, set out a grove 
and an orchard of fifty trees, and subsequently 
added forty acres more land. In 1802 he built 
the first brick business house erected in Pilger, 
the same being 25x60 feet, and two stories 
hig-h. 



Mr. Berger was born in Germany in 1858, 
the son of Michael F. and Caroline Berger, 
whose six children were : Fred, Herman, Er- 
nestin, two who died in infanc}' and Amelia, 
our subject being the onl}' one living in Amer- 
ica. Fred remained in the fatherland until 
twenty-three years of age. He landed in JS'aw 
York in June, 1882, and came to a point near 
Wisner, in Cuming Count}', and worked on a 
farm one season and came to Pilger. He was 
in the German army three years prior to com- 
ing to this country, and had but a limited op- 
portunity for obtaining an education. 

He was married in March, 1882, to Amelia 
Schumacher, daughter of Ludwig and Louisa 
Schumacher, natives of Germany, whose four 
children weie : Amelia, Minnie (deceased), Au 
gust and Louisa. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
five children: Hattie, born August 26, 1883; 
Fred, Jr., born March 17, 1885; Olga, born 
September 5,1886; Minnie, born March 22, 
1888, and Walter, born August 27, 1890. 

Mr. Berger is a member of the German 
order, known as the Treu-Bund. Politically 
he is a Republican. He is a man who stands 
high in the community in which he lives. 

When he first came to Pilger he iiad no 
resources save the possession of his blacksmith's 
trade. But bv industry and economy he has 
acquired a hamlsome propert}'. 



JOHN C. ESSWEIN, of Section 32, Lincoln 
precinct, Stanton Countv, is a native of 
Germany, born in Wurtemberg, May 2, 
1840. He is the son of Joseph and Jlag- 
deline Esswein. He began to learn the black- 
smith's trade when fourteen years of age, and 
followed the same for many years. In 1866, he 
came to America, and followed his trade at 
Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was in the 
emplov of the Pennsylvania Coal Company 
until 1868, and then came to Nebraska, and 
worked nine months in the Union Pacific rail- 
road shops at Omaha. In the meantime he 




^y^V^l y(dyUoi(^'^, 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



497 



horaesteaded a part of his present farm and 
moved to the same in April, 1869. At tluit 
time only four other homesteads had been taken 
south of the river in Stanton County. At first 
he built a sod house, and soon after a log cabin, 
which served as a residence ten years. His 
pioneer building is still standing, as a monu- 
ment to pioneer homestead (hu's. Having no 
team or other means of improving his farm, he 
built a small shop and worked at his trade a 
part of the time, and in this way supported his 
family and made some improvements. In 
1871, he built a shop in the village of Stanton, 
in which he worked until 187-1:. He sutferetl 
from the grasshopper scourge, and other 
afflictions common to pioneers. He nov,' owns 
three hundred and fift}^ acres of land, and 
lost a quarter section through a defective 
title. Of his present farm one hundred and 
fifty acres are under the plow. He follows 
mixed farming, as a breeder of thoroughbred, 
short-horn cattle and thoroughbred swine. 
In 1881 he built a commodious farm house in 
which he still lives. His place is provided 
with first-class buildings, including barns and 
cattle sheds. He also has a good orchard and 
vineyard. He is a stockholder in the Stanton 
Count}' Agricultural Societ}', and for the past 
three 3'ears has been agent for the Omaha 
Brewing Association. 

Politically, Mr. Esswein is Independent, and 
was county coroner one term. 

He was united in marriage November 21, 
1865, to Margarette Widmier, born in the same 
locality in which he was. By this union four 
children were born : Wilhelmena (Mrs. C. 
Stortz), Matilda, Mary (Mrs. William Ben- 
tel), Sophia. The mother of these children, 
Mrs. Margarette Esswein, was killed by a 
runaway team, December 2, 1876. 

June 15. 1877, Mr. Esswein married for his 
second wife Amanda Lueck, a native of Bran- 
denburg, German}'. By this union the fol- 
lowing children were born : Elenore, Emil, 
Adolph, Carl, AVilford, Olga, Hedwig and an 
infant daughter. 



"When our subject first came to Stanton 
County, friendly Indians were very numerous, 
and at times helped the settlers to harvest 
their crops. Great has been the change in 
Stanton County since he first settled within its 
borders. By frugalit\' and hard work Mr. 
Esswein has succeeded in building for himself 
a good home, and is now surrounded with the 
comforts of life. 



HENRY W.J.UDWIG,of Section 8, Elk- 
horn township, Cuming County, was 
born in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, 
October 8, 1852, and came to Nebraska in 1880, 
direct to the farm he now lives upon. Here he 
built a story and one-half frame house 24x36 
feet, and also provided other good buildings 
upon the premises. He now has two hundred 
acres under cultivation, and his entire farm is 
fenced, except fort}' acres. 

He was united in marriage June 10, 1875, to 
Mary C. Fenstermacher, to whom has been 
born six children : William S. J., Peter A. B., 
Theodore J. H., Mary E. I., Anna C. E., and 
Carrie S. E. Our subject's father and mother 
were born in Pennsylvania. The former is 
deceased and the mother still lives there. Their 
children were Henry W., our subject, Ellen, 
Emma, Ida, Benjamin and Estella. All living 
in Pennsylvania except our subject. Mrs. 
Ludwig's yjarents, now living in West 
Point, came West in 1880, and lor two years 
lived on the farm. They are the ])arents of 
three children : IMary C, Peter A. (deceased), 
and Sarah A. 

Our subject is a su])iiorter of the Republican 
party, while he and his family are members of 
the German Lutheran Church. He has been 
postmaster of the Bismark postofiice for eleven 
years and is the present incumbent. 

Mr. Fenstermacher traded a grocery store he 
owned in company with our subject in Allen- 
town, Pennsylvania for the farm now occupied 
by our subject allowing eight thousand dollars 
for the land and improvements. 



498 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ELISHA KENWORTIIY, a farmer of 
Section 7, Humbug precinct, came to 
Stanton County in tlie sprinp; of 1880, 
and first located near Stanton, on the Butter, 
field Creek, where he purchased a quarter sec- 
tion of wild land upon which he made the 
necessary improvements for a good farm home. 
After seven 3'ears he sold, and purchased his 
present place, whicii was partly improved at the 
time. He built a house upon this place, which 
was lGx2C feet, with several additions and one 
story and one-half high. He also built stables, 
cribbing, a granai-y and cattle barn. He planted 
a grove of ten acres and an orchard of twenty- 
five trees. He has ninety acres under cultiva- 
tion, and all surrounded by a goodfence^ The 
first winter that he was in the countrv, that of 
1880-81, he was caught out in a blizzard and 
came near perishing. 

He of whom we write, was born in Cedar 
County, Iowa, December, 184-2, the son of Jehu 
and Amaretta Kenwortiiy, natives of North 
Carolina and Ohio, respectively. The fatlier 
was of Quaker stock, he being one of the fifth 
generation in America. Elislia remained in the 
Hawkeye State until 1802, and enlisted in Com- 
pany K Thirty-sixth Iowa Infantry, under 
Captain George Noble, of Albia. He was 
mustered in at Keokuk sent to St. Louis, from 
there to Memphis and so on down to Helena 
and Yazoo Pass. He was in tlie engagement 
under General Prentiss, and fought Price from 
there to Little Rock, and was also under Steel 
in the Ked River expedition. He was at Cam- 
den and was captured at Marks Mills, and sent 
to a Texas prison for ten months, being 
exchanged in 1865 at the mouth of Red River, 
from wliich point he went to New Orleans and 
was mustered out at Duvalls Bluffs, Arkansas, 
having served three years and eighteen days, 
without receiving a wound. He returned to 
Iowa, i-eceiving his final discharge at Daven- 
port, and resumed farm life, wliich he followed 
until his coming to Nebraska. 

Mr. Kenworthy was married in March, 18C0, 
to Sarah C, daughter of Nelson and Christena 



Lemonds, natives of North Carolina, whose 
eight children were : Washington, Ada, Ema- 
il ne, Sarah C, Mary (deceased), Jane (deceased), 
Pinkney and Martha. The parents of these chil- 
dren are both deceased. In our subject's par- 
ents" family there were the following: Rebecca 
(deceased), Mary, Ira (deceased), William, 
David, James, Elisha Charles O., Jesse (de- 
ceased) and Winfield S. 

The mother of these children is still living, 
but the father is deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kenworth}' are the parents of 
four children as follows : Estella, Wilbur R., 
Floyd Y., Corland O. 

Mr. Kenworthy is an honored member of 
the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the 
Grand Army of the Republic. 

Politically, he is a supporter of the Inde- 
pendent movement. 



IRVIN R. LAYTON, of Section 2, of town- 
ship 24, Humbug precinct, came to Stan- 
ton County in the spring of 1806, and 
located on the farm he now occupies, taking a 
one hundred and sixty acre homestead. His 
first improvements consisted of building a log 
cabin, 1-1x16 feet, covered with brush and sods, 
which, with some repairs, served as a residence 
for himself and family for ten years, when h« 
built a story and one-half frame house, the 
lumber in which he hauled from West Point. 
He also provided this farm with substantial out 
buildings, for the convenience of keeping stock 
and handling grain. He planted outagroveof 
eight acres, which at this time has the appear- 
ance of a native forest. He also has an t)rchard 
of one hundred and fifty trees. He now has 
seven hunilred and twent}' acres, three hunilred 
of which is under cultivation, while the 
remaindei- is in hay, pasture and timber land, 
five hundred acres being enclosed by a fence. 
There were but three settlers in Humbug 
precinct when he came, and but six in al 
Stanton County. C. M. Scott and Jacob Hoff- 
man each built a house the autumn before lie 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



499 



came. Omaha was liis nearest market point, 
while Logan Creek mill, forty-six miles distant, 
furnished the family with flour. The grass- 
hoppers destroyed his crops two years in 
succession. 

He was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Sep- 
tember, 1S3S. His parents were Israel and 
Sarah Layton, natives of Pennsylvania, whose 
children were : Mar}^ Louisa, Irvin, Clarissa, 
Eunice (deceased), AVilliam, Timothy, Jane 
and Ida. 

Irvin lived in the Buckeye state until nine- 
teen 3'ears of age, when he moved to Clinton 
County, Indiana, where he worked by the 
month two seasons, after which he rented land 
two years. In 1862 he enlisted in Company 
G Eighty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He was 
mustered into service at Lafayette, sent to 
Covington, Kentucky, and was under General 
Crittenden of the fourteenth army corps. He 
participated at Perryville, Stone River and 
Chicamaugua. At the last named battle he was 
wounded and sent to the hospital at Chatta- 
nooga, Tennessee, and from there to Steveson, 
Alabama; thence to Nashville, and from there 
to New Albany, Indiana ; from which place he 
was transferred to the Soldiers Home at 
Indianapolis, where be received his discharge. 
The wound above mentioned was a gun shot 
through the ujiper musics of the leg. After he 
left the service, he rented a farm in Indiana 
one year, and then came to Stanton, Nebraska, 
landing with less than eight dollars in mone\', 
a span of horses and wagon ; to-day he is one of 
the most independent and extensive real estate 
owners in the county. 

Concerning his married life, it may be said 
that Mr. Layton, September 2, 1860, took for a 
companion Mar\', daughter of Asa and Hannah 
Whitcomb, natives of Vermont and Ohio, re- 
spectively. They were the parents of eight 
children : Elizabeth, Lydia, John, Leonard, 
Jane (deceased), Ellen, Mary, Alice (deceased). 
Mr. and Mrs. Layton have the following chil- 
dren born in the order given : Etta, May, 1862; 
William, March, 1865 ; Albert, May, 1867; Lulu, 



May, 1869 ; Howard, July, 1871; Emma. April, 
187-1; Peter, June, 1876, and Arthur, October, 
1881. 

Politically, Mr. Layton alHliates with the 
Independent part}'. He has held the office of 
county commissioner one term, and has been 
a justice of the peace for six years. 



FRED MACK, one of the pioneers of 
Stanton County, a resident of Butterfly 
precinct, residing on Section 8, town- 
ship 22, was born in Germanv, February 19, 
18'Jr2, and came to this countr\' in 1865. He 
landed at New York harbor and from there 
went to Ohio, where he farmed five years. We 
next find him in Omaha, Nebraska, running a 
hotel, for one j'ear, after which he moved to 
his present location. In 1871, he took a 
homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He 
made a dug-out, in which he lived one year, and 
then made another abode of the same kind, in 
which he lived five years and then built a 
frame house, 16x18 feet, which served the fam- 
ily until 1887, when he built his present frame 
residence, which is 26x.35 feet. He also has a 
good barn, 44x4:8 feet, and a granar}' and other 
out-buildings. He also has a good orchard 
and thi'ee-quarters of an acre of grapes, and an 
artificial grove of fifteen acres. He has since 
added three hundred and twenty acres more to 
his farm, two hundred and sixty acres of his 
place being under cultivation and the remainder 
in hay-land. His whole premises are surrounded 
by a good wire fence. 

Mr. Mack was united in marriage, in 1870, to 
Charlotte Frane, to whom have been born eight 
children : George, Fred, Emma, Charlie, Hulda, 
Anna, William and Carrie. Our subject's 
parents were natives of Germany and died in 
the old country, as did his wife's parents. !Mr. 
Mack had two brothers and four sisters as fol- 
lows : Conrad (decased), Fred (our subject), 
William, Fredericke, living in the old country; 
Gottlieb (deceased), Carolina, in the old 
country, Gottlieb, in the old country, and 
Anna (deceased). 



500 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



During 1874-75, the grasshoppers destroyed 
his crops, but for the most part he has been 
successful since coming to Nebraska. He 
started on a capital of ten dollars, and in addi- 
tion to his loss by grasslioppers, he sustained 
loss from hailstorms two seasons. His first 
team was oxen. At first his nearest market 
point was West Point. At this time he has 
sixty-five head of cattle, twenty-three head of 
horses and two hundred head of hogs. 

Politically, Mr. Mack is a stanch supporter 
of the Democratic party and in religions mat- 
ters himself and family belongs to the Lutheran 
Church. He is a member of a German Insu- 
rance Societ}^ known as the Treu-Bund. 
From 1872 to 1875, Mr. Mack was sherifiF of 
Stanton County and was supervisor in 1874-75, 
and has held other local offices, to the entire 
satisfaction of his neighbors. 



EW. MOSHEPt, the leading merchant of 
Piiger, became a pioneer of Stanton 
County in the spring of ISfiS, when he 
homesteaded a quarter section of land in Hum- 
bug precinct, u])on which he erected a rough 
Cottonwood iiouse, 12x14 feet, in which he lived 
for two months, and erected a building sixteen 
feet square, the same iiaving a Cottonwood 
frame, but the main building was built of pine 
lumber, which he hauled from Omaha, it requir- 
ing seven days to make a trip. He had to ford 
nearly all of the streams, as no bridges had been 
built at that time. He constructed a barn of 
sod, which served for the time being quite well. 
He planted out a grove of seventeen acres, and 
also provitled his place with an orchard, and 
subsecjuentiy added forty acres of timber land 
to his place. He followed farming on this place 
for fourteen years, when ho sold and engaged 
in the mercantile business at Wisner for one 
year, when he moved his stock of goods to Pii- 
ger, where he now has a store building and 
residence, 32x36 feet, one story and one-half 
high He carries a general line of merchandise 
with a stock amounting to thirty-five hundred 
dollars. He has served as postmaster at Piiger 



for a number of years and is the present incum- 
bent. 

Mr. Mosher is a native of Dutchess County, 
New^ York, born February, 1835, the son of 
Isaac and Hannah Mosher, who were also na- 
tives of the Empire State, and were the parents 
of the following children : Daniel (deceased), 
Lansing (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Percilla, 
Emilv (deceased), Jane A., Edwin W. and 
William II. 

Mr. ]\Iosher remained in his native State un- 
til he reached his majority, when he embarked 
on a fishing voyage to Newfoundland, and was 
gone eight months, after which he clerked in a 
store two j'ears, spent one year working in the 
pineries of Michigan, worked eleven years at 
carpentering at Amboy, Illinois, from which 
place he came to Nebraska. He received a good 
common-school education, and when twenty- 
three years of age was united in marriage to 
Mary Record, whose parents M'ere natives of 
New York, and had nine children. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mosher are the parents of three 
children : Stella, Alice and Edwin. 

Politicall}', he affiliates with the Republican 
party, and has held the office of county com 
inissioner three yeai's, as well as numerous local 
offices. 

Mr. Mosher lived in the country at the time 
the grasslioppers brought such destruction to 
the crops. One year he had twenty acres of 
corn in roasting ears, and in two hours time 
scarcely a vestige of it was left. The second 
year they destroyed thirt}'-five acres of corn 
for him. and the third 3'ear did material dam 
age to the crop. He came to the county with 
but two hundred and fifty dollars, and by per- 
severance and good management has come to 
be surrounded with a comfortable home and 
established in a paying mercantile business. 



HON. JOHN G. MATHESON, one of 
the prominent business factors of the 
village of Piiger, Stanton County, will 
form the subject of this notice. He came to 
Stanton County in the spring of 1SC9, located 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



501 



on Section 24, township 24, of Humbug pre- 
cinct, homesteading one liundred and sixt}^ 
acres. He at once commenced improving his 
land by building a one-story frame house, 12x18 
feet, in which he kept bachelor's hall for two 
years. During the season of 1809 he purchased 
a threshing machine and threshed all of the 
grain raised in Stanton County. He then re- 
turned to Wisconsin, from which state he iiad 
emigrated, and remained one year, when he re- 
tui'ned to Pilger and engaged in l)uying stock. 
He shipped the first car of hogs that ever left 
Wisner, and has been engaged in the stock and 
grain business, together with farming and mer- 
chandising, ever since. He erected a building 
in Pilger, and was one of the first to engage in 
hardware and the agricultural implement busi- 
ness. It was liis misfortune to be in the coun- 
try during the period, between 1873 and 1878, 
when the grasshoppers devastated the crops, 
nearly ruining all of the early settlers. He 
brought seven hundred dollars to the county 
with him, and from this small beginning has 
come to be a well circumstanced man. 

To give the reader a better understanding of 
his life outside of Stanton County it should be 
said he was born in Walworth County, Wiscon- 
sin, P'ebruary 27, 1836, the son of Murdock and 
Eliza Matheson, who had eight children. The 
father and mother are now deceased. 

Our subject remained in the "Badger" State 
until twenty-two years of age, and came to Ne- 
braska. He was not favored with good educa- 
tional advantages, having to carry on his fa- 
ther's farm after be was fourteen years of age. 
Mr. Matheson was married February, 1872, to 
Jennie L., daughter of Calvin II. and Lydia H- 
Peck, of New York State, who had three chil- 
dren: Noah H. (deceased), Jennie L., and 
William (deceased). 

Mr. and Mrs. Matheson are the parents of 
two children : Calvin H., born November 15, 
1874, and Edna L., born March 2(), 1878. 

Politically, Mr. Matheson is a supporter of 
the Democratic party, and has represented his 
d\strict in the legislature, as a member of the 



house of representatives, having been elected 
in the autumn of 1890. He has also been 
county coroner of Stanton County for six 
years, and was the first county superintendent 
of schools, having been elected to that office in 
1869. 



GUSTAVLIS A. HENKEL, a farmer of 
Humbug precinct, Stanton County, 
residing on Section 5, has been a resi- 
dent of that locality since June, 1869. He 
claimed one hundred and sixty acres as a home- 
stead, and bought eighty acres additional. Here 
he built a log cabin, 10x20 feet, in which he 
lived for fifteen years and then built his present 
house, which is 14x22 feet, with a wing nearly 
as large. The place contains a good barn, and 
an excellent well of water, a planted grove of 
three acres, and a bearing orchard of fifty trees. 
One hundred and ten acres of his place is under 
cultivation, and the whole surrounded by a good 
fence. The F., E. & M. Y. railroad passes 
through his farm. He was a sufferer by the 
grassliopper plague during the seventies. 

He was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, 
January, 1862, the son of Cristof and Ernestena 
Henkel, natives of Germany, whose eight 
children were : Emma, Herman, Louisa, 
Augusta, Otto, Gustavus, Dora and Eddie. 

He of whom we write this notice, remained 
in the "Badger" state until seven years of age, 
when his parents moved to Stanton County, 
Nebraska. Owing to various circumstances, 
over which he had no control, he did not obtain 
a good education. He was married Febi'uary, 
1884, to Libbie, daughter of William and Jane 
LaFarge, natives of New York, whose five 
children were: John, Mary, George, Burton and 
Libbie. 

Our subject and his wife are tlie jiarents of 
three cliildren. 

Politically, Mr. Henkel is a sup])orter of the 
Democratic party, believing as he does, that 
this party comes nearer meeting the demands 
of the people than an\' other. 



503 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



FREDERICK ZANDER, of Section 3, 
township 23, range 2, in Stanton pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, was born near 
Stargart, Pommerania, Germany, August 30, 
1834. He came- to Stanton County, in the fall 
of 1868, and homesteaded one hundred and 
sixty acres of his present farm. Upon his arri- 
val he was in debt two hundred and eighty 
dollars. lie built a log cabin, 14x20 feet, which 
is still standing. The frame was made of 
logs which were banked with earth, and roofed 
with rough boards, also covered with dirt. All 
the sawed lumber use<l in the construction of 
this primitive building, was brought from 
Lambert's mill, on Rock Creek. Mr. Zander 
was unable to buy a team for two years, but 
succeeded in hiring a few acres broken. The 
flour and other provisions for the family he 
carried home on his back. It was four years 
before he purchased a horse team, later on his 
crops were destroyed by the grasshoppers, but 
he succeeded in weathering tlie storm of adver- 
sity, and now owns seven hundred and twenty 
acres of land, three hundred and fifty of wjiich 
are under cultivation. His chief attention is 
turned toward breeding and feeding stock. 
Ilis lierd contains over two hundred head of 
cattle, a majority of which are grade Durhams. 
His present residence was built in 1882, and 
his farm is well provided with barns, sheds and 
other out-buildings for the accommodation of 
stock and grains, he also has a fine grove and 
orchard. When he came to Stanton County, 
there were about a dozen voters in the whole 
Territory, hence the change in the appearance 
of the country, since he first looked out upon 
it, has been very marked. 

He of whom we write was united in marriage 
July 17, 1860, to Augusta Lambrecht, who 
bore him seventeen children, eleven of whom 
are still living: Carl, Anna (Mrs. T. Kehler), 
Frederick, Emma, William, Albert, Herman, 
Martha, Augusta, Henry and August. Mrs. 
August Zander, died February 22, 1886. 

Politically, he votes with the Democratic 
parly. In religious matters he was raised in 



the Lutheran faith, but is not a member of any 
church at present. 

Of his parentage it may be said that he is a 
son of Fretlerick and Fredericke Zander. The 
former died when he was sixteen years of age 
and the latter three years later. Their children 
were: Frederick, William, Louisa (Mrs. F. 
Leisawald) and Fredericke (Mrs. J. Schwanke). 
Our subject's early life was spent on the farm, 
and when twenty years of age, he learned the 
wagon-makers trade, and after coming to Ne- 
braska, worked at carpentering, building some 
of the first frame houses in Stanton County. 
During their first four years' residence in the 
county, the}' sufi'ered much from sickness and 
privation. He was stricken with the typhoid 
fever, for fourteen weeks, the second year after 
his coming to the country. His wife also suf- 
fered from the same disease for eight weeks. 
One of their children died about this time. 

While the hand of affliction has been laid 
heavily upon him by the death of members of 
his family, he has been temporarily blessed, 
and is now one of the most prosperous farmers 
of Stanton County. At this date he has eleven 
grandchildren. 

JOSEPH VOGEL, a farmer living on Sec- 
tion 5, of Kingsburgh ])recinct, Stanton 
County, came to tliat locality witii his 
])arents in April, 1878. His father first 
bought a quarter section of partly improved 
land. He remained at home with his jiarents 
until twenty two years of age, and the same 
year took a one-third interest in a threshing 
machine, which he operated the next year, 
barely paying expenses. He then purchased 
eighty acres of wild land, on which he paid 
twenty-five dollars. There he built a sod 
house in which he lived two }'ears, and built a 
14x22 feet one-story frame house, in which he 
lived until March, 1892. His present house is 
16x32 feet, with additions. He made other 
substantial improvements upon his premises, 
including the i)lanting out of an orchard. He 
has since added to his land, until he owns four 




j:, /^ ^^\ 



vc^^^^^^/^ 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



503 



hundred and forty acres about one-half of 
which IS under the plow. 

When seventeen years of age he shot the 
thumb off his left liand while hunting. 

To acquaint the reader with his earlier life 
let it be said that he was born in Iowa, Janu- 
ary, 1S59. He is the son of John and ilary 
Vogel, natives of Germany, whose five children 
were: Joseph, John, Otto, Lewis and William, 
all living in Nebraska. Josepli lived in Iowa, 
until seventeen years of age, went to Minne- 
sota, remained one year, then to Wisconsin, 
and from there came to Nebraska. 

He was married, February, 1883, to Lena 
Challis, the third child of a famil}' of si.K chil- 
dren. Mr. and Mrs. Vogel have been blessed 
b\' five children. 

Our subject is a believer in the Roman 
Catholic faith, while his wife is a Protestant. 
Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic 
party and has assessed his precinct for five 
years. 

JOHN K. CRAilER, a farmer of Nickerson 
township, residing on Section 1-i, came 
to Dodge County, May 11, 1855. He 
first located at Fontanelle, which was 
then the county seat of DodgeCounty ; land not 
yet being in the market, he took a "squatter's 
claim." He was a member of the colonization 
company, that laid out the town of Fontanelle, 
and at the same time improved his claim, by 
building a story and a half house, 1-1x18 feet, 
with the necessary out-buildings. He remained 
on this place about twelve years, when he sold 
and removed to the place he now occupies, the 
same being a homestead of one hundred and 
sixty acres. Here he turned the wild prairie 
sod over, erected a house, 10x24 feet, with a 
wing the same size, built a barn, 32x38 feet; 
two double cribs, 40x50 feet; a granary, 28x36 
feet; cow house, 22x32 feet, and dug good 
wells, one of which was provided with a wind- 
mill. He also had a double tenement house 
22x2G feet. He has since added to his land 
until he now has two hundred and eighty acres, 



all of which is under the plow but sixty acres, 
the rest in pasture and meadow land. 

Mr. Cramer was born in Sommerset County, 
Pennsylvania, March 28, 1823. His parents, 
Adam and Eliza Cramer, were natives of the 
Keystone State and reared a family of nine 
children: John, Adam, Philip, Agnes, Jacob, 
Sarah, Isaac (deceased), Eliza J., Walter (de- 
ceased). 

Our subject lived in Pennsylvania until 1843 
and then went to Adams County, Illinois, where 
he followed shoemaking (which trade he had 
learned) for two years, after which he went to 
farming in the same county, and was a tiller of 
the soil in that location, until he came to 
Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage New Year's da\% 
1846, to Orinda Hull, the daughter of James 
and Louisa Hull, natives of Ohio. This lady 
only lived about one year and died without 
issue, and Mav 3, 1852, he married Frances B. 
West, daughter of Parker West of Ohio, who 
had five children: Frances, Esther, Alexander, 
Lydia and Isaac. By Mr. Cramer's second 
marriage there were nine children born : Lu- 
cretia, Fulton, Metellah, Orestes, Pearly, John, 
Emmeit, Emma and Robert L. 

When our subject first came to Dodge 
County, he had but fifty cents, after paying for 
his ferrying across the Missouri River. Two 
men in Mr. Cramer's employ were killed by the 
Indians July 29, 1855, therefore in the summer 
of 1855, by order of the Governor, a home 
company was organized to protect the whites 
against the Indian invasions. They were en- 
listed for eight3'-one days. At that time the 
settlers in this part of Nebraska were compelled 
to go to Glenwood, Iowa, to mill, which trij) 
took them fifteen days. Upon one occasion 
our subject, John Evans, now of Omaha, and 
Hiram Ladd, of Washington County, made such 
a trip, which they will never forget. Evans 
drove a horse team while our subject and Ladd 
drove oxen. Snow was very deep and in some 
places they shoveled snow for a quarter of a 
mile. 



504 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Cramer in his political belief is a 
Democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows 
fraternity. 

The man whose name heads this sketch, now 
nearly seventy j'ears of age, was one of the 
few frontiersmen who wended their waj' from 
the Allegheny mountains, over tlie great 
prairie States of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, to 
be ferried across the turbulent waters of the 
Missouri River, for the purpose of forming a 
new empire. They sought not distinction 
among men, neither did they leave the land of 
their nativity because they were not wanted 
there ; the}' were the best blood of the Eastern 
States, and they came for the purpose of build- 
ing for themselves homes, and let it be 
remembered that "the genius of American in- 
dustry is our home building; take away that, 
and you destroy everything." 

The pioneer comes to dig and tlelve, to 
plant and sow, to hew and build, the 
crooked paths to make straight, and the 
i-ough to make smootli. Neither the river, 
the lake nor the sea, nor the mountain nor 
wilderness has obstacles for him. He looks 
upon them as all God-given, out of which 
he may form and mould an empire. The 
environments of the pioneer have produced 
a new type of manhood. He built his cabin on 
the outer verge of civilization; the waves of 
savage warfare beat and break upon it, but it 
falls not, and while our subject passed through 
many hardships at an early day, including the 
blinding storms of winter, the scarcity of food, 
raiment and money, he finally came off con- 
queror and doubtless now, while seated by his 
own fireside, he looks back over the tract of 
years, and recounts many a pleasure between the 
camp-fires of an early day in Nebraska, which 
State was then a Territory extending far to 
the West. 

Mr. Cramer has given some interesting items 
concerning the earl}' Indian troubles, including 
the killing of Jackson Porter and George 
Demoree, an account of which will be referred 
{,0 elsewliere in this book. 



ANDREW SPENCE, JR., of section 27 
Stanton precinct, Stanton Count}', is a 
native of Canada, born near Peters- 
borough, December 3, 1858. He accompanied 
his parents to this county in 1874. They located 
on Section 35, where our subject remained until 
1882. He bought the land on which he now 
resides — a part in 1879, and the remainder in 
1884. He owns two hundred and forty acres, 
one hundred and seventy acres of which are 
under cultivation. In 1SS8, he erected one of 
the best farm houses in Stanton County. He 
also has good barns and out-buildings. He 
follows mixed husbandry, and has commenced 
breeding French-Canadian horses. 

Of his domestic life, it may be said he was 
united in marriage to l\rrs. Nina Dada, who is a 
daughter of F. Marion and Martha Stucker 
Mrs. Spence had one child by her first marriage 
— Percy. 

Politically, Mr. Spence is a Republican. He 
is a member of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows and Modern "Woodmen of America. 

Our sul)ject is the son of Hamilton and Anna 
(Peters) Spence. The former is a native of the 
County of Donegal, Ireland. He came to 
Canada in 1842, and there remained until 1874, 
when he came to Nebraska. He held the office of 
township counselor iiT Petersborough, Canada, 
for nine years. He is now a resident of Stanton 
village. His wife, Mrs. Anna Spence, was 
born in Petersborough, Canada, and died at 
Stanton, Nebraska, August, 1881. Mr. and 
Mrs. Hamilton Spence were the parents of 
eleven children : Margaret (Mrs. T. Elliott), 
Mary (Mrs. Burtwistle), Andrew, the sul)jectof 
this sketch ; Ellen (Mrs. S. Burtwistle), George 
(deceased), John, Anna, Hamilton, Charles, 
Eva and Percy. Ten of this family reside in 
Stanton County. 



WILLIAM RVAN, a farmer living on 
Section 2(1, Humbug i)recinet, came 
to Stanton County in the spring of 
1883, locating on his present place, which then 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



605 



consisted of a half-section of wild land, upon 
wliicli he made many valuable improvements, 
including a good farm house sixteen feet S{|uare, 
a barn 50x56 feet, a granary, tool-house and 
other out-buildings, also i>rovided his place with 
good wells and erected a wind-mill for pumping 
purposes. Of his present farm, one hundred 
and twenty-five acres are under the plow, the 
whole surrounded b}' a fence and sub-divided 
by cross-fences. 

Mr. Il3'an is a native of Ireland, born 
March, 1836, the son of William and Johan- 
nah Eyan, whose six children were: Mi- 
chael, Marv, Thomas, Patrick, Charles and 
William. 

He of whom we write this notice, lived in the 
land of his nativity until fifteen years of age, 
and then came to this country. He landed at 
Boston, from there going, to Manchester, New 
Hampsliire, where he learned the shoe-making 
trade, but after eight months abandoned this 
and for one 3'ear drove a team on the railroad. 
He then spent four months in New York City, 
and from there went to Ohio, where he followed 
farming four years, followed railroad work in 
Pennsylvania and later went to St. Louis, con- 
tinuing to work at railroading until 1866, when 
he came to Iowa and followed railroad work 
until he came to Stanton County, Nebraska. 
Wlien young he was not afforded a good edu- 
cation, the advantages then not being what 
lliey are to-day. 

November, 1867, he was united in marriage to 
Caroline AVhitler, the daughter of Frank and 
Barbara Whitler, natives of Germany, whose 
nine children were : Ifargaret (deceased), Frank 
(deceased), Cai'oline, George, Charles (deceased), 
Rosa, Joseph (deceased). Elizabeth and 
Lena. 

Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
with nine children, as follows : Rosa, George, 
Elizabeth, Catharine, Mary, Sanih, Agnes, 
Joseph antl William. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan are members of the 
Roman Catholic Church, and politically he 
votes the Indej)endent ticket. 



JOHN PETERS, a farmer of Section 34, 
township 2-i, of Stanton precinct, Stanton 
County, was born near Petersborough, Can- 
ada, West, February 9, 18-12. lie came 
to Stanton County in the spi'ing of 1873, when 
he bought his present farm of four hundred and 
eighty acres, paying three and one-half dol- 
lars per acre for the quarter-section upon 
which he resides. For four vears in succession, 
during the seventies, his crops were materially 
damaged by the grasshoppers, but usually 
speaking he has had good crops, and one sea- 
son he was enabled to pay for a quarter-section 
of land which cost him eleven dollars per 
acre. He built the third frame house in the 
county, drawing the lumber from Wisner, 
which was then the terminus of the railroad. 
This pioneer house served Mr. Peters until 
1888, when he erected his present commodious 
house. He now has two hundred and sixtv- 
five acres under cultivation, his land being 
nearly all enclosed by a good fence, while his 
barns and out-buildings are of a first-class 
order. He devotes special attention to stock 
raising. At an early day, he, in company with 
his brothers, ran a threshing machine for a 
number of seasons. 

He was married October 19, 1871, to Har- 
riet Steel, a native of Petersborough, Canada. 
She is the daughter of John and Mary (Elmis) 
Steel. The former is a native of Scotland and 
now lives at Billings. Montana. Mrs. Steel was 
born in England and died about 1883. 

Mr. and Mrs. Peters have six livingchildren: 
Robert, Harvey, Mary E., Elsie. Wallace and 
Ililliard. 

Our subject is the sou of George and Mar- 
garet (Neligh) Peters. The former was a 
native of Ireland, who came to America in 
1830, and in 1873 moved to Stanton, where he 
resided until his death, April 28, 1881, being 
seventy-three years of age at the time. Mrs. 
Margaret Peters was also a native of Ireland, 
and also died at Stanton, April 25, 1892. They 
were the parents of nine children, five of whom 
lived in the Elkliorn Valley. 



JVOXTNEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Politically, Mr. Peters is a Republican, be- 
lieving, as he does, that of the three great par- 
ties in the field to day, this gives the best 
atlministration of pul)lic affairs. He was reared 
in the Presbyterian faith, but at present is not 
a member of any church. lie stands high in 
the community in which he lives, and is one of 
the most prosperous farmers of his county. 



ALBERT LOUIS NIXON, dental surgeon, 
practicing at Stanton, Nebraska, was 
born at Richmond Hill, near Toronto, 
Canada, September 15. ISGi, the son of Joseph 
Nixon, a native of England, born in 1819, and 
emigrated to America in 1846, locating at Ricli- 
mond Hill, where he became acquainted'with 
Miss Rebecca Rupert, a native of Canada,born in 
1831. Tliey were united in marriage and as a 
result of such union, sixteen children were 
born, fourteen of whom lived to be adults. Mrs. 
Nixon, our subject's mother, died in March, 
1890. She was a consistent member of the 
Methodist Jlpiscopal Church. Her husband sur- 
vived her and is now seventy three-years of 
age. 

The subject of this notice graduated at Rich- 
mond Hill sciiools and then took a partial 
course at a university, but before graduating 
took up the study of dentistry, and attended 
one term in the dental department, and was 
under his uncle one and one-half years. In 
July, 1886, he left Canada, and first located 
at Birmingham, Micliigan ; was a short time at 
Detroit, traveled quite extensively, through the 
nortii west States, and finally located at Stanton, 
Nebraska, November 9, 1886. He also ])ractices 
in Pilger. lie was united in marriage Septem- 
ber 16,1891, to Aliss Aifie Miller, daughter of 
Levi Miller, who is president of the First 
National Bank of Stanton. 

Our subject and his wife are Jiiembers of the 
Congregational Church, and stand high in the 
community in which they live. 



JAMES W. MACKEY, County Judge of 
Stanton County, Nebraska, came to the 
county in July, 1882 ; but to acquaint the 
reader with his earlier career, it should be 
stated that he was born in Lewiston, Fulton 
County, Illinois, June 12, 18-16. Tlie family are 
of Scotch ancestry. The grandfather, James 
Mackey, emigrated to America and located in 
Pennsylvania. The father of our subject was 
born in the Keystone State, and when twelve 
years of age emigrated to Muskinghara County, 
Ohio, and settled near Zanesville, where he was 
married to Miss Abigal Long, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, was reared to farm life, but afterwards 
took to carpentering, which trade he followed 
for twenty-live 3'ears. In the forties he moved 
to Fulton County, Illinois, and in the autumn 
of 1855 emigrated to Keokuk County, Iowa, 
where he made a claim of two hundred and forty 
acres of land, which he improved and lived on 
until 1891, he passing from the scenes of this 
life in the month of May of that year. He was 
probably the first to establish their family name 
in this country. The father and mother of our 
subject were the parents of seven children : 
Cyrus H., who grew to manhood in Iowa, be- 
ginning life as a carjienter with his father, but 
read law at Sigourney, and was admitted to 
the Bar by Judge Hendershot in 1S5S, before 
he was of age. In 1862 he volunteered and was 
made Lieutenant Colonel of the Thirt3'-third 
Iowa Infantry, and on the promotion of Colonel 
Samuel Rice to the Generalship, was made 
Colonel of his regiment, and remained with 
them until they were mustered out, although 
his right arm was broken by a gunshot wound 
at the battle of Jenkins' Ferry, Aprils, 1864. 
He supported Lincoln for President both cam- 
paigns, but after the war he disagreed with the 
party and stood l)y Andrew Johnson. He re- 
presented his district as presidential elector in 
the Grant-Seymour campaign, and the Cleve- 
land-Blaine campaign, and was also a delegate 
to the Cincinnati convention, which nominated 
General Hancock, and was a member of the 
Eighteenth Iowa General Assembly, when it 



NOR THEA STERN NEBRA SKA. 



507 



contained but twelve Democi'atic members in 
the House. 

Of the remaining children in this family' the 
following are their whereabouts: Mary J., wife 
of Doctor Reed Cameron, of Union County. 
Ohio; Abigal A., wife of Rev. George Clam- 
mer, a Methodist minister of Iowa : James W. 
and Emily A. (twins), the former the subject of 
this notice, and the latter the wife of a farmer 
of Keokuk County, Iowa ; Zachariah T., en- 
gaged in gold and silver mining in Colorado; 
John M., a carpenter of Keokuk County, Iowa, 

The father was prominent in the Masonic or- 
der in Iowa, he being among the oldest Masons 
in the State, and was buried by their impressive 
ceremonies. His wife is still living in Iowa 
with one of her daughters, and is aged eighty- 
one years. She was reared a Cumberland 
Presbyterian, and still adheres to that faith. 

Judge Mackey, of whom we write, graduated 
at Indianola College in ISO", at the age of twen- 
ty-one years. In the summer of 1S62 he en- 
listed in the Forty seventh Iowa Volunteer In- 
fantrv, being a member of Company N, and 
was mustered in at Davenport, sent from there 
to Mem])his, Tennessee, and from thence to 
Helena, Arkansas, where he remained until he 
was discharged. While at Helena he was de- 
tailed in the Commissary office, and was 
there struck down with fever and chills, nearly 
losing his life. He was mustered out of service 
at Davenport, Iowa, September, I860. After 
regaining his health he worked on a farm for a 
time, and was married to Miss Amy C. Wilkin- 
\ son, daughter of H. M. and Mary J. Wilkinson, 
of Montezuma, Iowa. By this union there were 
two children born : Nellie and Pearl L. In 
1SS2 our subject moved to Nebraska and settled 
in Stanton County, where he has since resided. 

Politically, the Judge is liberal in his views, 
but in national matters is a supporter of the 
Democratic party. In the autumn of 1882 he 
was admitted to the Bar, under Judge Barnes, 
and in tiie autumn of 1887 was elected to the 
office of County Judge, and re-elected in 1889 
and 1891, and is now servingon his third term ; 



he stands high in the estimation of the people 
of the Elkhorn Valley, and is a member of 
Northern Light Lodge No. 139. of the Masonic 
order at Stanton. 



JOHN MoKINSEY, of Section 19, town- 
ship 23, Lincoln precinct, Stanton County, 
was born near Galesburg, Illinois, May, 
19, 1859. He is a son of James and 
Mary A. (Allen) ]\[cKinsey. The father is a 
native of Scotland, while the mother was born 
in Maryland. AVhen John was six years of 
age the familv moved to Madison Count}', 
Iowa, and in 1868 to Stanton County, Ne- 
braska. James A. McKinsey took a homestead 
on Section 18, township 23, which he sold 
about 1882, since which time he has lived in 
the village of Stanton. Our subject received 
but a small amount of schooling, and when 
nineteen years of age went to Denver, Colo- 
rado, and engaged as a freight teamster be- 
tween that city and Leadville. His duty was 
to drive twelve yoke of oxen, attached to a 
wagon-train. The distance was one hundred 
and forty miles. He usually camped out by 
the wayside at night. The following Septem- 
ber (1878) he went to Dead wood, Dakota, 
worked one month in the mines, and again en- 
gaged in freighting. This time he drove eight 
span of mules from Cheyenne, a distance of two 
hundred and fifty miles, with but few houses 
along the road. The following spring he return- 
ed to Stanton County and engaged in farming. 
In 1884 he bought two hundred and forty acres 
of land, paying seven dollars per acre. After 
breakmg up and otherwise improving this land 
he was enabled to dispose of it in the spring of 
1892, for twenty dollars per acre. He then 
bought his present farm of one hundred and 
ninety acres. For twelve seasons he operated 
a threshing machine. Thus it will be seen 
that but little of his time has ever been squan- 
dered. 

August 22, 1880, he was united in marriage 
to Mary, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth 



508 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Milligan. Mrs. McKinsey was l)orn at Man- 
chester, Iowa. B3'tliis union four children were 
born : EfRe, Jessie and Bessie (twins), and 
Harry. 

MRS. AMELIA KUnX, the widow of 
Robert Kuhn, whose fai'iu house is in 
Kingsburgli pi'ecinct, came to Stanton 
County in tlic spring of 1872 and settled with 
her husband on Section 17, he taking a home- 
stead of one hundred and sixty acres. He built 
a log-house, 14x20 feet, in which they lived six- 
teen years, when their present house was built. 
A grove of two acres and a small orchard 
graces the place. Eighty acres of the farm are 
under cultivation, and forty acres enclosed by 
a fence. Mr. Kuhn died in 1S8U. He was one 
of the pioneers of the Elkhorn Valley, and was 
compelled to do his trading in Omaha and Fre- 
mont, while West Point was their nearest mill. 
During the seventies the grasshoppers destroyed 
their entire crop for two years, depriving them 
of both seed and bread. 

Mr. Kuhn was born in Germany, May, 1832, 
and was one of a family of seven children. He 
came to this countrj' in I860, and the following 
year enlisted in the Union Array, from New 
York, and was in the service throughout the 
conflict, and was slightly wounded in the side. 

March, 1872, he married Amelia Luecke, 
daughter of Carl and Dorathy Leucke, natives 
of Germany, whose four children were: Louisa, 
John G., Charles and Amelia, all living in 
America. The parents both died in Germany. 
Our subject and her husband were blessed b}' 
the following children : Ellis, Max, Robert and 
Alma. 

JOHN KINGSLEY, a farmer residing on 
Section 21, township 24, of Stanton 
precinct, Stanton County, was born 
at Percy, Northumberland County, 
Quebec, December 25, 181C. In January, 1880, 
he came to Stanton Coimty, and bougiit his 
present farm, only sixty acres of which had 
been broken at the time. He now owns two 



hundred and fort\' acres, two hundred of which 
is under the plow. The farm is nearly all 
fenced and has a good class of improvements. 
He follows mixed farming and finds it the 
most profitable. 

Mr. Kingsley was united in marriage, March 
23, 1873, to Jane, daughter of Jane and 
Rebecca Barr, by whom eleven children have 
been born, seven still living: Paul, George, 
John, Delia J., Andy, Rebecca and Wilson. In 
politics he was formerly a Democrat, but now 
belongs to the People's Part\'. 

Our subject is the son of Paul and Margaret 
(Pickens) Kmgsley. The father is a native of 
France, who emigrated to Canada, about 1831, 
and is still a resident of Northumberland 
Count}^ His wife, Margaret Kingsley, was 
born in the Countj^ of Donegal, Ireland. She 
died when John was but three weeks old. 
Her children were : Paul, Ellen (Mrs. J. 
Adams) and John. The last named is the 
only one in the United States. After the 
death of our subject's mother, the father mar- 
ried Mary A. Irwin, by whom several children 
were born. He of whom we write this notice 
received but little schooling. When sixteen 
years of age, he left home, at first following 
farm labor, and afterwards engaged to work 
in the pineries, on the Gull river ; also at 
driving logs and working in saw mills. 

After his marriage he engaged in farming, 
in Petersborough County, Canada, until he 
came to Nebraska. 



ODOM HOOKER, of Union Creek pre- 
cinct, Stanton County, residing on 
Section 32, township 23, range 1, will 
form the subject of this notice. He was born 
in Indiana, March 12, 1845, and wlien five 
\'ears of age, liis parents removed to Iowa, 
where he stayed for twelve years and when seven- 
teen years of age enlisted in Company K 
Ninth Iowa \'olunteer Infantry, and serveil one 
year and one-half in the Union Army. Wium 
the warcloseil he was discharged, after having 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



been engaged in tlie battles of Atlanta and was 
with Sherman on his " March to the Sea," tak- 
ing part in many engagements in that cam- 
paign. After the close of the war, he went 
to Saunders County, Nebraska, and took a 
homestead, and engaged at hewing ties for the 
Union Pacific railroad com|)any. He lived on 
the homestead until 1S83, sold out for twelve 
liundred dollars and went to Stanton County, 
purchasing his present farm, which has good 
improvements, including house, barn and one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of plow land. 

Politically, Mr. Hooker affiliates with the 
Republican party. He takes much interest in 
educational affairs and has been a member of 
the school board. 

He was united in marriage in 1S72, to Sarah 
J. Chambers, to whom have been born seven 
children : Dayton (deceased), Ada L.. J. D., 
P>urt, Frank (deceased). Bertha and Fred (de- 
ceased). 

Mrs. Hooker is a native of Benton County, 
Iowa, born in 1855. Her parents were natives 
of Iowa and Ohio, and are now livini;- in Stan- 
ton County, Nebraska. 

Ihs parents were natives of Indiana. The 
mother is deceased, and the father is living in 
Missouri. 

WL. HOPKINS, of Section 5, Butterfiy 
prccinet, Stanton County, came from 
Indiana in 1SS7, worked one j'ear 
in a brick yard in Stanton, and rented 
tlie farm he now occupies. He was 
born in Indiana. April 3, 1853, and 
remained in the Iloosier State until he came to 
Nebraska. His father, Jacob Hopkins, was a 
native of Ceorgia, but moved to LKliana, settled 
and lived tiiere the remainder of his days. He 
married Syrene Scott; they reared a family of 
twelve children : Martha A., Myra, Geoi'ge, 
Francis, Jewell (deceased in the army) ; Eliza- 
beth, Ellen, W. L., our subject; Sophia, Charles, 
Catharine and Sarali J. (ileceased). 

Our subject was married in April, 1878, to 
Coi'a B. Rodgers, by which union seven children 



were born : Chauncy P., Clara A., Carrie E., 
Kittie E., Dollie O., Ida E. and Mary V. 

Mrs. Hopkins' parents were natives of New 
York and Pennsylvania and moved to Indiana 
at an early day. The father died in that State, 
and the mother is still living there. Their 
eight children were: Alice, Ann, Mollie, Oscar, 
Cora B., wife of our subject ; Millie, Eoxv, 
Bertha. 

Mr. Hopkins is a supporter of the Ke|)ublican 
party. 

HERMAN E. DIERS, of Section ll,Peb 
ble township. Dodge County, is a son 
of Ferdinand and Bertha Diers, born 
in Germany, December 22, 1859, and came to 
America in 1870. From New York they came 
direct to West Point, where the famil}* lived 
one 3'ear. His father located a homestead in 
(y'uming County, where he lived for six years, 
and then went to West Point and lived one 
year where he ran a hotel aiul livery barn, and 
then moved to a farm on Section 6, of Cuming 
township. 

Our subject, in 1879, enlisted in tlie Regular 
Army, where he remained for five years, and 
then came to his present place, where the vil- 
lage of Crowell now stands. He bought two 
hundred acres of the Elkliorn Town Lot and 
Land Company, and built the building he now 
lives in. It was originally built fur a hotel, and 
is still used for that purpose by him. He paid 
seventeen dollars per acre for the land, ])aying 
three thoii.sand dollars for the land and town 
site. 

He was married in Juno, 1881, to Anna 
Janesovsky. 

Our subject and his wife are members of the 
Lutheran Church, and he votes the Democratic 
ticket. 

Upon his farm there are one hundred acres 
under cultivation. At the village of Crowell 
our subject operates a general store, and also 
runs a livery business. He owns twenty head 
of horses, sixty cattle and one hundred iiead of 
hogs. 



510 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



DANIEL A. BOGGS, of Union township, 
whose farm is situated on Section 4, 
came to Dodge County in March, 
1877, and purchased eiglity acres on Section 
9, the same being railroad hind upon which 
there had been fifty acres of breaking done, a 
dugout and a framebuiidingtwelve feet square, 
erected tliere. The family lived in the dug- 
one year and then moved to the frame building 
and lived another year, when he bought the 
farm of one hundred and twenty acres upon 
which he now lives. This place had a fair frame 
house and twent\' acres of breaking. He 
built an addition to the house and subsequently 
built a barn, 28x48 feet. Ilis place now com- 
prises three hundred and twenty acres of land, 
which is, indeed, a good showing, when it is 
understood that the owner possessed but ninety 
dollars when he came to the county, and had a 
family of a wife and seven children to support. 
Mr. Boggs is a native of West Virginia, and 
was born in Greenbriar County, February 8, 
1838. His parents were Stephen and Jane 
(Reynolds) Boggs, both natives of the Old 
Dominion State. Our subject was only twelve 
3'ears of age, when he commenced to pilot his 
own craft. His father was a carpenter by 
trade, which provided, no work at home for his 
son. His first work was for a stage company 
at Charlottesville, A'irginia, with whom he was 
employed for nine years, after which he went 
to farming in Rockbridge County, continuing 
until he located in Nebraska, excepting the 
years of the Civil War, for he fought in 
defense of his native State. He enlisted in the 
Confederate Army, as a member of Company 
K Eleventh Virginia Infantry, on May 22, 
1861, and was loyal to the cause until the close 
of theWar. He was in the following engage- 
ments: Blackman's Ford,Virginia,July 18, 1861 ; 
Bull Run, July 21, 1861. He was detailed 
October 10, 1861, to the Quartermaster's 
department and hence was never in an engage- 
ment thereafter. Out of the hundred and 
four men who enlisted in his Company, only 
seven returned homo, unmaimed. 



Our subject was married in Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, July 28, 1859, to Miss Martha 
F. Black, daughter of J. L. and Cassie Moore 
Black, natives of Virgina, but now residents of 
Dodge County, Nebraska. Her father was 
born June 8, 1810, and the mother October 15, 
1815. They were the parents of nine children, 
all of whom are still living and the youngest, 
Charles M., is thirty -live years of age. They 
are the grandparents of thirty-four cliildren 
and only one of this number is deceased. 

!Mrs. Boggs was born in Rockbridge Count}', 
Virginia, Februar}' 5, 1843. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
nine children : Harry J., William II., Sadie 
A. (Mrs.Tyn), Walter A., Jesse G., Ella P., 
Lulu B., Cassie B. and Mattie J. 

Mr. and Mrs. Boggs are members of tiie 
Methodist Episcopal Church, he having been 
identified with this denomination since 
November 1, 1857. Seven of the children 
belonging to this denomination and one to tiie 
Presbyterian. Mr. Boggs is a member of the 
Masonic order having taken his first degree in 
1865. He is now a member of the Nortii Bend 
Lodge No. 119, A. F. &. A. M. 

Politically, he was always identified with the 
Democratic party until recently, but now 
su))i)orts the Independent party. 



ROBERT STUART HUME, a farmer of 
Section 27, Stanton precinct, Stanton 
County, is a native of Scotland, born at 
Strathmore, October 25, 1835. He is a son of 
John and Christina (Stuart) Hume, whose chil- 
dren were: William, Ellen (Mrs. J. Bruce), 
Peter, John and Robert. The last nametl is 
the only one of the family who ever came to 
America. His boyhood was spent in his native 
town, and when nineteen 3'ears of age he began 
to work as a slater, serving an apprenticeship of 
three years. In 1869 he came to America, and 
in September of tiie same year to Stanton 
County, Nebraska, and homesteaded his present 
farm. Four of his neijihbors located at the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



511 



same time. After having secured his land 
under the homestead act, he returned to Fre- 
mont and worked on the Union Pacific Raih'oad 
until the following spring, when he bought a 
yoke of oxen, and after a journey of eight days 
landed his family upon his homestead. lie 
had built a small cabin at Fremont, which he 
removed in the spring. As he had never been 
accustomed to farming, he did not make a very 
skillful teamster or plowman. However, he 
set to work with a right good will to build for 
himself and family a home. He now recalls 
with considerable amusement some of his first 
experiences as a husbandman. Witii the ex- 
ception of the grasshopper years he has been 
favored each recurring harvest time with an 
abundant yield from his soil. His j)resect])lace 
contains a quarter-section of land, all fenced 
and provided with good improvements. 



Jul\- 16, 1858, Mary A. Jamison, daughter of 
James and Margaret (Stuart) Jamison, became 
his wife. 

^Ir. and ^Irs. Hume are the parents of 
seven living children (three having died in 
childhood) : Margaret (Mrs. E. Dollan), James, 
Tlobert, Johanna, William, Alexander and 
Charles. 

Politically, he of whom we write votes the 
Independent ticket. He is a member of the 
Masonic fraternitv and is one of the trustees of 
the Old Settlers Association. 

Mr. Hume and his family endured much hard- 
ship and privation the first few years they lived 
in the county, but he is now one of the fore 
handed, prosperous agriculturists of the Elk- 
horn Valley. Besides his own farm he has 
been able to purchase several farms for his 
children. 







NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



518 



JAMES PAUL, whose farm home is situa- 
ted on section 31, Concord township, 
Dixcn County, Nebraska, dates iiis set- 
tlement from the spring of 1884. He first 
located on the farni which he now occupies, 
lie entered this land in 1870 and now posses- 
ses in Wayne, Cedar and Dixon Counties 
two thousand and seventy acres, five hundred 
and fifty acres of which are under the plow. 

Mr. Paul was born in County Antrim, Ire- 
land, January, 1825, son of John and Mar- 
garet Paul, also natives of the Emerald Isle. 
When twentj'-two years of age, James sailed 
for America, landing at New York, and from 
there went to Philadelphia, where he was 
engaged ten months in tlie weaving of ging- 
ham. We next find him near Boston running 
a truck farm, which he operated about two 
years. In 1850 he came to Davenport, Iowa, 
five months later returned to Philadelphia, 
and the following spring again found him in 
Boston. A few months later he again 
returned to Iowa and was engaged as sales- 
man in a lumber yard five years, after which 
lie went onto a farm and remained until com- 
ing to Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage in June, 1859, 
to Margaret Paul, daughter of James and 
Jane Paul. By this marriage union six chil- 
dren have been born. He and his wife are 
both acceptable members of the Presbyterian 
Church and in his political choice he is a 
Democrat. 

He was one of the organizers of the State 
Bank at Concord and is to-day its heaviest 
stockholder. He also has large interests in 
two banks in Wayne, the Citizens and First 
National. He is considered one of the 
wealthiest men in Dixon County. 

WILBUR F. 15RYANT, now a resident 
of llarlington. Cedar County, Ne- 
braska, has been a resident since 
September, 1876. He first located at Green 



Island, opposite Yankton, and conmienccd 
there as a school teacher. He was admitted 
to the Bar in Ajiril, 1877, and moved to St. 
Helena, where he commenced tlie practice of 
law, remaining seven years, and during this 
time was appointed County Attorney. After- 
ward was elected District Attorney, embrac- 
ing Dakota, Dixon, Cedar, Knox, Antelope, 
Pierce, Wayne, Thurston, Cuming, Stanton, 
Dodge, Boon, Nance, Greelpy, Valley, Whee- 
ler and Holt Counties. He held this office 
until abolished by the Legislature. He was 
County Judge of Cuming County one term. 
Post Master at St. Helena three years. 

He was born in Dolton, New Hampshire, 
March, 1851, son of George and Nancy M. 
Bryant, natives of Ireland and Vermont 
respectively. He was united in marriage 
October, 1881, to Katie Saunders. They 
have been blessed by a family of seven ihil- 
dren, six of whom are living and all in Ne- 
braska. 

Mr. Bryant has figured quite prominently 
in his profession throughout the State and 
County, as well as in the journalistic field. 
Elsewhere in this book will be found an 
article describing the horrible murder of the 
Wiseman children, whicli was written by him. 



JUDGE JESSE T. DAVIS one of the 
leading attorneys of Blair, Washington 
County, Nebraska, was born in Marion 
County, West Virginia, January 29, 1831. 
On his father's side of the family tree they 
were Welsh people and came from Wales in 
1700 ; they settled in Delaware. On his 
motiier's side they came from the Isle of 
Man and they also settled in Delaware. Sub- 
secjuently both families moved to West Vir- 
ginia and settled on the Monongahela River. 
Tiie great-grandfather, John W. Davis, was a 
soldier in the Revolutionary War. His 
grandfather John W. Davis of the same name. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



was a soldier in the War of 1812. His son 
Conrad C. Davis was born in 1800 in Dela- 
ware and when about one year of age went 
with his parents to West Virginia, where he 
grew to manhood and received his education 
at the Subscription schools. In 1820, he was 
united in marriage to Eliza M. Morgan, 
daughter of Joseph Morgan, who was a 
nephew of General Morgan, the great Indian 
warrior. They settled in West Virginia, 
where a family of eleven children were born ; 
Eunice A., (wife of Thomas A. Wilcox of 
West Virginia) ; Julia A., died at the age of 
forty-six years. Louisa A., married H. Z. 
Leonard, who is now Consul at London, 
Canada, his wife died at the age of fifty- 
three years. William C, of Marietta, Ohio, 
clerk in a bank ; Jesse T., the subject of this 
sketch : Silas M. died in St. Louis in 1854 
with cholera; Rachel, (wife of Rev. Joseph 
J. Tygart of Ohio) ; Josina, a resident of 
Blair, Nebraska; Eliza A., (wife of L. A. 
Wilcox of Blair, Nebraska) ; Felix R. of the 
same place and one who died in infancy. 

In 1870, Mr. Davis came to Blair where he 
died two years later, being seventy-two years 
of age. Mrs. Davis died at the same place 
aged eighty-six years. 

The Judge is a self-made man, never at- 
tending school but three weeks in his life. 
He learned the carpenter's trade and at the 
age of twenty-three years, left home and was 
engaged on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers 
as ship carpenter. February 14, 1854, he left 
West Virginia and came west and was on the 
old "Banner State" as ship carpenter and 
landed in Council Bluffs, April 7th, 1854, 
where he followed his trade. 

April 8, the same year, he came across the 
Missouri river where he worked on claim 
shanties for James Mitchell at Florence and 
Hadley S. Johnson on land which is now 
occupied for Fort Omaha. He then helped 



to erect the first building in Omaha. No- 
vember 14, 1854, he was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Julia A. McDonald, widow of David 
McDonald who died enroute to California in 
1852, near Fort Kearney. April 17, 1855, 
he moved to a farm near De Sola, where he 
lived one year and then moved into the 
village of De Sota, where he followed his 
trade. Having but a limited education (and 
quite so, for he could neither read or write) 
he commenced to study for himself and in 
1859, h*^ '^oo^ "P ^^ study of law and in the 
meantime worked at his trade. He was 
admitted to the Bar at the September term of 
court in 1863. At that time there were three 
judicial districts and he was appointed clerk 
of the third district. He was elected Probate 
Judge in 1863, and held the office four years. 
In the autumn of 1S66, he was elected the 
first State Senator of his district and hence 
was a member of the First State Legislature 
of Nebraska which located the state build- 
ings. He was the first coronor elected in 
Washington County and was considered one 
of the best constables of that day. In 1873, 
he was elected as county Judge, serving until 
1878. He was deputy United States assessor 
from 1867 to 1871, his district comprising all 
of the territory in the State north of the 
Platte River, except Sarpy and Douglas 
Counties. Politically, he is a Republican, 
casting his first vote for Winlield Scott, in 
1852, as a whig. 

Mr. and Mrs. Davis are the parents of two 
sons and two daughters; Addie, Hortense, 
Abe L. and Jay Fred. 

The Judge is a member of the Knight 
Templar degree of Masonry and Past Master 
of the Blue Lodge ; also first High Priest of 
the Chapter, and first Eminent Commander 
of the Commandry at Blair. He has been 
Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand 
Chajitcr of Neliraska. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



GEORGE H. BROOKS, of Bazile Mills, 
Nebraska, was born in Yorkshire, 
England, February 27, 1813, the son 
of Samuel and Sarah (Heaton) Brooks, who 
were the parents of ten children. In 1830, 
the family emigrated to America and settled 
in Norwich, Connecticut, were he was mar- 
ried to Miss Caroline Lucas, who was a 
native of England, and came to America 
when eleven years of age. By this union, 
there are three living children — Martha, 
widow of William Saunders : Sarah, wife of 
Saiiford Saunders ; George A. 

In early life Mr. Brooks affiliated with the 
Whig party, casting his first vote for William 
Henr}' Harrison. Both our subject and his 
wife are members of the Congregational 
Church. 



JOHN A. TROMMERSHAUSSER, one 
of the pioneers of Holt County, who 
took a homestead near Ewing in 1883, 
and also opened a law office will form the 
subject of this notice. 

He was born at Belvidere, Illinois, March 
3, 1854, his parents were John and Josephine 
(Myers) Trommershausser, the former a 
native of Bavaria, who came to America in 
1848, having been a participant in the 
German Rebellion and was formerly an 
attendant in the Royal Army. He came to 
Nebraska in 1868, and died in Otoe County, 
April 24, 1875. Mrs. Josephine Trommers- 
hausser now lives in Arkansas. John A. of 
whom we write this notice attended the 
public schools of Belvidere, Illinois, and ac- 
companied his parents to Nebraska, when 
fourteen years of age. He worked on the 
farm until twenty years of age, at home, after 
which he took his homestead as above related. 
Ewing at that time consisted of but three or 
four buildings. Our subject had read law at 
intervals, while farming and keeping school 
in Otoe County. He was admitted to the 



Bar, May 27, 1885, at Neligh and has con- 
tinued to practice ever since. In 1886, he 
engaged in the mercantile business, but sold 
out two years later. In January, 1892, he 
again purchased a stock of general merchan- 
dise, which business he is still carrying on. 
In June 1889, he bought the Deviocral,^\\\c\\ 
he is still publishing. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican. 
He was united in marriage October 31, 1874, 
to Emma F. Hoyt of Otoe County, Nebraska; 
she was born in St. Lawrence County, New 
York. Their three children are ; John New- 
ton, Josephine and Lena. Mr. Trommers- 
hausser is a member of the Masonic and 
Knights of Pythias Fraternities. 



DAVID W. ELLIOTT, a hardware 
dealer at Pierce, Nebraska, was born 
in Morgan County, Ohio, December 
7, 1849, of English descent. His grandfather 
Elliott was born in Devonshire, England, 
and followed the Seas for many years, and 
finally emigrated to Ohio and became a 
pioneer of that locality. The father of our 
subject, David Elliott, was born in Noble 
County, Ohio, in 1825. He grew to man- 
hood in that section and was united in 
marriage to Miss Pasthenia E. West, the 
daughter of Thomas and Sophia West of 
West Virginia. Four children blessed this 
union — David W. of whom w__e write this 
notice; Monroe N. died in 1889; Margaret, 
died in 1876; Annie, died in infancy. Our 
subject's father came to Iowa and died in 
1855, and his good wife succeeded in keep- 
ing the family together. She is at present 
living in Pierce, and is an acceptable mem- 
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

David W. was educated in the district 
schools. After the death of his father, his 
mother returned to Ohio, but in 1869, again 
returned to Iowa, where David remained 
until 1876, working at various places. In 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1881, he embarked in the mercantile business 
at Dedham, and was the first merchant of that 
place. In the spring of 1883, he came to 
Pierce County and engaged in the hardware 
and agriculture implement business. In 1881, 
he erected a brick building, two stories high, 
22x75 ft^et, costing four thousand five hun- 
dred dollars. He is a stock-holder in the 
Pierce County State Bank, and has other 
property interests. 

He was married in Pierce County, Febru- 
ary, 1885. Two children have blessed this 
union — Raymond H. born October 4, 1887, 
and Vera, born July 19, 1889. 

Politically, Mr. Elliott votes with the Re- 
publican party, but is in no sense an oflice 
seeker. He is an honorable member of the 
Masonic fraternity, and is at present Senior 
Warden of his lodge. He is a man of more 
than ordinar}- ability, and is so regarded by 
his fellow townsmen. 



THOMAS OSTERGARD, of the firm of 
Ostergard & Co., grain, lumber and 
coal dealers, Neuman Grove, was 
born May 9, 1S45, in the village of Norlh- 
Uttruge, Jutland, Denmark. His parents 
were Neils and Christance Ostergard, both 
of old Jutish descent. The subject of this 
sketch thinks his success in life can be traced 
direct to the practical training he received at 
home while yet a boy ; his father was an 
expert mechanic in all kinds of woodwork, 
also owner of the only grist mill in town (old 
style Dutch wind mill); also the largest farm 
and a brick yard. In one or the other of 
those places Thomas O. and his brothers 
were constantly kept at work, when not 
attending school, and thereby learned to do 
most any kind of work ; attended the common 
school at the age of fourteen, then had 
charge of his father's mills for three years. 

In 1862, he started out to see more of the 
world : hired out as cookboy on a merchant 
ship, sailed to Dautciz and Riga on the 



Baltic : in 1863, was advanced to sailor and 
spent the season on a trip past North Cape, 
in the land of the midnight sun, also in 
England and Scotlaod. In 1S64, was enrolled 
in the Danish navy, during the war that 
country had with Germania-Austria, was on 
board the flagship Zealand ; there had a battle 
with three Prussian ships off Greifswalde on 
the Baltic. • March 17, 1864, the Danish fleet 
was blocking all ports on the Prussian coast 
line during that summer. 

After the war he attended the Royal 
Danish Agricultural College, where his prin- 
ciple studies were chtmistry, geometrical 
drawings and ornamental gardening. In the 
year of 1866, he started out for a trip around 
the globe, with the intention of earning his 
way and living, and be back inside of four 
years. He landed in New York, November 
ist, and went direct to St. Joseph, Mo., the 
farthest west you could go with railroad at 
that time. His first work in America was in 
the shop of Louis Max, where he worked as 
cabinetmaker on job work, earning from 
three to five dollars per day. In the spring of 
1867, he went with the first steamer on the 
Missouri, to Omaha, where he worked as a 
carpenter on several buildings. In July of 
the same year he hired out to Uncle Sam as 
a mechanic, and was sent to Fort McPherson, 
eighteen miles from North Platte, which was 
then the lernimus of tiie I^Inion Pacific Rail- 
road. While at the Fort, the Indians made 
the raid on Plum Creek, also killed several 
woodchoppcrs west of the Fort. 

In October he received a check for three 
months work, $225, net earnings. He then 
made up his mind that no country could 
reward labor any better than this, and he 
gave up his globe-trotting idea and decided 
to settle in Nebraska ; located a homestead 
seven miles north of Fremont and went to 
work as a carpenter and builder in that town 
in the fall of 1867. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



His first work in Fremont was building a 
residence for Rev. Isaac Heaton, and for 
several years followed the trade of contractor 
and builder. In 1872 he planted several 
acres of small fruit trees, but the grasshoppers 
came and destroyed it all. 

In 1876 he built tiie Centennial Wind Mill, 
after the pattern of his father's mill in Den- 
mark. In 187S he consolidated with, and 
look the management of the Fremont Steam 
Flouring Mills. In 1881 he visited his old 
home in Denmark, returning the following 
spring, and shortly after took a trip to the 
mountains and Pacific coast; stopped several 
weeks in San Francisco, Victoria and Seattle, 
and four months in Portland, Oregon. Re- 
turning to Fremont in 1883, he entered into 
partnership with W. A. G. Cobb and G. W. 
E. porsey, as manager of tiieir lumber and 
grain business. In 1887, when the Scribner- 
Oakdale Railroad was built he located in 
Neuman Grove, where he is doing a prosper- 
ous business. 

Our subject was married in 1S74, '^'^ ^''^' 
mont, to Miss Cena Andersen, a native of 
Denmark, who has ever since been his con- 
stant companion on all his travels. 

Politically, he has always been with the 
Republican part}^ .has never aspired to office, 
but was elected councilman for five sxic- 
cessive terms from the Second Ward in F"re- 
inont. At the present time he is chairman of 
the town board of Neuman Grove. He is 
also the only active member remaining of 
Fire Engine Company No. i, organized 
February 17, 1872, in Fremont, as Neuman 
Grove now owns the old Fremont engine. He 
was foreman of that company for several 
years in Fremont. 

Mr. Ostergard considers himself a crank 
on flowers and tree planting, to which state- 
ment his Fremont friends will testify, and he 
is now the happy owner of what many con- 
sider the finest natural park in this or any 



other State, adjoining Neuman Grove on 
Shell Creek ; his object in purchasing the 
same was to preserve it from destruction, for 
the pleasure of himself and others yet to 
come. As a citizen of Neuman Grove he has 
done his share in assisting all public enter- 
prises. He organized the Opera House Co., 
and built the house which is known to be the 
best in Northern Nebraska. He has also 
furnished plans lor school houses, churches 
and all the better buildings in that wide- 
awake town. 



GARRETT HENRY BENSON of the 
firm of Benson & Roll of the village 
of Ewing, was born at Hoboken City, 
New Jersey, June 7, 1848. His parents were 
Garrett and Sophia (Ackerman) Benson, the 
former a native of New Jersey and his 
parents were born in England, their names 
were John and Maria (Connell)') Benson. 
Mrs. Sophia Benson was also a native of New 
Jersey, her father was of Holland descent, 
while on her mother's side, they were French 
and Hollanders. When Garrett was seven 
years of age, the family removed to New- 
bridge, New Jersey, where he lived on a 
farm and attended Hackensack High School. 
At sixteen years of age, he left school and 
moved with his parents to Martinsburg, 
Virginia, lie remained on the farm with his 
parents until their death — the mother passing 
away in 1872, and the father in 1878. In 
May, 1883, he came to Bennett, Lancaster 
Count}', Nebraska, and the following year 
found him in Holt County, where he leased a 
farm of six hundred and forty acres of 
University Land which he still holds. It is 
located in section 12, township 26, range 10 
of Ewing township. He now has one hun- 
dred acres under cultivation, good buildings, 
g'oves, etc. Jn the spring of 1890, he 
removed to the village and carried on a 
General Collection Agency, which he began 



518 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



a year or two previous. Since 1891,- he has 
also been engaged in real estate business, the 
firm name being Benson & Roll. He has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace for the 
past seven years. 

Our subject was married January 31, 1883, 
to Lottie B, daughter of Joseph and Margaret 
Parkin, of Hoboken City, New Jersey, who 
were natives of England. Their children are 
Garrett H. Jr., Edward R. and Raymond A. 

Mr. Benson belongs to the Masonic Order 
A. F. & A. M., Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. 



HUBBARD FOWLER VAIL, of Elgin, 
Nebraska, was born at Schodack, Van 
Ransaler County, New York, January 
13, 1842. His parents were John D. and 
Antoinette B. (Fowler) Vail. The father 
was born in Duchess County, New York, and 
was remotely of English decent. His great- 
grandfather settled in Duchess County as one 
of its pioneers. John D. now lives in 
Chicago. The Fowlers are of German 
descent, but several generations have lived in 
this country. 

When our subject was eight years of age, 
the family moved to Fairbury, Livingston 
County, Illinois, where his father engaged in 
the mercantile business. Fowler received 
but little schooling until he had reached man- 
hood. August 14, 1861, at the commence- 
mentof the Civil War, he enlisted in Company 
E, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, Illinois 
Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to the 
army of the Cumberland. He did guard 
duty along the railroad, between Louisville 
and Nashville and was engaged in several 
skirmishes. About one month he was in 
hospital "No. 4" at Frankfort, Kentucky, 
and was afterwards made steward of the 
same hospital. He was discharged June 11, 
1864, and returned to Fairbur}-, Illinois, and 
there engaged in farming. From 1877 to 



1879, he farmed near Stevens Point, Wis- 
consin. During the last named year, he 
removed to Nebraska and took a homestead 
near Mentorville, Antelope County, where he 
now owns four hundred and eighty acres. 
In August, 1891, he moved into the village of 
Elgin where he has since resided. 

Politically, he is a supporter of the 
Republican party. Through his influence, 
a cliain of post-offices were established from 
Neligh to Willow Springs and he was ap- 
pointed the first postmaster at Mentorville in 
1883, holding the same seven years. He has 
been postmaster at Elgin since October i, 
1891. He has also served as County Super- 
visor for four 3'ears and held numerous 
offices. 

He was united in marriage April 15, 1874, 
to Miss Addie E., daughter of Paleman and 
Olive M. Jones, of Buena Vista, Wisconsin. 
She was born at Macliias, Cataraugus Coun- 
ty, New York. A daughter, Nellie A. came 
to bless their home ; born December 29, 
1881. Mrs. Vail is an acceptable member of 
tlie Congregational Church. 

Mr. Vail started in this count}- witiiout 
capital, but is now one of the most prosperous 
and higlil}' respected citizens. In the winter 
1880 and 1881, as many well remember, snow 
was very deep throughout the West and for 
some time roads were impassable. Mrs. Vail 
was very sick at the time, and after using up 
all the available fuel, Mr. Vail with a neigh- 
bor walked to Oakdale, twenty miles, througli 
the snow, nnd upon arriving there, the rail- 
road agent told him he was not allowed to 
sell any coal, but said he, after learning the 
circumstances: "I have got to go up town 
and there is the coal" (pointing to the shed). 
On the way home, Mr. Vail became snow- 
blind and had to he guided to his house by 
his companion. 

The same season, a neighbor's wife died 
and Mr. \'ail helped her husband to build a 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



rude cotlln and bury her, as no one else 
could reach the place. These incidents will 
serve to give the reader a faint idea of the 
hardships encountered by pioneers in this 
portion of the West. 



CAPT. HENRY S. BECK, president of 
the First National Bank at Pierce, 
Nebraska, was born in Lancaster, 
Ohio, April 12, 1837, and is of German 
descent. His grandfather emigrated to 
America in 1808. His father, Jacob Beck 
was born in Germany in 1804, and when four 
years of age came to the United States with 
his parents, who settled in Lancaster at 
a time when it was little less than a wilder- 
ness ; there he grew up among the few sett- 
lers, surrounded by the manj^ Indians who 
then had possession of the country. What 
education he received was obtained at private 
schools. He was united in marriage at Lan- 
caster, to Miss Susan Kerns, a native of 
Pennsylvania. By this union seven children 
were born — Mary, wife of Z. Peters, living 
on a farm near Lancaster, Ohio ; George W., 
a farmer; Jacob K., a farmer of Ohio ; H. S., 
the subject of this sketch ; Rev. James, a 
minister at Columbus, Ohio ; Dr. John S., a 
prominent physician of Dayton, Ohio, who 
served in the Rebellion as a member of the 
Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; he was 
mustered out as Quarter-master's Sergeant; 
Clara, wife of William Hughs, a farmer of 
Ohio. 

'i"he father of these children was identified 
with the Whig party, but was opposed to the 
extension of slavery in the territories. He 
was elected treasurer of his count}' and 
served six years. Mrs. Beck died in 1884 ; 
she was a sincere Christian, a devout mem- 
ber of the Lutheran Church, and highly 
respected by all who came in contact with 
her. 



Captain H. S. Beck was educated in the 
district schools of the Bucke3'e State, work- 
ing on the farm summers and attending 
school during the winter. He remained at 
home on the farm until the breaking out of 
the Civil War, and at the first call of Abraham 
Lincoln for "three-hundred thousand men," 
in November, 1861, he enlisted as a member 
of Company "I," Forty-third Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry. He was sent to the front at New 
Madrid and was under General Pope, and 
was at Pittsburg Landing. On October 4th 
he was at Corinth, where the regiment lost 
Col J. L. Kirby Smith and one hundred men. 
He also took part in the battle of luka, and 
then went to Memphis and was there stationed 
for a time while the siege of Vicksburg was 
going on. He was then sent to Tennessee, 
where a large portion of the regiment veteran- 
ized. After a thirty day's furlough, our sub- 
ject joined his command at Decatur, Alabama, 
and participated in the siege and capture of 
Atlanta, which consumed forty-six days of an 
engagement. He was also with General 
William T. Sherman on his famous "March 
to the Sea." During this time he was com- 
missioned as Captain at Goldsboro, North 
Carolina, and was present at the surrender of 
Johnson to General Sherman. He also had 
the honor of taking part in that grandest of 
all military pagents — the Grand Review at 
Washington, June i, 1865, a like scene 
which will never again be presented on the 
face of the earth. Our subject was mustered 
out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, July, 
1865, after wliich he returned to Columbus, 
Ohio. 

He was united in marriage in 1868, to Miss 
Julia Wilson, the daughter of Robert Wilson 
and wife, of Lancaster, Ohio. Mrs. Beck 
died in 1876, leaving one daughter, Nettie, 
wife of W. A. Spencer, cashier of the Pierce 
State Bank. In 1879 Captain Beck came to 
Lincoln, whore he engaged in mercantile 



520 



NOR THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



business. In 1882 he came to Pierce, where 
he has since been en{^aged in banking. 
Pohtically, he is a sujiporter of the Republi- 
can party, and has served as a delegate to 
the State convention. 



HARLAN M.STOCKWELL, of Clear- 
water, Nebraska, was born at Nelson, 
Ohio, January 28, 1858. His parents 
were L. Carlton and Charlotte (Hopkins) 
Stockwell, the former a native of Vermont 
and the latter of Ohio. 

Harlan spent his youthful days in his 
native town and attended the Toledo High 
school. At nineteen, he began teaching and 
afterwards followed clerking in a store and 
came to Nebraska in 1886 locating at Clear- 
water the following year. He taught school 
several terms and June i, 1889, purchased 
the Message which he has since published. 
In the spring of 1892 he bought a hardware 
and furniture store which he also carries on. 

Politically, he of whom we write this notice 
is a Republican. He has held numerous 
local otlices, including that of Justice of the 
Peace. He was a candidate for County 
Superintendent of schools, in Antelope Coun- 
ty in 1891. 

June 26, 1889, he was united in nianiage 
to Lillie E. daughter of J. H. Chase of 
Evving, Nebraska. Our subject is an honored 
member of the Odd Fellows and Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. 



C* AMUEL C. FAIRCHILD, of Oakdale, 
^^J Nebraska, was born at Mount Pleas- 
ant, Brant County, Ontario, Februarj' 
12, 1842. His parents were Samuel Wilmot 
(Ogden) Fairchild, who are of English de- 
scent. Our subject's grandfather, Fairchild, 
was a United States Captain in the war of 
1812, being a resident of New York at the 
time. Mrs. Wilmot Fairchild was born near 
Schenectady, New ^'ork, and was also of 
English descent. 



When Samuel C. was twelve years of age, 
the family removed to Lee count}-, Illinois, 
where the father died in 1884. The mother 
still ie.>iides there. Samuel C. attended pri- 
vate and public schools and obtained a good 
education. April 21, 1861, just after Fort 
Sumter had been fired upon by the rebels, he 
enlisted in Company C, Thirteenth Illinois 
Infantry, under Col. John B. Wyman. Our 
subject participated in the following engage- 
ments : Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, 
the assault and siege of \'isksburg, Tuscum- 
bia. Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, 
Ringold Gap. The records of his company 
also show that he was twice slightlj' wounded 
at Chickasaw Bayou. At Ringold Gap he 
received a serious wound which kept him in 
the hospital four months. He was discharged 
June 8, 1864, and October 5, of the same 
year, re-enlisted in Battery I, First Illinois 
Artiller}-. His final discharge bears date 
July 26, 1865, when he returned to Lee 
county, Illinois, and took up the peaceful 
calling of a farmer. In 1876 he went to 
Swan Lake, Turner count}', Dakota, where 
he again tilled the soil In 1880 he came to 
Oakdale, Nebraska, and purchased his pres- 
ent farm on section 7, township 28, range 5, 
where he now owns three hundred and sixt}- 
eight acres, two hundred of which is under 
cultivation. 

Politically, he of whom we write is in full 
sympathy with the People's party, and is 
State lecturer for the Farmer's yMliance of 
Nebraska. He has been identified with the 
Alliance movement from its organization and 
has addressed public meetings throughout 
the state in the interest of political reform. 

He was united in marriage March 3, 1867, 
to Anna M., daughter of William and Mary 
(Ross) Atkinson, of Melugin Grove, Illinois, 
her parents being the founders of that place. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
the following children : Mary, now Mrs. R. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



521 



Smithwick; Cora, now Mrs. J. F. Bowers; 
Jennie L., Hattie, Jesse L., Josephine, 
Daniel and Beatrice: one died in infancy. 
The family are members of the Metliodist 
Episcopal Church. Mr. Fairchild is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic and Grand Army Orders. 
He has always taken an active interest in 
public enterprise and improvements. 

On his farm is a fine natural grove, border- 
ing on the Elkhorn River, the free use of 
which he extends to the community for picnics 
and camp-meetings, and for several years it 
has been the popular resort for the people of 
the district and ministers of the church. 



WILLIAM CRATTY, of Elgin, Ne- 
braska, was born in Delaware Coun- 
ty, Ohio, June 26, 1826. His par- 
ents were James and Christina (Carr) Cratty, 
the former was born in Washington county, 
Pennsylvania, and his father, William Cratty, 
was of Irish descent, the family originally 
coming from Cork. Mrs. Christina Cratty 
was born near Petersburg, Virginia; her par- 
ents were natives of Germany. 

Our subject lived on a farm until fourteen 
years of age, when his father died. Soon 
after he left home and went to Marysville, 
Ohio, where he worked in a tannery for two 
years. This not agreeing with his health, he 
went to Milford Centre, Ohio, and learned 
the carpenters trade, which he followed for 
many vears. In 1855 he went to Indianapo- 
lis, Iowa, and worked at his trade until Au- 
gust, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, 
Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry- He 
took part in the skirmish at Shell Mound and 
was in the commissary department at Helena, 
Arkansas, two years, receiving an honorable 
discharge January 1865, having been in the 
general hospital the last three months. His 
comrads took care of him some time before 
he went to the hospital ; his weight was re- 
duced in si.\ months, from 205 to 130 pounds. 



After the war closed, he followed his trade 
and farmed. Two years later he moved to 
Oskaloosa, from which place he traveled for 
six 3'ears for a marble firm, coming to Ante- 
lope County, Nebraska, in 1884. He took a 
homestead near the present village of Elgin, 
which property he still owns. In the spring 
of 1889 ^^'^ removed to the village and opened 
the first hardware store there, and sold the 
same after a few months. Since 1891 he has 
dealt in agricultural implements, and also has 
an interest in a grocery store. 

Politically, our subject is in sympathy with 
the People's party. He has been a member 
of the Board of Supervisors for three j-ears. 
and is at present Town Treasurer. 

Mr. Cratty was united in marriage Janu- 
ary 20, 1852, to Mary Hunter; the following 
are their children: Loretta. (Mrs. D. II. 
Woomer) ; James, Alice, (.Mrs. J. T. Trotter) : 
William, Ella, (Mrs. L. Goodrich), and 
Charles. Mrs. Mary Cratty died November 
30, 1879, '^"'^ ^°'' ^^^ second wife our subject 
married, on December 24, 1885, Mrs. Eme- 
line Spangle, of Antelope county, Nebraska. 



JUDGE PETER HAMMANG, Judge of 
the Probate Court, in and for Washing- 
ton County, Nebraska, was born in De- 
troit, Michigan, September 11, 1839. ^^^ '^ 
the son of Christopher Hammang, who was 
born in Loraine, France, near Germany, No- 
vember 4. 1800. Christopher was a thorough 
scholar, being educated in German, Latin and 
French. In about 1828 he emigrated to the 
United States and located at Detroit, Michi- 
gan, which was then a Territory. He was 
united in marriage in 1834, '° Miss Mary 
Margaret Whittaker, a nati\e of Switzerland, 
born about 1816. There Mr. Hammang en- 
gaged in the mercantile business and farming, 
and in 1844 moved to Walworth Count\', Wis- 
consin, where he enifa<>ed in farming uiit 1 



522 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1850. When the gold excitement came on in 
the West he went to CaHfornia, overland 
with ox teams. Out of the seven men who 
started out together, only three arrived at 
their destination. lie engaged in Placer 
mining with fair success ; he returned to 
Wisconsin in the fall of 1853, and in the win- 
ter of 1S54 started with teams, over a wild 
and desolate country, for St. Paul, Minne- 
sota. He followed the hotel business at that 
point for two years, then sold out and took a 
claim in Dakota county, where he entered a 
quarter section of land and there made for 
himself a home. Mis nearest neighbors lived 
eight miles away, and St. Paul was tlieir 
trading point. This was what is known as 
the "cold winter" all over the country, and 
the subject of this sketch went with an ox 
team to St. Paul, when the mercury regis- 
tered forty degrees below zero. 

His parents had ten children, six of whom 
lived to be adults — Jacob B., who went to 
California in 1854, and has never been heard 
of but once ; Peter, the subject of this sketch ; 
Sarah, wife of John Fishback on the old 
homestead in Northfield, Minnesota; Joseph, 
a farmer in Washington County, Nebraska; 
John, a traveling salesman and mechanical 
expert for the Walter A. Wood Reaping Ma- 
chinery of Omaha; Anthony C, of North- 
field, Minnesota, who is a blacksmith by 
trade. 

Mrs. Hammang died near Norllilicld, Min- 
nesota, in September, 1872, after which our 
subject's father settled up the business and 
Joseph became owner of the old liome. In 
1873 he sold the place to liis brotlier-in-law, 
who still retains it. Mr. Hammang came to 
Washington County, Nebraska, wliere he 
died October 11, 1880. Politi ally, he was 
a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, 
though not a politician, he could have been 
nominated for Secretary of State of Wisconsin. 



Judge Hammang (the subject proper of this 
notice) is a self-educated man, coming to 
Wisconsin when a Territory and when school 
facilities were the same as in all new coun- 
tries. He attended school at St. Paul for 
eighteen months, when his father moved to 
his farm near Northfield, another wild, un- 
settled county. He has been educated by 
close application, observation and experience. 
In 1864 he started for California in search of 
his brother, and got as fiir as Fort Kearney, 
Nebraska, but on account of the Indian trou- 
bles the expedition was abandoned at O. P. 
Clark's place. He, with five others rigged 
up teams with the iatention of going through, 
but the Indians were too hostile for them to 
attempt it. They met the parties who had 
buried the slaughtered Whites at Plum Creek. 
On a vote of the party it was decided not to 
go through, three voting to return and two to 
go on. Our subject returned to Elkhorn 
City, Douglas Count)', Nebraska, and the 
following week hired out to O. P. Halford, 
who had a hay contract at Cotton Wood 
Springs. He remained there until November 
20, and then went to Elkhorn City where he 
spent the winter. The following spring he 
intended to go to California, but his means 
being ijuite limited, he gave the trip up and 
engaged at farming for one Thomas Boyer, 
who furnished him a team to put in thirty 
acres of corn. In July he went to Omalia 
and hired to Ruben Wood to drive mules 
across the plains, freighting. He made two 
trips — one to Cotton Wood and one to Jules- 
burg. November ist he gathered corn and 
liired out to J. P. Black as foreman of iiis 
mule teams, employed in iiauling ties for the 
Union Pacific Railroad, tiien in course of 
construction. Tlu. nuxt spring he purchased 
a team and commenced teaming across the 
plains. Tiiat fall he purchased a threshing 
machine and came to Washington County, 
Nehra.'^ka, where he has since resided. 



NORTHEASTER^ NEBtiASKA. 



523 



February 5, 1868, he married Miss Orrella 
M. Earls, a native of Beaver Dam, Wis- 
consin. In the fall of the same year, he 
purchased a farm of his own, upon which he 
remained until 1S74, when he purchased a lot 
and built a residence at Arlington. In 1S77, 
(luring the Black Hills excitement he went to 
that section, and was there for the two follow- 
ing seasons, but finally sold out his interest. 
In 1S82, he started a brick yard at Arlington, 
and in 1889 purchased a hardware business 
and continued to operate it until 1890, when 
it was burned. 

Pohtically, our subject is a 'Democrat and 
in 1889 was elected in a county of over four 
hundred Republican majority, b}' a majority 
of two hundred and forty, to the oflice of 
Probate Judge and was re-elected in 1891. 

Our subject and his wife are the parents 
of four children, two of whom are living; 
John C, clerk in the County Judge's oflice 
and Arthur E. 

Mr. Ilammangisa man of more than ordi- 
nary abilit}- and has had the advantage of good 
training in ihe school of experience. He is a 
charter member of Hiram Lodge No. 52 of 
the Masonic Order at ArHngton, was Master 
for three years and been a representative at 
the Grand Lodge. 



RUFUS A. TAWNEY, county clerk and 
ex-officio clerk of the District Court, 
and Recorder of Pierce County, Ne- 
braska, was born near Gettysburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, March 5th, 1853. Cn the father's 
side the family was of Scotch, Irish and 
German descent, while on the mother's they 
were of German. His great-grandfather, 
John Tawney, moved from Maryland to a 
point near Gettysburg in 1775, where he 
raised a family of thirteen children, the 
youngest Abraham Tawney, grandfather of 
our subject was married in the year 181 2, 
to Marj' Hornberger, whose father John 



Hornberger, moved from Northampton Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, to a farm three and one- 
half miles south east of Gettysburg in the 
year 1777, upon which farm the subject of 
this notice was born. The title of the place 
remained in the family until 1877, when his 
father John E., removed to Saunders County, 
Nebraska. The grandparents reared three 
children, John E , father of our subject; 
Catherine who married George W. Lightner, 
who settled at Duncannon, Pennsylvania; 
Rev. Daniel A. Tawney of St. Paul, Minne- 
sota. Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Tawney were 
both buried by the side of our subject's 
great grandparents, in the "White Church"' 
burying grounds, located on the Baltimore 
Pike, four miles from Gettysburg. 

John E., our subject's father, was born 
near Gettysburg in 1833, and there grew to 
manhood, receiving the advantages of the 
district schools common to that da}'. He 
married Sarah Boblitz in 185 1. By this 
union six children were born — Rufus A., the 
subject of this notice; James A., an attorney 
of Winona, Minnesota, who was elected in 
1892 to Congress on the Republican ticket; 
Mary E., who married Charles Bullard, and 
died at Fremont, Nebraska, in 1S81 ; Daniel 
E.,an attorney of Winona, Minnesota: Sarah 
B., the widow of Albert Robson, of New 
York City, an elocutionist who graduated at 
Moses True Brown's School of Oratory, 
Boston ; Emma, wife of Charles Meservey of 
Rushville, Nebraska. 

Our subject's mother died in Pennsjlvania 
in 1866, after which the father married Ann 
McKellip by whom eight children were born, 
seven of whom still survive — William, Ella, a 
stenographer at Rushville; Adell, John, 
Charles, Otto, (deceased), Oliver and Paul. 

John E., our subject's father, was a Free- 
soiler, and upon the organization of the 
Republican part}-, he espoused that cause, 



524 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



being opposed to the extension of Slavery 
into the Territories. 

At tlie time of tlie Civil War, he enlisted in 
the One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Volunteer 
Infantr}', servin<; one year, and was mustered 
out as Orderly Sergeant of his company. He 
was a moral man and strictly temperate, 
never having used a profane word, it is said. 
By trade he was a blacksmith. 

Rufus A., the subject projier of this notice, 
received his education at the district schools, 
and a partial course at Littlestown acadeni}'. 
After leaving the school, at tlie age of 
thirteen years, he went to work in a general 
store, where he remained three years, after 
which he connected himself with a dry goods 
house in Philadelphia. After one year his 
liealth failed when he returned home and 
worked upon the farm one j'ear. We next 
lind him at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, em- 
ployed in the saw mill of John Du Bois, who 
sent him to the west side of the Allegheny 
mountains on a large lumber tract, giving him 
full charge of the work. In 1878, when his 
father came to Nebraska, he accompanied 
him; but prior to his coming West, and in 
the month of April, 1878, he was united in 
marriage to Miss Edna B. Store}', of Brooks- 
ville, Pennsylvania. Upon coming to Ne- 
raska he rented a farm in Saunders countj' 
for two years. In 1879 he located a timber 
claim in, and in 1881, he removed to Pierce 
county and claimed a homestead, wl ich he 
developed; also, a timber claim. He has 
added to his land until he has six liundred 
acres — two liundred and sixty acres of which 
is under cultivation, and two hundred and 
ten acres of the balance surrounded by good 
fence. In 1883 he was elected as one of the 
county commissioners and served for three 
j'ears. He was appointed deputy county 
clerk in 1888, serving two )cars, and in the 
autumn of 1891, elected to the olhce of 
county clerk, whicii position he still holds. 



Mr. and Mrs. Tawne}' are the parents of 
five children, born in the following order: 
Kate, December 25, 1879; Mary E.,May 13, 
1882; Ruth A., March 16, 1886; Willma. 
March i, 1889 and Agnes, January 7, 1893. 

Our subject is a member of Evergreen 
Lodge, No. 153, of the A. F. and A. M., 
also of Pierce Lodge, No. 40, of Knights of 
Pythias, and belongs to the Farmers' Alliance 
Organization. 



JOHN CARBERRY, of Atkinson, Holt 
County, Nebraska, will form the subject 
of this notice, as his interests have 
been identical with those of the county 
since 1876. 

Mr. Carberr3''s parents, Thomas and 
Bridget (Kallen) Carberry, were natives of 
Dublin, Ireland. While John was yet a 
small bo}', the family removed to Edinburgh, 
Scotland. His father dealt extensively in 
cattle, and as soon as old enough, our subject 
assisted him and finally carried on the busi- 
ness. His educational advantages were 
limited. At seventeen years of age, he 
learned the trade of a glass-blower at Leet. 
Later on he bought the "Baltic Hotel" at 
that place, and conducted it for several years. 
In 1867, he came to America, having joined 
the "Fenians," he was obhged to leave the 
kingdom. The next year he located near 
Hastings, New York, where he became a 
street paving contractor. The next year he 
was at Salem, Harrison County, Ohio, where 
he farmed and dealt in live slock. In 1876, 
he came with General O'Neill's expedition to 
Holt County, Nebraska. He located at Atkin- 
son and pre-empted the town and also took a 
tree claim near the town. He was the third 
settler in that locality. The following j-ear, 
he homesteaded the present site of Stuart and 
removed his family to that point. He platted 
the original site of Stuart. In 1878, he built 
a log house, broke about twenty acres of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



525 



laiul arul made other improvements. Upon 
coining to the country he brought a heard of 
cattle with him, and a band of Indians, under 
"Hhick Crow" and "Turning Bear"' passed 
liy. and sliot one of his cattle, which the}' 
wanted for food ; aside from this, the}' never 
made him any trouble. However the Sioux 
and Pawnees had several battles within 
few miles of him. He owned four hun- 
dred and eighty acres at one time, but subse- 
quently sold off a portion of it. He holds 
eijuities in about three thousand acres in 
Holt, Brown, Rock, and Keya Paha Counties. 
He is now breeding thoroughbred Polled 
Angus cattle and Clydesdale horses. At one 
time he owned the Stuart Roller Mills. 

Politically, he of whom we write is a sup- 
porter of the Democratic party, and takes an 
active part in politics, he having been a 
Gladstonian Democrat in the Old Country. 
He has always declined to hold public, 
elective oflice in this countr\-, but served as 
the first postmaster at Atkinson : also at 
Stuart. The last named oflice was named in 
honor of his father-in-law, Peter Stuart : the 
same was established April 4, iSSo. 

Mr. Carberry was imited in marriage. May 
18, 1863, to Mary Stuart, a native of Aber- 
deen, Scotland. By this union eleven children 
were born: — Helen, (deceased); Peter C. 
(now of Chicago) ; Thomas S.; Minnie, (now 
Mrs. A. D. McNulty); Maggie J.; Lizzie, 
(deceased); Theresa, who was the first child 
born at Atkinson; Anna, first child born at 
Stuart; Agnes, John J. and Charles C. The 
family are members of the Roman Catholic 
Church, ihe father being a member of the 
Clan-Na-Gal Hibernians, in Scotland. 

On his first trip to Nebraska, Mr. Car- 
berry accompanied the Ciordon expedition, 
which was enroute for the Black Hills. He 
only came as far as Stuatt, however. The 
exjiedition was captured and destroyed b}' 
the United States troops, before reaching the 



Hills. For several years his ranch was a 
hotel, or stopping-place for travelers passing 
to and from the Black Hills. Among his 
guests were horse thieves, desperadoes, etc. 
From time to time he had horses stolen from 
him, numbering in all fourteen head. The 
cattle and horse thieves having heard that he 
was coming for their capture (in the name of 
the United States government), decided to 
kill him, but were not successful in their 
attempt. The gang were killed by the 
Indians shortly afterwards. Many of the 
detectives employed by the government were 
of little better character, and between both 
classes Mr. Carberry experienced some very 
exciting adventures. Many tettlers were 
murdered during those days, and about the 
only law known, was the one executed by 
"Vigilantes," man}' of whom were them- 
selves outlaws and fugitives from justice. 
On one occasion a band of outlaws attempted 
to take the town of Stuart, but were thwarted 
in their plans by the loyal citizens of the 
place. Our subject has seen pioneer life in 
all of its phases. 



MARTIN N. VANZANDT, of Ewing, 
Nebraska, was born at Blawenburg, 
Somerset County, New Jersey, 
August 14, 1852. His parents were James 
and Catherine (Nevious) Vanzandt, the for- 
mer was a native of Blawenburg, (where he 
still lives), and was the grandson of Benardus 
Vanzandt, who came from Germany about 
1780. His son, John, was grandfather of our 
subject. Mrs. Catherine Vanzandt was also 
a native of the same place. Our subject 
attended the public school in his native town 
and later at the Seminary at Ilightstown and 
Clavrick High School, in New York. When 
twenty-four years of age, he began farm life 
at Hopewell, New Jersey, and 1884, came 
to Ewing, Nebraska, establishing the Bank 
of Ewing, conducted by Cortelyon Ege and 



NORTHEASTERtf NEBRASKA. 



Mr. Vanzandt until May 2, 1892, when it was 
reorganized as a State Banl<, our subject 
becoming its President. 

Politically, Mr. \'anzandt is a Re|niblican, 
and takes much interest in all public affairs. 
He was united in marriage, October 10, 1876, 
to Mariana, daughter of Andrew Ege, of 
Hopewell, New Jersey. Their four children 
are, Claude, Dora, Ege and Herbert. Mr. 
and Mrs. Vanzandt are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is one 
of the prominent business men, and highly 
respected citizens of Holt County. 



FRED THORNTON, a contractor and 
builder, residing at Neligh, Nebraska, 
was born at Quebec, Canada, Ajiril 26, 
i860. His parents were Bowler and Hannah 
(Blackliurn) Thornton. The former died at 
Rockford, Illinois, in 1S74 ; Mrs. Thornton 
still resides there. In 1845, the family came 
to America, from Hull, England, and first 
settled at Quebec, Canada, but 22 years later 
moved to Rockford, Illinois, where Fred 
attended Lownsbury Academy, graduating 
at seventeen. In the- meantime, he began the 
study of architecture under an experienced 
architect, he also learned the carpenter's 
trade which he followed until 1883, which 
year he came to Neligh and engaged in 
business as a builder and architect, which he 
still follows. He has erected all of the brick 
buildings in the place, besides many more out 
side, and is frequently called upon to draw 
plans and make specifications for buildings in 
neighboring towns. 

Mr. Thornton was united in marriage Sep- 
tember 5, iS83,to Mary S., daughter of John 
Wilcox of Rockford, Illinois. Their children 
are — Herbert, Wilbur, (deceased) Mildred 
and Wallace. 

Politically, he of wiiom we write this notice 
believes in the general principles of the 
Democratic parly and has held several local 



offices. In a social waj', it may be said of 
him that he is an honored member of For- 
resters, Knights of Pythias and Modern 
Woodmen of America Orders. 



GEORGE W. RAPP, a furniture dealer 
at Neligh, Nebraska, is a native of 
New Jersey ; he was born at Milford, 
September 12, 1848. His parents were John 
and Mary (Robbins) Rapp, the former was 
born in New Jerse}', and his grandfather (our 
subjec's great-grandfather) was a native of 
Germany and affected his settlement about 
the time of the Revolutionary War. Mrs. 
Mary Rapp was born near Milford, New 
Jerse}', of German descent. 

George W., the subject of this biograjihical 
notice, accompanied his parents to Carpenter- 
ville, New Jersey, when about nine 3-ears 
old. He lived on a farm and also worked in 
his father's saw mill until 1870, when he 
began working on the New Jersej^ Central 
Railroad, breaking and firing, after which he 
resumed farm labor again In 1872, he went 
to Catasauqua, Pennsyhania, where he was 
engaged in a saw mill becoming an expert 
sawyer. The next year he went to Blooms- 
burg, New Jersey, and learned foundry 
facing. In 1876, he again worked as a saw- 
yer at Holland, New Jersej-, the following 
j-ear coming to Neligh where he was em- 
ployed both in a store and a mill. In 1S78, 
he began in the furniture business in Antelope 
County, and still continues in that line at 
Neligh. He does a general furniture busi- 
ness ; also undertaking. He brought the first 
ready made caskets to A.ntelope Count)'. 

Politically, he of whom we write this 
notice is a Republican. He has been assessor 
for the past three 3'ears. 

Mr. Rapp was united in marriage in 18S0 
to Effie, daughtei of Hon. David D. Coe, 
who became a pioneer of Antelope County, 
Nebraska. Mrs. Rapp was born at Hazel- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



527 



ton, Iowa, and is now the mother of four 
children; Josie, George C. (deceased), Ken- 
neth L. and Mary A. 

Our subject is a member of the Odd 
Fellows, and Ancient Order of United Work- 
men Orders. 



LIEUT. LORENZO D. WELLMAN, 
postmaster at Niobrara, Nebraska, 
was born in Geauga Count}-, Ohio, 
March 23, 1S36. He is the son of Obed and 
Rachel (Williams) Wellman, the former of 
Vermont and the latter of Massachusetts. 
After their marriage, they settled in New 
York State for a short period, but in 1835, 
moved to Ohio, first settling in Geauga 
County, but two years later moved to Porter 
County, Indiana, and in 1852, to Buchanan 
County, Iowa, being pioneers in three states. 
Where the beautiful city of Independence 
now stands only a few shanties then marked 
the spot. There they purchased land and 
made a home, rearing a family of eight 
cliildren with our subject, named as follows: 
Chester, of Buchanan County: Eli W. a resi- 
dent of San Bernideno, California: Catherine 
L., wife of Beniah Stoner, a resident of 
Otterville. Iowa; Betsy M., deceased; 
Sophiona II., deceased ; Mercy C, deceased : 
and Emily A., deceased. 

Mr. and Mrs. Wellman were highly 
respected people by virtue of their many 
excellent traits of character. Mrs. AV^ellnian 
died in iSscj, her husband surviving until 
1S64. 

The subject (proper) of this sketch was 
educated as most of the young men of his 
times were, in a new country, by working on 
a farm and attending school three or four 
months during the winter. In 1852, he came 
West with his parents to Buchanan County, 
Iowa, and remained on the farm until the 
breaking out of the Civil W'ar, when he 
enlisted (September, 1861), in the Fourth 



Iowa Volunteer Cavaby as a member of 
Company "B." lie was mustered in at 
Mount Pleasant and there remained in camp 
until March, 1862, when the regiment was 
sent South, joining General Curtis command 
near Pea Ridge, and from there was sent to 
Helena, Arkansas, and from that point to 
Vicksburg, where they joined General 
Grant's command, being stationed a large 
portion of the time near Black River Bridge. 
After the fall of Vicksburg, they went to 
Jackson, where they joined General Sher- 
man's army and made headquarters at 
Memphis for some time. He participated in 
Wilson's raid, was also on the Guntovvn ex- 
pedition under General Sturgis. He was 
mustered out of service as Second Lieutenant 
for meritorious service, having worked his 
way from a private in the ranks. The date 
of his discharge was August, 1865. 

He was united in marriage in 1856, to Miss 
Caroline M. Roberts, by whom three children 
were born — Agnes L; Henry W: and James 
C. Mrs. Wellman died in 18S7, and in 1889, 
for his second wife, Mr. Wellman married 
Miss Elizabeth Haunschild, by whom one 
child has been born — Elizabeth AL 

Politically, he of whom we write, is a 
stanch Republican, and a member of the 
Grand Army of the Republic. In 18S7, he 
removed to Niobrara from his original home- 
stead upon which he settled in 1879. After 
serving in the Land Ollice at Niobrara for a 
time, he served as Deputy Count}' Treasurer 
for two years, and October 22, 1889, re- 
ceived the appointment of postmaster at that 
point, which position he still holds. 

CHARLES CROCKETT, Sheriff of 
Knox Count\', Nebraska, was born in 
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Janu- 
ary 19, 18,1.0, the son of George A. Crockett, 
who was born in the same county. He was 



528 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



the second cousin of the renowned David 
Crockett. His mother was Ann Crockett. 
They were united in marriage in Luzerne 
Count}', where they reared a family of seven 
children — James, now of Luzerne County, 
Pennsylvania: Robert P., who enlisted in the 
One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, serving during the Civil 
War, as first Lieutenant. He was wounded 
in front of Petersburg, and reported dead; 
Hannah, widow of Jesse Shaw, he was also a 
soldier in the same war ; Esther, wife of 
Charles Rumage, of Pennsylvania : Mattie, 
Mrs. Woolflnger, of Luzerne : Sallie, wife of 
Asa Wandle of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crockett are still living, and 
have been companions together for over half 
a century. 

Charles, of whom we write tiiis sketch, 
recei\ed his education at the common 
schools. In the spring of 185S, he visited 
Denver, Colorado, and was engaged in trade 
with the Indians, and followed freighting to 
Pike's Peak two years. In 1864, he returned 
to Johnson County, Iowa, and attended school 
one winter. In the autumn of 1864, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Johanna Funk, a 
native of Pennsylvania. Soon after they 
removed to Sioux County, Iowa, and in 1885 
he took a homstead on the wild prairies of 
Nebraska, also a timber claim which he has 
under cuUivalion. At first he erected a small 
frame house which has been relpacecl by a 
good, substantial farm-house. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crockett are the parents of 
six living cliildren ; Ada, wife of Frank 
Coryell, of Knox Count}' ; Annelta: James 
B.; Belle; Davie and Carrie. 

Mr. Crockett was a Republican, casting 
his first vole at a Presidential election for 
Abraham Linc(j]ii, in i860, however, he 
voted a mixed ticket for a time, but in 1891 
the straight Independent ticket. lie was a 
candidate for Slieriff, and elected by a 



majority of two-hundred and five over either 
of the old parties. 

Our subject is a member of the Masonic 
and Odd Fellows fraternities and also belongs 
to the Farmers' Alliance, of which he has 
been Secretary for a number of years. He 
was elected twice as a member of the County 
Board of Commissioners. 

ALBERT D. HOLBROOK, a lumber 
dealer of Creighton, was born in 
Orwell, Addison County, Vermont, 
February 19, 1841, of New England stock, of 
English descent, coming down in the line of 
ancestry from King George the Second. 
The family came to America at an early date 
and was prominent in the early settlement of 
the country. His grandfather, Eleasier IIol- 
brook, emigrated from Massachusetts to 
Vermont when sixteen years of age, and was 
among the pioneers who developed Addison 
County. He married a Miss Rice by whom 
two children were born: Daniel, the father of 
our sketch, and Abigal. Mrs. Holbrook died, 
after which he married Miss Mary Wells. 
By this union two daughters were born, Sarah 
and Lucinda. 

Daniel, the father of our subject, was born 
in Shoreham, Vermont, in 1800. He married 
Jane Foot, who was born in Burlington, Ver- 
mont, in 1803. They first settled at Shore- 
ham, subsequently moving to Orwell, where 
four children were born ; Sophronia, married 
Herman Ilemcnway, who died in White- 
water; Ellen E., wile of C. M. Clark of 
Whitewater, Wisconsin: lr\iii 1)., died at 
the age of seven years, ami Albert D., the 
subject of this notice. 

In 1869, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Holbrook, 
with their son Albert D. emigrated to White- 
water, Wisconsin, where the former died in 
1879, '^"<^ Mrs. Holbrook in 1881, having 
lived together for more than half a century. 
Mrs. Holbrook was a devout member of the 



NORTHEASTERf/ NEBRASKA. 



.'529 



Congregational Church, where the family 
always worshiped. Albert D., the only son 
who lived to maturity in four generations was 
educated in Newton Academy at Shoreham, 
Vermont, and there remained until he grew 
to manhood, and in 1869 went to Whitewater, 
Wisconson, where he embarked in the grocery 
business. In the fall of 1871, he went to 
Williamsburg, Virginia, where he engaged in 
the manufacture of lumber, and followed 
farming. He remained there seven years, 
sold out and went back to Whitewater, Wis- 
consin, and engaged as a traveling agent for 
the Beloit paper mill company. Januar\' ist, 
1S80, he came to Republican City, Nebraska, 
where he was in the employ of Birge and 
Frees, locating lumber yards in the Republi- 
can Valley on the B. & M. Railroad. He 
continued this for one year, when a new 
organization was formed known as Frees, 
Hocknell & Co., of which he became a 
member, and operated with them for one 
year, when he withdrew and came to Crcigh- 
ton, where lie founded yards at Creighton and 
Plainview, under the firm name of Holbrook 
& Frees. In 1890, our subject purchased the 
interest held by Mr. Frees at Creighton, and 
still conducts the business. 

Mr. Holbrook was united in marriage July 
12, 1881, to Miss Ellie M. Sunderland, a 
native of Westlield, New York. By tliis 
marriage union two children have been born: 
Harry L., born June ' 10, 1882: Ida May, 
born March 22, 1889. 

Politically, he of whom we write this notice, 
is a stanch supporter of the Republican 
party. He has held several local ofl'ices, and 
been Chairman of the County Central Com- 
mittee two years, as well as Chairman of the 
Eighth Senatorial District for four years. 
He was president of the Knox County Agri- 
cultural Society for five 3-ears : helped organ- 
ize the same and was its first treasurer. He 
has always taken an active interest in all of 



the moral and educational interests of his 
town. When he first came to the place tiiere 
were but a few scattering houses, but now 
the population has reached about twelve 
hundred. He is a member of the Masonic fra- 
ternity, and belongs to the Chapter at Norfolk. 
His residence is one of the finest in Creighton, 
and is presided over by one that knows how 
to make a home pleasant and attractive. 



FREDRICK E. WHITE, cashier of the 
First National Bank of Creighton, was 
born at Charlton, Massachusetts, Jul}' 
16, 1856, the son of Hosea White, who was 
born in Connecticut in 1820. Our subject's 
mother's name before marriage was Ann E. 
Seagrave, of Uxbridge, Worcester County, 
Massachusetts, born in 1829. Hosea White 
was a wheel- Wright by trade. 

The subject of this notice, received his 
education at the public schools of Brookfield, 
Massachusetts, graduating at a business col- 
lege in Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1876 he 
went to Boston where he took a position as 
book-keeper, and from there went to North 
Brookfield where he remained five years, and 
then came to Creighton, Nebraska. 

He was united in marriage at East Brook- 
field in 1886, to Miss Ada F. Corliss, the 
daughter of James Corliss. B3' this union 
three children were born : Corrinne, Corliss 
and Leon II. 

Politically, Mr. White afiiliates with the 
Democratic party, and in 1S85 was elected as 
a State Representative. Two years later he 
was nominated for State Senator and refused 
to accept on account of business matters. 

JOSEPH A. BRUCE, (deceased), the 
founder of Bruce, (now Creighton). 
Nebraska, was born in Vermont, in 
1813. He was of Scotch parentagi', his 
ancestors coming to this country prior to ihc 
Revolutionary War and settled in the New 



NORTHEAST Ulttf NEBRASKA. 



England States. When a young man, Joseph 
A. went to Boston. He was united in mar- 
riage at Lowell, JNIassachusetts, to Rozina 
Young, the daughter of John Young of 
Farmington Falls, Maine, who was the father 
of thirteen children, all of whom lived to be 
adults. Mr. Bruce settled in Charlestown, 
Massachusetts, engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Boston, continuing for several years. 
He was the father of six children, four of 
whom lived to be adults — Joseph H., now in 
the real estate business in Chicago; Everlyn, 
wife of George Burgess a Stockman of 
Montana; Miner W. of Alaska, engaged in 
Reindeer enterprise, andOrin H. of Creighton. 

In 1S64, Mr. Bruce emigrated West, first 
locating in Chicago, where he was engaged in 
jewelry and silver-plated ware business. In 
1866, he moved to Madison, Wisconsin, and 
a year later came to Omaha, Nebraska. In 
1871, he formed a colony and came to Knox 
County, Nebraska, where he, together with 
his sons, took up thirteen huudred acres of 
land wliere the town of Creighton now stands, 
and there died in 1875. 

Politically, he was formerly a Whig, and 
in religious belief a Baptist. His widow, now 
eighty-four years of age, still resides at 
Creigliton. 



ORIN A. H. BRUCE, the earliest mer- 
chant at Creighton, was born in Sum- 
merville, Massachusetts, in 1853, 
where he attended school until eleven years 
of age, and then accompanied his parents to 
Chicago, where lie attended scliool and took 
a partial course at Cornell College, Mt. 
Vernon, Iowa. Four years later he came 
with his parents to Creighton, Nebraska, and 
in 1871, engaged in business, having to haul 
his first goods from West Point antl Yankton. 
The country was very thinly settled at tliat 
lime, houses being from fifteen to twenty-five 
miles apart in many cases. The nearest store 



was at Niobrara, twent3'-five miles away. 
Our subject continued in business for eight 
years, and was appointed postmaster under 
President Hajes. In 18S1, he laid out 
"Bruce's First Addition to Creighton." and 
two years later another addition. 

lie was united in marriage in October, 
1S79, to Miss Elizabeth Emmerson, daughter 
of Rev. C. H. Emmerson. Mrs. Bruce died 
at Creighton, January, 1886. He is now 
engaged in journalistic work. 



NATHANIEL CORBY of Neligh, Ne- 
braska, was born in Empingham, 
Rutland County, England, February 
24, 1S33. His parents were Charles and 
Anne (East) Corby. Nathaniel spent his 
boyhood on a farm, and when nineteen years 
of age, left home, came to America and 
settled near Burlington, Wisconsin, at which 
place he arrived with a capital oi Jiic dollars. 
He worked at farm labor until the Civil War 
broke out. September 10, 1861, he enlisted 
in Company C, First Wisconsin \'olunteer 
Infantry and was assigned to the Army of the 
Cumberland. He took part in the engage- 
ments at Perryville, Stone River, Mission 
Ridge, Chickamauga, Siege of Atlanta, 
Joncsboro and numerous skirmishes. He 
escaped with no serious wounds. He was in 
the hospital at Murfreesboro and at Nash- 
ville about six months with the typhoid fever. 
He was discharged October, 1864, and in 
1868, moved from Burlington, Wisconsin, to 
a point near Princeton, Missouri, where he 
followed farming until 1S71, when he came to 
Antelope County, Nebraska, moving in the 
good, old fashioned overland way. He 
claimed a homestead two miles from tlie 
present city of Neligh, and only had one 
neiglibor, who was a half mile away. On 
the nonh there were no neighbors witliin 
fourteen miles, and his nearest railroad 
station was Wisner, but most of his crops 



NORTHEAST £RN NEBRASKA. 



531 



were hauled to Columbus, which required a 
five days' trip. Indians were numerous, but 
gave him no trouble. He built a log house 
and began to make other improvements. The 
grasshoppers destroyed his first corn crop 
and kept up their annual hostility for 'i\s& 
years. He brought seven head of horses and 
colts to the country with him, and by dispos- 
ing of some of these animals, managed to 
support his family. I lail storms also damaged 
his crops two years, but since 1876, he has 
usually had good crops. lie now has a well 
improved farm, upon which is a pleasant resi- 
dence erected in 1885 ; the same is sur- 
rounded by a beautiful, artificial grove, 
planted by his own liands. lie is breeding 
Poland China swine ; he also lias some fine 
grade Polled Angus cattle and grade Norman 
horses. He is considerabl}' interested in fruit 
culture and has about five acres devoted to 
that purpose. 

Our subject was united in marriage Jan- 
uary I, 1869, to Frances Addie, daugiiter of 
F. II. Trowbridge. She was born at Pekin, 
Niagara County, New York. By this mar- 
riage union the following ciiildren were born : 
Charles F., ArthurN., Grace L. M., Minnie 
M., ("deceased). 

Politically, our subject is a supporter of 
the Republican party, and like most of the 
old soldiers of the Civil War, who fought on 
the Union side, he is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. 

March 21, 1893, marked a new era with 
his second son, Arthur; for it was upon 
that date he was united in marriage to Miss 
iMarguerile L. Becher of Neligh ; they now 
reside one mile north of his father, on one of 
the first homesteads taken in that neighbor- 
hood. 

. » 

URIAH M. GABLE, real estate, loan 
and insurance broker, of the firm of 
Gable & Son, residing at Plainview, 
Nebraska, was born in Washington County, 



Ohio, April 6th, 1841, although known as 
Pennsylvania Germans, he is sucii by ancestry 
only, as both his paternal and maternal grand- 
fathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary 
War. His lather Solomon Gable, with his 
wife Elizabetii Dull, mollier of our subject, 
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Washington 
County, Ohio, at an early day, and after- 
wards emigrated to Iowa, when that State 
was still a Territory, settling in Van Buren 
County, and later moved to Appanoose Coun- 
ty, where the father died in 1S47. Mrs. 
Gable died in Davis Count)', Iowa, in 1S63. 
They had a family of twelve children, nine 
of whom lived to be adults. Andrew moved 
to Iowa with the family, and afterwards went 
to Texas ; Franey, widow of Eli Hodgson, is 
now a resident of Marion, Lynn County, 
Iowa; Susan married Vincent Cheadle, and 
died in Carthage, Missouri ; Eliza married 
Lorenzo Ellis, in Van Buren County, where 
she died : Dennis died in Van Buren Count}'; 
Levi S. is now a resident of Crawford Coun- 
ty, Iowa; Amos. W. and Harvey CiiiUon, are 
now residents of Woodland, California; 
Cliarles died in Appanoose County; Aaron S. 
now resides in California; George died in 
Van Buren County ; Uriah Marion the subject 
of our sketch was the youngest of the familj^ 
The educational advantages afforded upon 
the frontier were not of the highest order, 
however he managed through the agenc}' of 
the old proverbial "log school house," fur- 
nished with "slab seats and McGuffey's text 
books" to acquire the rudiments which he 
afterwards developed into a good business 
education. In the spring of 1858 he ac- 
companied his brother, Levi S. to Crawford 
County, Iowa, where he worked on a farm 
by the month, until he caught the earl}- Pikes 
Peak gold excitement in the spring of 1859, 
and after engineering an ox-team across the 
plains for forty-one days he reached his 
destination, and engaged in mining and pros- 



bs-2 



NORTttEASTERtf NESRASKA. 



pecting until the fall of 1861 when he returned 
to Crawford County, Iowa, where he enlisted 
in the state militia and did guard duty, during 
the Indian scare. He was afterwards a 
member of Company H, of nth Iowa Infant- 
ry, which he joined near Atlanta, and was 
with Sherman on his "March to the Sea,'" he 
took part in the Grand Review at Washing- 
ton, June, 1865, was discharged at Camp 
McClellan, Davenport, Iowa, and returned to 
Crawford Count}-, Iowa, where in 1867 he 
married Miss Eliza A. Golden, he was 
engaged in farming in that locality until 1880, 
when he moved to Antelope County, Ne- 
braska, where he took a half section of 
government land, and followed stock raising 
and feeding until May, 1892, when he en- 
gaged in his present business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Gable, are the parents of six 
children, Addie May, wife pf W. A. Porter 
of Antelope County, Nebraska; Charles 
Pliny, a member of the firm of Gable & Son; 
Bertha June : Henry Allen ; Andrew Joy and 
George. 

Mr. Gable is an adherent of the Republican 
part)', although he is liberal in his views, and 
docs not consider it always necessary to cast 
his ballot strictly upon parly distinctions. He 
has been a pioneer of two States going into 
Iowa when it was still a Territory and has 
watched with interest the vast changes in 
both Iowa and Nebraska. He started out in 
life with no capital save his two hands, but 
with industry and good management he has 
accumulated a good property and made him- 
self one ol the substantial business men of 
his County. 

^AMUEL GALLEY, one of the leading 
,^^^ merchants of Creighton, was born in 
Cheshire, J^ngland, August 6, 1834, 
the son of James and Ann Galley, who emi- 
grated to the United States in 1853, and 
located in I'lah. While in England, Mr. 



Galley was in the mercantile business and a 
teacher. He followed teaching in this country 
for some time. Mr. and Mrs. James Galley 
were the parents of seven children. fi\e of 
whom still sui-vive — George W. of Columbus, 
a retired farmer; Martha, wife of John 
Barrow (deceased). She is a resident of 
Utah ; Samuel, the subject of this sketch ; 
James H., a merchant at Columbus, Ne- 
braska; Sarah A., wife of J. Rickley of 
Creighton. The parents of these children 
both died at Columbus, Nebraska. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
his native country, and in 1859, ^^^ com- 
menced business at Columbus, Nebraska, as 
a member of the firm of J. II. Galley & 
Brother, and continued in business until the 
firm dissolved, our subject coming to Creigh- 
ton, where he started the first general store of 
the place. He carries a general stock, and 
enjoys a large trade. 

He was united in marriage at Columbus, 
Nebraska, in 1868, to Lettuce Brindler, a 
native of England. The}' are the parents of 
two children — Amy B. and Martha. 

At the time Mr. Galley came to Nebraska 
it was a wild, unsettled country. He has 
lived to see school houses and churches dot 
the prairies here and there, while railroads 
and flourishing towns are found on every 
hand. 

Politically, he of whom we write this 
notice, votes for the best men, regardless of 
party lines. He is a member of the Red Men 
of America, and stands high in a social and 
business way in the town where he had the 
honor of being a pioneer. 

C-^ EORGE P. HAVERLAND, Sheriff of 
"J Antelope County, residing at Ni'ligh, 
was born near Elgin, Illinois, January 
12, 1849. His |iarcnts were William and 
Sarah (Bassett) Ilaverland, the former was a 
native of Michigan. Mrs. Sarah Ilaverland 



NOiiTffBASTJiKN tfEBkASKA. 



■^n 



was born in New York State, her parents 
coming- from New England. When our 
subject was about seven years of age, the 
family removed to Bridge Creek, Wisconsin, 
and later to Menomonee, of the same State, 
where he grew to manhood upon a farm. 
His father often during the winter season was 
engaged in supplying logging camps. At 
seventeen, George secured work in a saw 
mill and afterwards in the pineries. At 
twent3--one he engaged in farming near 
Lancaster, Wisconsin, coming to Antelope 
County in 1872. He took a homestead near 
the present village of Elgin, and made the 
move from Wisconsin b}- team, the journey 
requiring six weeks' time. At that day 
Columbus was his nearest railroad point, that 
being sixty-five miles distant. Our subject 
built a sod house and began to improve his 
place ; six years later he built a frame house 
and was more comfortably situated' He now 
owns a well improved quarter section of land 
near the village of Elgin. In the fall of 18S9 
he was elected Sheriff and removed to Neligh, 
where he still resides. He was engaged in 
business and lived in the village of Elgin for 
about five months previous to his election. 

Politically, he is Independent. He has 
held the ofiice of Sheriff of Antelope Count}- 
since January first, 1890, being re-elected in 
the fall of 1S91 to a second term. 

Our subject was married December 29, 
1869. Their children are — Lerojs Roy and 
Claude. Mr. Haverland is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen and Modern Woodmen of America. 



JOHN T. LINDSAY, Jr., Clerk of the 
District Court of Knox County, Ne- 
braska, was born in Peoria, Illinois, 
March 23, 1851. The family are of Scotch- 
Irish extraction ; the great-grandfather emi- 
grated to America prior to the Revolutionar\' 
War. His grandfather was Andrew Lindsay 



a soldier of that great conflict. His father 
was John T. Lindsay, Sr., born in Connells- 
bury, Pennsyh-ania, in 1S18. He remained 
there until he was eighteen years of age and 
then located in Peoria, Illinois, where he 
worked on a farm and the same time turned 
his attention to the stud}' of Law. He re- 
moved to the city of Peoria and entered the 
ofiice of Judge Bryant : was admitted to the 
Bar, and soon commenced the practice of his 
chosen profession. He afterwards formed a 
partnership with Robert G. Ingersoll of the 
firm of "Lindsay & Ingersoll," which was 
continued for several years. He represented 
his district in the Legislature several terms, 
and in 1864, was a member of the State 
Senate, serving the three terms in that body. 
Upon the construction of the Peoria, Atlanta 
and Decatur Railroad, he was made its first 
president; the road is now known as the 
"Midland." He was a man of more than 
ordinary talent, and by his own industry anrt 
business sagacity accumulated a handso : 
property. 

He was married in Peoria to Miss Sarah v.. 
Patton, by whom six children were born, i".» c 
of whom lived to be adults — Margaret, wil' 
of George W. Updyke. She died in S:. 
Louis; Jane E., wife of Rev. Jc^iah Mnore 
of Lake Forest, Illinois ; James A., ot Knox 
County, Nebraska; William P., a farmer of 
Knox County ; Columbu.s, who died at the 
age of three years : John T., the subject of 
this notice, was > iv.' youngest child in liis 
father's family. 

Our subjer ■ .r.fher died in 1885, a life 
long uiemb • in- I 'rcsbyterian Church. 

John T. was educated at the High schools, 
and engaged in tht- drug business at Prince- 
ville, Illinois, continuing seven years. In 
1872, he graduated at Ann Arbor, Michigan, 
from the pharmacy department. After leav- 
ing Mif: drug business, he followed farming 
liu'jl 1S81, when he came to Knox County 



534 



NORTHEASTEHN NEBRASKA. 



and there followed the same occupation until 
1891, when he was elected Clerk of the 
District Court. He served as school director 
and township assessor for five years. In 1872 
he was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. 
Hitchcock, the daughter of George W. 
Hitchcock, of Princeville, Illinois, one of the 
early settlers of Peoria County. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay are the parents of 
five children, three of whom are still living — 
Jessie II., Sarah B. and Marcus E. 

NIEL M. NELSON, a hardware mer- 
chant of Plainview, Nebraska, was 
born in Denmark, March 18, 1855, 
the son of James and Anna (Paulson) Nelson, 
who emigrated to America in 1862. They 
were the first to establish their family name 
in this country. Mr. Nelson came witli a 
band of Mormons as far as Omaha, when he 
became tired of that peculiar religious sect 
.id left them, settling at the last named place, 
which was then but a small village. He was 
a wagon maker by trade, and worked for 
Henry Grebe for six j^ears. In the fall of 
1S68 he lemoved to Dakota County, Nebras- 
ka, where he claimed a homestead, but finally 
gave it up and moved to Stanton Count}', 
where he purchased a quarter section of gov- 
ernment land, paying one dollar and a quarter 
per acre. He moved into a sod house in 
which he lived loi sl\ ,-ral years. At present 
he has a comi • hie home, and is the 

possessor of fou; >, ■:;,i., \nd eighty acres of 
land well improv<'J. 

Mr. and Mrs. j\' ■Ison ,\(.-!c the parents of 
three children — Niel M., of this notice ; Paul, 
of Stanton County ; Elsie, who >lied at the 
age of six months. 

In politics our subject is hi kperii -■:••. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson ai'e liit-hly i.sj.rcted 
people, and iiave lived togethci as man and 
wife for over forty years. 

Niel M. was educated in the disi • .-.'■.uol; 



and attended school kept in a socl house, 
which was in great contiast to the well fur- 
nished school rooms of today. He has learned 
more, perhaps, by observation and experience 
in the great school of life than he ever did in 
school houses. He remained at home with 
his parents until he was twenty- six years of 
age, during which time he taught several 
terms of school. In 1881 he came to Plain- 
view and took charge of a grain and lumber 
concern for William Ragan, some time after 
which his employer established a business at 
Creighton, and he operated there for him, 
and sold the first lumber and unloaded the 
first car at that point. Soon after this he re- 
turned to Plainview and entered the employ 
of Holbrook & Frees. 

In 1885 he embarked in the hardware busi ■ 
ness, which he has since followed; first as 
a member of the firm of Nelson & Baxter for 
a year and a half, after which lie, with his 
father, bought his partner out. In 1891 he 
erected in company with the I. O. O. F. and 
others a brick block, of which he owns a 
salesroom 25x67 feet with a basement, he 
carries the largest stock of anj' in the place. 
Mr. Nelson was married in 1S82 to Miss Lydia 
Howell, a native of Illinois. By this union 
two sons and two daughters were born : 
Lottie, September 21, 1883; Chester A., De- 
cember 21, 1885 ; Edith, December 21, 1887 : 
and Benjamin, April 12, 1891. 

At the time Mr. Nelson came to Nebraska 
it was yet a Territory, and all was new and 
undeveloped, and tiie whole domain presented 
one grand prairie landscape, but he has lived 
to .see the land all taken up, while school 
houses and churches adorn the once "green, 
glad soliiude,"and railroads cross and re-cross 
nearly every township, and Nebraska has 
come to rank high in the scale of wealth and 
pros[)erity. 

Politically, Mr. Nelson is a supporter of the 
Republican party. Among the local offices 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



53^1 



he has held may be mentioned that of Justice 
of the Peace, School District Treasurer, a 
member of the Town Board and other like 
positions. In iS88 he was a delegate to the 
State Convention at Omalia to elect delegates 
to the National Convention. He was elected 
Councilman of his village, receiving every 
vote within the incorporation, except his own. 
lie is a member of Plainview Lodge No. 157, 
of the I. O. O. F., and has represented his 
lodge at the Grand Lodge at different times. 
♦ 

DANIEL ROBINSON, Jr., of Plain- 
view, Nebraska, will form tlie subject 
of this biographical notice. He was 
born in Delaware County, New York, De- 
cember 18, 1804, the son of Daniel and Mary 
(Miller) Robinson, who emigrated from Or- 
ange County to Delaware County and became 
pioneers at the foot-hills of the Catskill 
Mountains. They reared a family of five 
sons and two daughters : John, a soldier of 
the War of 181 2, who followed the Sea for 
many years, enlisting as a Marine. He 
labored on the Susquehanna River near Mid- 
dletown, Pennsylvania: William, married a 
Miss Ross, in Delaware County; Israel, rode 
a horse to haul the cannon to Sacketts 
1 larbor. He married Miss Catherine Tracy 
and settled in Broome County, New York, 
where he followed blacksmithing until his 
deatii. Lewis married Betsy Wilds and 
settled on a farm in Broome County, where 
he died. Daniel, Jr., the subject of this 
notice ; Mary, married James Martin and 
settled in New York where she died ; Char- 
lotte, married Bennett Rummer, now deceased, 
she is now a resident of Broome County. 

Daniel Robinson, Sr., was a Baptist Minis- 
ter and a Chaplain in the war of 181 2, 
stationed at Sacketts Harbor. He followed 
the ministry for mam' years, finally laying 
down the burden of life, after ninty-four 
eventfid years, in Broome County, New 



York; he was a man of more than ordinar}- 
ability and was a true christian man of which 
the world has none too many. His wife died 
in the same county and was also a devout 
christian lady. 

The subject of this notice received his 
education in the District schools of Delaware 
County, New York. When he was thirteen 
years of age, he accompanied his parents to 
the Susquehanna River in Delaware County, 
and five years later left home to battle in life 
alone. He went to Huntsville, Otsego County, 
where he was apprenticed to learn the hatters 
trade, serving four years. The first year he 
received twenty-five dollars and his board. 
We next find him in Bradford County, Penn- 
sylvania, where he embarked in business for 
himself. 

1829 marked a new era in his life, for it 
was during that year he married Miss Electa 
Bosworth by whom he had one child. Mrs. 
Robinson died after a year and a half of 
married life. Her daughter's name was 
Helen M., the widow of Mr. Black. Soon 
after the wife's death Mr. Robinson removed 
to Broome County, where he engaged at 
farming with his father. He was again mar- 
ried in 1832, to Delia Ruggles, a native of 
Broome County, by whom five children were 
born. Amelia, who married Orrin Rice, she 
died in California: Jane A., died at the age 
of sixteen years ; Emma, wife of Harrison 
Hammond of Plainview, Nebraska ; Althea, 
wife of E. C. Cass, a hardware mercliant of 
Plainview, Nebraska, and Mary who died in 
infancy. 

In 1837, Mr. Robinson renio\ed to Knox 
County, Illinois, and soon after was elected 
Justice of the Peace which office he held 
manjf years. About 184S he removed to 
Paw Paw, De Kalb County, Illinois, wliere 
he iield the same olfice for four years. In 
1855 '^'^ removed to Waupaca County, Wis- 
consin, where he was again elected Justice of 



536 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



the Peace and served four years. He was 
also engaged in a loan and real estate busi- 
ness. In 1S69, he jmrcliased a farm which 
he cultivated until 1S74, ''"^ then removed to 
Glenwood, Iowa, and was there elected to 
the ollice of Justice of the Peace. Coming 
to Plainview, Nebraska, in 1887. He cast his 
first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, 
but in 1840, voted for William Henry Harri- 
son remaining with the party up to the organ- 
ization of the Republican party : he voted for 
John C. Fremont, in 1856, and for every 
Republican president to the present time. 

July 11, 1887, Mrs. Daniel Robinson 
passed from the scenes of this life; she was a 
sincere christian and a member of the Baptist 
Church, having been connected with that 
denomination nearly fifty years. She was a 
loving wife, a kind mother and a friend of all. 
Mr. Robinson is now living on borrowed 
time as he is now about eighty-eight years of 
age ; he is Deacon of the Baptist Church and 
has always manifested much interest in the 
Church work. 



OSCAR WALLACE, of Ewing, Ne- 
braska, was born at Steubenville, 
Ohio, May 25, 1854. His parents 
were James and Amanda (McCIancthan) 
Wallace, the former a native of Pennsylvania. 
The grandfather came from Scotland at the 
close of the Seventeenth centur}- ; his wife, 
whose maiden name was Rogers, came from 
Ireland. Mrs. Amanda Wallace was born 
near Boston, Massachusetts, of English par- 
entage; she now resides at Ewing, Nebraska. 
James Wallace died at Steubenville, Ohio, 
August 8, 187 1. He carried on a woolen 
factor)' at that place, and was also president 
of the Steubenville Coal and Mining Com- 
pany for many years, and had the honor of 
sinking the first shaft west of the Allegheny 
moimtaiiis that proiUurd coal, that would 
work iron, lie helped to establish the Com- 
mercial College at Ciminiiati. 



Oscar attended the public schools until fif- 
teen years of age, when he entered his father's 
office as office boy, and later on attended 
a night school. When twenty-one years of 
age he became a partner in the business with 
his brother. March, 1878, the woolen mill 
burned, and soon after he came to Neligh, 
Nebraska, and from there to Holt County. 
He took a homestead in what is now Ewing 
Township, and in 1885 removed to the vil- 
lage of Ewing, where he still resides. He 
carried on a general store for about three 
months, since which time he has been en- 
gaged in real estate business. 

Politically, he is a radical Republican, and 
has filled the ofllce of Township Treasurer 
several times. He belongs to the Knights of 
Pythias Order, and is an enterprising, public 
spirited man. 



DAVID C. HORTON, an important 
business factor of Ewing, now en- 
gaged in general merchandising, will 
form the sidiject of this notice. 

He was born at Conquest, Cayuga Count}', 
New York, September 2, 1842. His parents 
were David and Jane (McCollum) Horlon. 
The Horton family descended from Barnabas 
Horton, who came from England and settled 
on Long Island. The house which he built 
at Southhold in 1660, was occupied b}' his 
descendants in 1876. He was born at Leicester- 
shire, England, July 13, 1600, and came to 
Massachusetts about 1635, and 'Cwq years 
later to Long Island, where his descendants 
are still numerous. 

David C. grew to manhood on a farm, re- 
ceiving a common school education. At 
twenty-one he left home and went to Helena, 
Montana, near which city he mined for four 
j'ears with fair success. In 1867 he returned 
to Conquest, New York, and engagetl in the 
mercantile business. In 1877 he embarked 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



537 



in the same business at Marshall, Michigan, 
and in 1884, came to Table Rock, Nebraska, 
and soon after purchased a large ranch at 
Fullerton, the same State. After carrying 
this on two j'ears, he bought a general mer- 
chandise store at Nebraska City. In the 
spring of 1887, he came to Holt Count}' and 
bought a large ranch, comprising over seven- 
teen hundred acres, twelve miles West of 
Ewing, where he usually keeps three hun- 
dred head of cattle and lifty head of draft 
horses. He is now breeding Polled Angus 
cattle. In 1S8S he removed to Ewing and 
opened a general merchandise store, which 
he continued to operate until April, 1S92. 
He has also bought and sold live stock exten- 
sively. 

Politically, he votes with the Democratic 
party, and has filled numerous oflices, but 
takes no active interest in politics. 

He was united in marriage A]iril 19, 1871, 
to Emma A., daughter of Joseph and Nancy 
(Crovvell) Slaj'ton of Conquest, New York. 
To them has been born one son, Wilber E. 
Mr. and Mrs. Horton are members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is an 
honored member of the Masonic Fraternit\'. 

JUDGE JAMES W. PRIMMER, presi- 
dent of the Neuman Grove State Bank, 
was born in IJerkimer County, New 
York, July 6, 1825. Originally the Primmer 
family were of the "Mohawk Dutch" stock. 
His great-grandfather coming from Germany 
and settling in north-eastern New York. His 
father, William Primmer, was born in the 
Empire State in 1798, and married Martha 
Simons, a native of Connecticut, born in 
1797: they were married and settled in the 
Mohawk Valley, and were the parents of 
seven children — Betsey, (married John Spohn 
and settled on a farm in the Town of Colum- 
bia) ; Permilia, (married Richard Rhodes, 
and died when about eighteen years old) ; 



Mary A., (married M. T. Series, who came 
to Nebraska in 1870) ; James W., of this 
sketch; Lewis, a resident of Fleming County, 
Kentucky : Martha, died at the age of about 
si.xteen. Mr. Primmer was a great admirer 
of Jefferson and Jackson, and both he and 
his wife were members of the Methodist 
Church. Mrs. Primmer died in 1836, and 
lie passed awaj' in 1873. 

The Judge was reared on a farm, receiving 
his education at the district school, and pre- 
pared for college at 0.\ford, Chenango Coun- 
ty, New York, which he attended two years, 
but as his means was limited he left and went 
to Kentuck)' and taught school for means to 
go through college and in the meantime 
studied law in Judge C. C. Cole's ollice, (now 
of Des Moines, Iowa.) In the winter of 
1S54-5 he went to Marion County, Illinois, 
where he bought a town site, that of Sando- 
val, which proved a financial success to him. 
He was admitted so the Bar at Mount Vernon, 
Illinois, being examined by Silas L. Bryan, 
then Circuit Judge and llie lather of Hon. W. 
J. Br3'an of Nebraska. 

Politically, Judge Primmer was a Republi- 
can in Illinois, when there was but a "Corpo- 
ral's Guard" in the whole county. He was 
elected as County Judge in 1867 ; he was also 
County Superintendent of Schools of Marion 
County for four years. In 1883 he came to 
Platte County, Nebraska, and purchased a 
farm, and upon the organization of the Neu- 
man Grove State Bank, he was elected as vice- 
president and later as its president. 

He was united in marriage in Herkimer 
County, New York, in 1852, to Miss Emily 
Eckler. He was married to his present wife, 
whose maiden name was Josephine Zick, in 
Marion County, Illinois, in 1883. By this 
union the following children were born — 
Martha W., born July 4, 1884; Henry, March 
I, 1886; Emily A., December 12, 1888: and 
James W. Jr., July 25, 1889. 



538 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



The Judge is a member of the Masonic 
fraternity, joining in Marion County Illinois. 
Of the Neuman Grove State Bank, it may 
be said in this connection, that it was estab- 
lished in 1886, with an authorized capital of 
$50,000, with a paid up capital of $13,000. 
At first William T. Series was president and 
A. S. Burrows cashier, but in 1887, Chris. 
Schavland was made cashier. In 1891 J. W. 
Primmer was made president In 1889 they 
erected a bank building at a cost of twenty- 
five hundred dollars. The present directors 
are Alexander Gunther, R. A. Stewart, C. B. 
Burrows, D. A. Hale, J. W. Primmer, W. L. 
Berry, H. Saare, Edward Johnson and Iver 
Berg. The paid up capital of the bank at the 
present time is $25,000. 



VACLAV BOLESLAV TOMEK, an 
enterprising hardware merchant of 
Verdigrc, Knox County, Nebraska, 
first saw the light of da}' in Bohemia, April 
16, 1862. He is the son of Vaclav and Anna 
f Iloracek) Tomek, who emigrated to America 
in 1867, locating in Chicago, where they re- 
mained until 1870, and then came to Kno.x 
County, Nebraska, by the way of Sioux City, 
Iowa, by rail, and by boat from that point to 
Niobrara, after which they took teams and 
came to their destination near Verdigrc. The 
father took a homestead upon which he lives 
to the present time. Our subject's parents 
had three children — Vaclav B. of this sketch : 
Mar}', wife of Vaclav Vlasnik, of Niobrara ; 
Anna, wife of Fred 0]iocensky, a resident of 
Niobrara. 

Vaclav B. of whom we write this notice, 
was educated in the schools of Chicago, and 
in Knox County, Nebraska. He remained 
on his father's farm until 1886, during which 
year he was united in marriage to Jennie 
Bartak, of Knox County. In 1890 he came to 
Verdigre, where he purchased a hardware 
store, and has operated the same ever since. 



Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children — Fred, born August 14, 1887 : 
Helen, born May 23, 1891. 

In politics, Mr. Tomek is a Republican, 
and has held numerous local ollices, including 
that of township trustee and treasurer. When 
our subject and his parents came to Nebraska 
the prairies and valleys abounded with deer, 
antelope, elk and other wild game. At first 
they had to go to Niobrara to vote, and their 
principle trading post was Yankton, while 
their milling was done at Norfolk, Nebraska. 

CHRISTOPHER SCHAVLAND, cashier 
of the Neuman Grove State Bank, 
was born August 27, 1866, on Finnoe, 
at Slavanger, Norway, the son of Ole and 
Olene Louise (Olson) Schavland. They are 
the parents of seven living children — Chris- 
topher, the subject of this notice, Olaf of 
Neuman Grove: Sigvald of Neuman Grove: 
Martha, of Norway: Elizabeth, of Norway ; 
Laurenze of Neuman Grove : Laura, of Nor- 
way. Mr. Ole Schavland died March 17, 
1887, his wife having passed away in 1882. 
The subject of this sketch was educated in 
his native country, attending Kongsgaard 
College, at Stavanger, Norway. In June, 
1886, he emigrated to America, locating at 
Neuman Grove, Nebraska, first accepting a 
position as clerk and later as book-keeper in 
the State Bank, of which he was made 
cashier in 1889. He was but twenty years of 
age when he came to this country, and was 
the first to establish his family name in 
America. He is a young man of more than 
ordinary ability and bears the respect of the 
community in which he lives and operates, 
as a business man. 

He was united in marriage August 4, 1888, 
to Miss Bolette Carine Thompson, born at 
Utsire, Norway, April 4, 1865. One son has 
blessed this union, Oscar, born September 
10, 1889. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



53» 



Mr. Schavland is a member of Neuman 
Grove Lodge No. 196, Indei^endenl Order 
of Odd Fellows and is its present secretary. 
In politics he is a stanch Republican and has 
held local offices including township and 
school treasurer. At the last municipal 
election he was elected a trustee for the 
village. He was one of the founders of the 
Neuman Grove Improvement Society, which 
was organized iniS88, as a building and loan 
association, and has been its secretary since 
its organization. 



S' 



YLVESTER B. LYTLE, one of the 
business factors of Neligh, Nebraska, 
was born at Lisbon, New York, March 
6, 1.SJ9. His parents were William D. and 
Harriet (Flack) Lytle, the former was also 
horn at the same place. The grandparents 
of our subject, on his paternal side were John 
and Betsej' L\tle, the former of Irish and the 
latter of German descent. John L)'lle was a 
United States captain, in the War of 181 2. 
Mrs, Harriet Lytle was born at Hebron, New 
York ; her father was of Irish descent and her 
mother was born in Vermont. 

Our subject spent his 3'outhful da3S on his 
father's farm and when twenty years of age 
began to learn the carpenter's trade which he 
followed most of his life. In 1859 ''^ '"c- 
moved to Royalton, Wisconsin, where he 
carried on a carpenter, contractor and build, 
er's occupation. In 1877 he came to Neligh 
where he followed the same until 1889. The 
business is still continued by his son. Before 
our subject had retired from the business, he 
had built about one half of tiie houses in the 
place. Since 1889 he lias dealt in agri- 
cultural implements; also handles insurance. 
He owns a farm of four hundred acres in 
Elgin township. 

Politically, Mr. Lytle is in lull sympathy 
with the Independent party. 



He was united in marriage February 21, 
1855, to Mary M., daughter of Ransom Shel- 
don, a native of Lisbon, New York. By this 
marriage union seven children have been 
born : Serepta, (Mrs. S. T. Ritchie,) Silas, 
Judson, Philo, William, Linna L, (Mrs. F. 
Lobdel) and Herbert. Mr. and Mrs. Lytle 
are members of the Congregational Church 
and exemplar}' christians. Mr. Lytle is a 
member of the Grand Army of the Republic. 
Of his army life, it may be said that he was a 
soldier in the Union cause during the Civil 
War. He enlisted February 28, 1864, as a 
member of Company D, Fifty-tirst Wisconsin 
\^olunteer Infantry, receiving an honorable 
discharge August 26, 1S65. Soon after en- 
listing he was appointed Regimental Com- 
missar}- Sergeant and was acting Quarter- 
master part of the time. He was in charge 
of the Post at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. 

LEROY S. BUTLER, proprietor of the 
Buller House, at Ewing, was born in 
Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsyl- 
vania, March 19, 1847. His parents were 
Welman S. and Eliza (Catlin) Butler, the 
former born in Keene, New Hampshire, and 
came to Tioga county with his parents in 
1S25 : his giandfather became one of the 
pioneers in that count}-. The Butlers are of 
Irish descent, and settled in America about 
1750. Allan Butler's father was named 
Nathan. Of the three original brothers, one 
settled in Massachusetts (from whom our 
subject descended): one in Lake county. 
New York, and one in Eastern Pennsylvania. 
Mrs. Eliza A. Butler was born in Coopers- 
town, New York. The Callins are of an old 
New York family. Mr. and Mrs. Welman 
S. Butler now reside at Ewing, Nebraska. 

Leroy spent his boyhood days upon a farm 
and attended countr}' school four or five 
terms. In February, 1864, he enlisted in 
Company A, One Hundred and Eighty- 



540 



NORTHEASTERtf NEBRASKA. 



seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He 
was in the Army of the Potomac, and was 
discharged August 6, 1865. At Weldon 
Roads he was wounded in the right side and 
was in the hospital about five months, after 
which he rejoined his regiment at Phila- 
delphia, where he was employed on provost 
duty until the close of the war, after which 
he worked on a farm and at lumbering. In 
March, 1869, he removed to Vinton, Iowa, 
where he worked at farming. In 1878 he 
made a trip to Northern Nebraska, and 
decided to locate in Holt County, so the next 
year he brought his famil}- by team to this 
section, and took a homestead on the south 
side of the river, about one mile below the 
present village of Ewing. At that time 
there were but lour houses, between his 
place and O'Neill, whicli at that time con- 
sisted of but log cabins. The first year 
our subject built a sod house and broke a few 
acres of prairie. Tlie following year he took 
a timber claim and now owns three hundred 
and sixty acres in Holt and Antelope counties. 
In June, 1883, he came to the village of 
Ewing and erected the Butler House, which 
house he still carries on, in connection with a 
livery stable, he runs. He and his sons still 
carry on farms, devoted chiefly to stock 
raising. He usually keeps about one hun- 
dred head of cattle and thirty-live head of 
horses. 

He was united in marriage October 3, 1867, 
to Mary E., daughter of Lasell Kimball, of 
Wellsboro, Tioga County, Pennsylvania; her 
father was of Scotch descent. Four children 
bless this marriage union — Cora B., now Mrs. 
L. E. Skidmore: Wilbur L: Ralph L, and 
George E. 

Politically, our subject atliliatcs with the 
Republican party, and has held numerous 
iocAl ofllces; he was the first Justice of the 
Peace at Ewing, as well as the first school 
director. He is a member of the Grand 



Army of the Republic and Ancient Order of 
United Workmen. 

During the hard winter of 1880-81 Mr. 
Butler lost more stock and other property, 
than he brought to the county with him, 
necessitating a new start from that date; but 
he is now one of the most successful men of 
Holt County. 



F'REDERICK ROMAINE BIGNOLD, 
an extensive land owner and breeder 
of Shorthorn cattle, of Holt Countv, 
was born at Long Stratton, Norfolk, England, 
February 28, 1859. ^^^ father was the Rev. 
Samuel F. Bignold, M. A. J. P., who was 
for twenty- five years rector of the parishes of 
Tivetshall, St. Mary and St. Margaret, Nor- 
folk, England, and his mother was a daughter 
of Henr}' d'Esterre Hemsworth, Esq., of 
Shropham Hall, Suffolk, England, who mar- 
ried Miss Campbell, of Lochiel, Scotland, 
and was a Captain in the British Army at the 
Battle of Waterloo. Sir Samuel Bignold, 
Knight, D. C. L., grandfather of our subject, 
was secretary of the Norwich Union Fire and 
Life Insurance Company for more than fifty 
years, and was Member of Parliament for 
Norwich in the Conservative interest. At the 
close of the Crimean War the Queen con- 
ferred the honor of Knighthood upon him. 

Frederick R. Bignold, our subject, attended 
a private school in London with a view of 
entering the army. In 1874 he came to 
America, remained ten months, and then re- 
turned to his native country, completed his 
education and received a commission in tlie 
militia. In 1878 he returned to America and 
located at Seward, Nebraska. On arriving 
at his majority he established a ranch in 
Wheeler County, near Bartlett. 

Politicall}', he is a Republican, and in 
religious matters he was reared in the 
Episcopal Cinirch. He is a member of the 
Masonic Fraternilv, and stands higli in tlie 
community. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



JAMES EWING, (deceased), the founder 
of the village of Ewing, was born in 
Knoxville, Tennessee, June 14, 181 7, 
and died February 16, 1886. His parents 
were John and Elizabeth (Campbell) Ewing. 
The Ewing fainil}- are of English descent. 
Mrs. Elizabeth Ewing was of Scotch descent. 
James received an education at a theological 
school, his parents designing him for tlie 
Presbyterian ministry- After leaving the 
school room he was emplo3'ed as a traveling 
agent and other occupations for a few j'cars; 
later on he engaged in farming. About i8.f5 
he removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, and 
bought a farm on which the town of Union- 
ville was afterwards platted. He platted that 
town and opened the first store, also the first 
hotel. Later on he removed to Centerville, 
Iowa, where he also kept a store and hotel, 
lie served as Sheriff for Appanoose County 
for some time. In 1861 he went to Pike's 
Peak, also visited California, Idaho and other 
points in the West, spending four or five 
3^ears traveling for his health. In 1867 he 
removed to Mills County, Iowa, wliere he 
operated a saw mill. Six months later he 
moved the mill to Maple Landing, Monona 
Count}', Iowa. In 1871 he moved to Holt 
Count}', Nebraska, and squatted upon a 
quarter section of land, which he entered as 
a homestead, as soon as land came into the 
market. This claim was about a mile and a 
half below the present village and lies on 
either side of the river. Mr. Ewing and his 
family were accompanied by one neighbor, a 
Mr. Gunter; these are now the oldest families 
in Holt County. Mr. Ew'ing built a log 
house, the roof of whicii was made of "Ne- 
braska shingles" (prairie sod). He was 
appointed the first postmaster in Holt Count}-, 
the mail being brought from Norfolk, the 
nearest railroad station, once a week. The 
first two months Mr. Ewing had to bring the 
mail from Frenthtown himself. After the 



route was extended to O'Neill, the stage 
drivers made this a station for changing 
horses. This ofiice was called Ford Post 
Ofiice and was kept on the north side of the 
river, where the family have lived since 1875. 

When the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri 
Valley Railroad reached Holt County, the 
stage route was abandoned, the station of 
Ewing established and Ford's postolfice was 
discontinued. 

In politics, Mr. Ewing was a stanch Re- 
publican, he served three years as County 
Commissioner, being one of the first in the 
county. 

He of whom we write was united in mar- 
riage (the first time) September 14, 1837, ^^ 
Matilda M. Stinson, of Giles County, Ten- 
nessee, by this union seven children were 
born: Salenniel E,, Statira C, (Mrs. W. E. 
Bailey,) Mellisa M. E., (Mrs. H. P. Towle,) 
Evander A., (deceased), Erastus T., Mary 
J., (Mrs. W. II. McKillip) and James S. 

Mrs. Matilda Ewing died September 20, 
1853, at Unionville, Iowa, and for his second 
wife our subject married, December 31, 1854, 
Sabina Clemens, born near Dayton, Ohio, 
daughter of John and Catherine Clemens, of 
German descent. Ry this marriage four 
children were born: Annie E., (Mrs. I. M. 
Davidson,) Clara E., (deceased), CIo E. 
(Mrs. F. D. Kendall) and Will P. 

Mr. E^wing was a prominent member of 
the Masonic Fra'ernity, belonging to the 
Knight Templar degree and was Grand 
Master of the State Lodge of Colorado. One 
of his grandcliildren, Guy Davidson was the 
first child born in Holt County, the date 
being February 21, 1872. For several years 
prior to his death, Mr. Ewing was in poor 
health. Mrs. Sabina Ewing still resides on 
the old homestead with her daughter, Mrs. 
Kendall, the latter was mairied Ma}' 12, 
1885, and is now the mother of two children, 
Cliff Ewing and Hazel. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ROBERT M. PEYTON, president and 
cashier of tiie State Bank of Creigh- 
ton, was born in Adams County, Ohio, 
December 3, 1853. the son of Lac_v L. Pey- 
ton, a natix'e of \'irginia, and Catherine 
(Monroe) Peyton, a native of Baltimore, 
Maryland. They first settled at North Lib- 
erty, Ohio. In 1869 they came to Harrison 
County, Iowa, where he embarked in farming 
and milling, and where he still resides; his 
wife having passed from the scenes of this 
life in 1890. 

The subject of this notice was educated in 
the common schools and came to Iowa in 
1869. The year following he left home and 
worked out at whatever he could get to do. 
He went to Mondamin, Iowa, where he 
worked up to a position paying him sixty-five 
dollars per month. In 1872 he went to work 
for the railroad company, and in the mean- 
time learned telegraphy and was sent as an 
operator on the F. E. & M. V. R. R., sta- 
tioned at Nickerson. In 1876 he went to 
Hooper, took charge of that station, remain- 
ing five years. June 3, 1881, he opened up 
the station at Creighton, and in 1886 com- 
menced the loan and real estate business, and 
from that engaged in l^anking. 

Mr. Peyton commenced life with nothing 
but his hands for his capital, but b}' hard 
work and good management has accumulated 
a competency, and toda}' ranks among the 
well-to-do business men of northeastern Ne- 
braska. 

Our subject was married at Little Sioux, 
Iowa, in 1876, to Miss Alice G. Long, the 
daughter of Peter R. Long. By this union 
one child was born — Robert CJuy. Mr. Pey- 
ton is a Royal Arch Mason, and for several 
years has held the position of Master of the 
Lodge, and represented his lodge at the 
Grand Lodge. He is a man deserving of 
much credit for the success he has achieved, 



purely by his own exertions. He is a stanch 
supporter of the Republican party, and highly 
respected in the communit)' in which he lives. 



R 



UFUS PRYER, tlie subject of this 
sketch, now residing at Neuman 
Grove, Madison County, Nebraska, 
was born in Noble County, Ohio, November 
30, 1844. His father, H^homas Pryer, was a 
native of Virginia, and his mother, Samantha 
(Merry) Pryer, a native of Ohio. They were 
married in the Buckeye State, the wife living 
but one year after marriage; our subject was 
but four days old at the time of her death, 
and was reared bj- his grandparents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Merry, remaining with them on a farm 
until sixteen years of age, receiving a good 
common school education. 

About that time the Civil War broke out, 
and in September, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany D, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infan- 
try, known as "Garfield's Regiment,"' as it 
was organized and commanded by him, until 
he was made Brigadier General, and chief of 
Rosencrans" staff, in 1S62 ; young Pryer was 
with the regiment during its entire three 5'ears 
service, except the last two months, when he 
became the victim of that dreaded army dis- 
ease. Chronic Diarrluva, and was sent home 
on a sick furlow, reduced to ninet}' pounds in 
weight; Inil recruited sulllcient strength to 
return to the rcgimetit in Louisiana, in time 
to return and be mustered out with it at Camp 
Chase, Ohio, after serving three j'ears and 
fifteen days. 

He participated with his regiment in the 
Big Sandy River campaign in Kentuck}-, un- 
der General Garfield, during the winter of 
1861 and 1S62, fighting in the battles of Mid- 
dlecrcck and Pound Gap, in both of which 
the Union forces were \ictorious. That 
spring the regiment was assigned to General 
George Morgan's command, and marched 
across the state of Kentucky, took part in the 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



543 



capture of Cumberland Gap, where Morgan's 
command was besieged and starved out. 
They cut their way out, and made one of the 
most memorable and skillful marches of the 
war, across the entire ^^tate of Kentucky, 
harassed on all sides during the entire march, 
and living entirely off of tiie country, already 
devastated by the Rebels in the winter of 
1862 ; went on an expedition under Colonel 
D'Coursey up the Kanawha River, West Vir- 
ginia, capturing Charleston: returning was 
assigned to the arm}- of the Mississippi, and 
was in the disastrous battle of Ciiickasau 
Bayou, under Sherman, the first and second 
days of January, 1863: they next took part 
in the battle and capture of Arkansas Post, 
and then the memorable campaign and siege 
of Vicksburg, fightingin the battles of Thomp- 
son's Hill, Raymond, Champion Ilill, Black 
River, Vicksburg and Jackson: was then 
transferred to the department of the Gulf, 
and was in General Grant's grand review at 
New Orleans; they were also in the Berwick 
Bay, and the famous Red River expedition, 
completing the term of the regiment's enlist- 
ment, with the total loss of nineteen odicers 
killed and wounded, and three humlred and 
forty- five enlisted men. 

After the close of the war our subject at- 
tended Sharon College one year, and in 1866 
came west and located in Guthrie County, 
Iowa, where he followed teaching for seven 
years. 

He was united in marriage in Guthrie 
County, in 1867, to Miss Alice J. Coleman, 
the daughter of Lemuel P. Coleman, a, native 
of North Carolina ; in 1872 he came to Mad- 
ison County, Nebraska, where he claimed a 
homestead. His first three years in the state 
was at the time when the grasshoppers were 
very destructive. The County was partially 
settled, and if it had not been for good friends 
in Iowa he would have been obliged to leave 
the countrv. Columbus was the nearest mar- 



ket point, and from that place all the lumber 
and provisions had to come. 

Politically , Mr. Pryer is a Republican, and 
has held several local offices of trust. At 
present he is Justice of the Peace, and con- 
nected with the Netiman Grove Advertiser 
as one of its editors. At an early day in 
Madison County he was tendered the office 
of County Judge, but refused to accept. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pryer are the parents of four 
living children: — Maud, wife of H. R. Wer- 
ick; Don A. (deceased) at the age of nine- 
teen ; Lee, junior editor of the Ncuman Grove 
Advertizcr, who graduated from Rathburn 
business college in 1892; Italia and Nellie. 

Mr. Pryer is a member of the Odd Fellows 
Fraternity, belonging to Neuman Grove Lodge 
No. 196. In his religious belief he is a Uni 
versalist. 

Besides owning a comfortable home in 
Neuman's Grove, he is the possessor of four 
hundred and twenty acres in Madison Coun- 
ty, three miles from his town. 

WILLIAM II. MAST, president of the 
Farmers' State Bank at Plainview, 
Nebraska, was born in Davenport, 
Iowa, February 6th, i860. lie is the son of 
August and Hannah (White) Mast, who 
emigrated to America in 1834. They settled 
in Ohio and after a few years removed 
to Memphis, Tennesee, where the father was 
engaged in steam-boating. In about 1845 he 
located permanently in Davenport, Iowa, 
engaging in mercantile business which he 
still follows. 

Politically, he is a standi supporter of the 
Democratic party, and was postmaster for a 
number of years under Democratic admini- 
stration. Mr. and Mrs. August Mast were the 
parents of eight children: Ferdinand E.. 
clerk in the establishment ot J. II. C. Peter- 
son & Son, of Davenport, Iowa: Charles A., 
president of the Citizens National Bank of 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Norfolk; Frank P., traveling salesman from 
Detroit, Micliigan : Clarence S., a resident 
of St. Joseph, in tlie employ of C, R. I. Sc 
P. R. R. company; Lee B., chief day 
operator for the Western Union Telegraph 
Company, at Davenport, Iowa; Amelia C, 
wife of H. Schomlierg, of Chicago : Jidia, 
single. 

The subject of this sketch, William H., was 
educated in the high school of Davenport, 
Iowa. For nine years he was employed by 
the Rock Island Railroad Company, in their 
land department. In August, 1889, he came 
to Plainview, Nebraska, where he was made 
president of the Farmers' State Bank. 

He was united in marriage at Davenport, to 
Miss Lulu Altman, the daughter of James S. 
Altman. To tliem has been born one son ; 
Burdette Pond, the date of his birth being 
September 12, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Mast 
are members of the Episcopal Church and 
worship in Trinity Church at Norfolk. 



HON. CHRISTIAN RATHMANN, 
Clerk of Washington County, Ne- 
braska, was born in Norlorfin, Hol- 
stein, Germany, December 17, 1S32. He is 
the son of Hans D. and Calharina (Rohwer) 
Rathmann, both natives of the same place. 
They were the parents of nine sons, three of 
whom are living — George D. , a larnur of 
Washington County, Nebraska : Jolin of 
Grand Island, Nebraska, and Christian, the 
subject of tliis sketch. 

Christian emigrated to America in 1853, 
landing in New York City, and was the first 
to establish the famil}' name in this country. 
He spent his youtliful days in his native 
country, receiving a liberal education. After 
coming to Aimerica he spent one year in New 
York City, then went to Burlington, Vermont. 
We next find liim engaged in a woolen 
factory at Winoosky Falls, Cheshire Count}', 
New Hampshire. He received word of his 



father's death in 1856, and returned to his 
native land, remaining until March, 1857, and 
then came to Nebraska, locating at Fort 
Calhoun, where he purchased a claim of a 
Mr. Sawyer. He developed and lived upon 
this claim sixteen years. 

In early life he was a stanch Republican, 
casting his first presidential vote for Abraham 
Lincoln in i860. In 1872 he voted for Horace 
Greeley, since which time he has been an 
Independent. In 1867 he was elected to the 
State Legislature, that being the first session 
held at Lincoln. In 1872 he was a candidate 
for Secretary of State on the Liberal ticket. 

He left tlie farm and for one year was en- 
gaged in the milling business on the Elkhorn 
River, near Arlington; was cashier and book- 
keeper in the bank of A Castetter in Blair 
four years. On account of ill healtli, he left 
the bank and went to buying live slock. In 
the fall of 1887 he was elected County Clerk, 
and re-elected in 18S9 and 1891, which office 
he has filled with credit to himself and to the 
citizens of Washington County. 

Mr. Rathmann was united in marriage in 
1874 ^o Miss Sophia Horstmann, a native of 
Itzehoe, Holslein, German}', born July 23, 
1855- She accompanied her parents to the 
United States in 1853 when a mere child. By 
this union six children were born— John 
Ulrich, September 28, 1875 : Frank Christian. 
August 12, 1877; Darwin Arthur, December 
21, 1879: Catherine EHzabelli, December 9, 
1881 ; Anna Margaretha, January 13, 1886; 
Anton Frederick, October 31, 1887. 

At the time Mr. Rathmann came to Ne- 
braska it was yet wild and new, and even a 
prophet could not have told what a great 
Commonwealth Nebraska would come to be 
within a quarter of a century. Year by year 
she has made rapid strides, and now lakes 
front rank among the stars within tlie galaxy 
of Stales. When he came to the Territory, 
Omaha was but a small village, with not more 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



545 



than one tliousand inhabitants, and Washing- 
ton County's inhabitants were ver}' few, 
located only along the timbered creeks and 
next to the Missouri and Elkhorn Rivers. 
The open prairie was left vacant until after 
the homestead law was passed, when it was 
partly taken up by homesteaders, and the 
balance later by the Union Pacific and Sioux 
City & Pacific Railroad Companies as vacant 
land, donated to them by tlie United States 
Government. 



HON. PERRY SELDEN, editor of the 
^' Pilot'' at Blair, Nebraska, was born 
in Canandaigua, New York, May 2, 
1842, of English descent: the early ancestors 
settled in Connecticut, while another branch 
of the family settled in South Carolina. The 
grandfather, Jonathan Selden, settled in wes- 
tern New York at a very early day, where 
Oscar B., our subjects father was born, he 
being one of a family of ten children. He 
was married in Canandaigua to Miss Sarah 
"^alker. In the summer of 1844 they moved 
to Oakland County, Michigan, where he fol- 
lowed the trade of blacksmithing. He arrived 
at Omaha, Nebraska, in tiie autumn of 1854, 
the same year he removed his family which 
he had left m Iowa City, Iowa. At that time 
there was not to e.\ceed three families in 
Omaha, two of which was old Esquire Lindl\% 
who erected the "Douglas House" tiie first 
in the city, and William Snowden, the other 
families name not being known at this time. 
It is claimed that Mr. Selden was the first 
man to bring a team of horses into the Terri- 
tory of Nebraska. He was the first black- 
smith and first livery stable keeper. 

Mr. and Mrs. Selden were the parents of 
two children — Marilla, wife of W. A. Brown, 
and Perr3% the subject of this sketch. Mr. 
Selden, our subject's father, was accidently 
killed in Wyoming, having been shot in 



August, 1887. His good wife is still living 
with her son at Blair. 

Perry was twelve years of age when he 
came to Omaha, and when nineteen years of 
age he crossed the Plains to the West of the 
Rock}' Mountains, where he remained si.x 
years, and in the autumn of 1867 returned 
and attended Cornell College at Mount Ver- 
non, Iowa, where he spent one year. In the 
spring of 1869 he was united in marriage to 
Miss Lidia M. Newell, the daughter of 
Samuel A. Newell, a native of Massachusetts. 
The same year our subject settled on a home- 
stead in Washington County, fifteen miles 
northwest of Blair, where he developed a 
good farm, but subsequently moved into town 
and commenced the study of Law, being ad- 
mitted to the Bar in the fall of 1880. Just 
prior to being admitted to the Bar he com- 
menced work on the "P//tf/" for L. F. Hil- 
ton, with whom he remained four years. In 
the spring of 18S5 he received a government 
appointment as Superintendent of the Indian 
Industrial Boarding School at Yankton Indian 
Agency, and his wife was al.so appointed as 
matron of the same. They spent three years 
there, and in the fall of 1888 he, in company 
with Mr. Denna Allerb)-, purchased the 
'■'■Pilot,'' of which he has ^incc been the 
editor. 

Mr. Selden is a charter member of Garfield 
Lodge No. 6, Knights of Pythias, and is a 
member of Blair Lodge No. 14, Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows at Blair, Nebraska. 

Mr. and Mrs. Selden have had four chil- 
dren — Minnie A., born April 28, 1870 ; 
James W., born February 8, 1872 ; Fannie 
Louise, born Januar}- 6, 1877, died 1878: 
and Hurt, born July 29, 1880. 

Politically, our subject affiliates with the 
Republican party, and has been a Justice of 
the Peace for ten years; in the fall of 1876 
he was elected to the State Legislature. He 
delivered the county historical address upon 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



the Centennial occasion in 1876. In the 
spring of 1882 he was elected Mayor at 
Blair, holding the office for one year. In 
the spring of 1883 he was elected Police 
Judge, and held the position two years, lack- 
ing six weeks, at which time he resigned. 
In the spring of 1883 while holding the office 
as Police Judge he was nppointed to fill the 
office of County Judge, which position he 
held one year. He has always taken much 
interest in educational matters, and is at pres- 
ent president of the Blair Board of Education. 



JAMES S. STEWART, one of the pio- 
neers of Washington County, Nebraska, 
was born in Louisville, Kentuckj', May 
14, 1823, and is of Scotch descent. He is 
the son of George and Eliza (Smiley) Stewart. 
Tlie former was born in Westmoreland 
County, Pennsylvania, in 1799, and the latter 
in Scotland, about iSoi, and came to America 
when a child, and was reared in Washington 
Count}', Pennsylvania. They were married 
in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Kentucky 
when young people in 1822, locating at 
Louisville, where they resided for several 
years. They were the parents of seven 
children: James S., subject of this notice; 
Mary J., wife of John M. Wright, a promi- 
nent farmer of Washington County, Indiana ; 
Washington, of Jefferson County, Nebraska; 
Maigaret, single : Martiia, wile of James F. 
Wiseman, lumber dealer at Blair, Nebraska; 
Amanda, wife of William Kimball of Barber 
County, Kansas, and Ann Eliza deceased. 

George Stewart, father of our subject, in 
his early life was a Jacksonian Democrat, but 
in 1840 he joined the Whig party and vote»l 
for William Henry Harrison, affiliating with 
the Whig party up to 1856, being opposed to 
the extension of Slavery into the Territories. 
He lield the same political views until his 
death in 1884, he being eiglity-five years of 
age. Mrs. Stewart died in 1848, and for his 



second wife Mr. Stewart married Rebecca 
Lee, who is still living. 

The subject of this notice, James S., was 
educated in the subscription schools of Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and attented a partial course 
in a Seminar}-. When twelve years ot age, 
he entered upon the duties of a clerk in a 
store, which he followed for several years. 
In the "forties" he went to Salem, Indiana, 
where he embarked in the mercantile busi- 
ness, continuing until 1S56 and then removed 
to the Territory of Nebraska, and settled on a 
farm a mile and a half from Blair. In the 
autum of 1857, when government land came 
into the market, he secured fifteen hundred 
acres, one thousand acres of which he now 
has under the highest state of culti\ation and 
all well slocked. 

At that time there was not an acre of land 
under the plow; ox teams were used by 
everyone and but few horses were to be seen 
in the country, and the only limber lo be 
found was along the streams. 

Mr. Stewart was united in marriage at 
Salem, Indiana, to Miss Mary A. Hungate, a 
native of Kentucky, born March 23, 1824. 
After their marriage they immediately came 
to Washington County, Nebraska. Their 
first house was constructed of logs cut on tlie 
Missouri River. It was 14x16 feet, all of 
wliich was in one room. Their furniture was 
of tiie rudest kind, their seats being made of 
nail kegs, and their first bed was grass 
thrown upon the fioor. Mr. Stewart soon 
purchased eight hundred acres of land upon 
wliich a part of tlie town of Blair now stands: 
he sold to tlie railroad company in 1S68. 

Mr. and Mrs Stewart are the parents of 
seven children: James H., a hardware 
merchant of Blair ; Amanda, wife of Samuel 
Worrick, a farmer of Washington County; 
Edgar A., of the firm of J. II. Stewart & 
Company, of Blair; Grant, a farmer of Wash- 
ington County; Kermott, farmer. 



hroRTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Mrs. Stewart died in 1890, a life long 
member of tlie Baptist Church, and iiiyhly 
esteemed by all of her acquaintances. 

Politically, IMr. Stewart alliliates with the 
Republican party, and in 1856-7 he was a 
member of the Territorial Legislature, also in 
the next two sessions. He served as County 
Commissioner from 1860-69. While he has 
held a number of prominent positions he is 
not an otlice seeker or a professional pohtician, 
and it is said has never attended a convention 
or paid out a dollar for political purposes in 
his own behalf, he being radicall}- opposed to 
anything of the kind. He is greatly opposed 
to liquor tralllc, and always uses his influence 
on the side of prohibition. He has been a 
charter member of several secret societies, 
including the Odd Fellows Order. He is 
also a master Mason and is in good standing 
in that fraternit\-. He is a member of the 
Baptist Church. 

At the time Mr. and Mrs. Stewart came to 
Nebraska, it was wild and unsettled. They 
have lived to see school houses dot the 
prairies here and there, with many a church 
spire pointing skyward, as an index to 
religion and morality. Railroads and tele- 
graphs cross and re-cross each portion of the 
Commonwealth, which at that time, was but 
an unsettled Territory. Surely, the age of 
wonder is upon us, and to be an eye witness 
to these great changes is an honor, but to be 
more than an eye witness, even a participator, 
is not accorded to all; but among this number 
may be enrolled the name of James S. 
Stewart. 



JOSEPH L. STEVENS. Postmaster at 
Plainview, Nebraska, and a member of 
the firm of J. L. Stevens & Co., loan 
and real estate dealers, was born in Almoral, 
Delaware County, Iowa, April 12. 1859, the 
son of Levi O. and Jannette (Lease) Stevens, 



of Vermont, who emigrated west and lirst 
located in Illinois about 1850, but jierma- 
nently. in Delaware County, Iowa. They were 
the parents of eight children, six of whom are 
living — Laura, wife of E. B. Kenyon of Nor- 
folk, Nebraska: Joseph L. ; Sarah P., wife 
of James Adams of Blair, Nebraska : Charles 
A., of St. Louis, a graduate of Iowa College, 
and an architect hy profession ; Thadius F., 
of Clarkson, Nebraska, engaged in the 
lumber business: Phillip H., a student at 
Blair, Nebraska. The subject of this notice 
was educated in the district schools, and 
attended a partial course in an academy of 
Iowa. In the spring of 1880 he came to 
Pierce County, Nebraska, and took a home- 
stead and tree claim of two hundred and 
fqrty acres, which he proved up. In 18S5 he 
came to Plainview, where he embarked in 
the real estate business, and was also pro- 
prietor of the '■'■Plainvie-.v Gazette'' for four 
years. 

Politically, he is a Republican, and in the 
spring of 1889 was appointed Postmaster. 
His name was among the first to receive con- 
sideration in Nebraska. He belongs to the 
Masonic lodge at Plainview, and has held the 
office of Treasurer and Tyler. 

He was united in marriage in the autumn of 
1881 to Miss Minnie Holly, the daughter of 
Henry Holly, one of the .early settlers of 
Pierce County, and a native of New York. 
They have three living children — Otho, born 
July 7, 1883: Roxie, July 15, 1889; Reiki, 
May 4, 1892. 

Mr. Stevens is a young man who has made 
his own way, having nothing to speak of, but 
his own hard work and close attention to 
business, to produce what he possesses. Him- 
self and family are highly respected in the 
community in which they live. They are 
members of the Baptist Church. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ARTHUR A. LOGAN, editor of the 
"■Creighton Courier,^' was born in 
Kankakee County, Illinois, January 
8. 1868, the son of Albert C. and Mary 
(Fessenden) Logan. Arthur A. grew to 
manhood in his native count}- and was edu- 
cated at the High schools at Momence, 
Illinois, and in 1884 came to Creighton, 
where, soon after, he learned the printer's 
trade. In 1S89 the Courier was established 
by A. C. Logan & Co., and January, 1890, 
the subject of this sketch purchased a half 
interest, when the firm was known as Lucas 
& Logan. January, 1892, he purchased Mr. 
Lucas' interest in the plant, and is now the 
sole proprietor. He publishes a very credi- 
table, clean paper, conducted in the interest 
of his town and count}', and also supports the 
Republican party. 

Mr. Logan was united in marriage in 1890 
to Miss Loucetla I. Robison, llic daughter of 
R. D. Robison, of Lincoln, Nebraska. 

DE WITT L. CRAMER, of Ewing, an 
attorney and prominent business man 
of Holt County, was born at Fair- 
banks, Buchanan County, Iowa, December 4, 
1857. His parents were Simon P. and Sarah 
L. (Soper) Cramer, the former being born 
near Montreal, Canada, and his grandfather, 
John Cramer, was a native of Holland, and 
came to America about the middle of the 
eighteenth century, settling in Herkimer 
County, New York. His son, Peter Cramer, 
was born in that locality. He served in the 
Continental Army under General Schuyler, 
and was on the transports of the Hudson 
River. About 1827 he removed to Pembroke, 
Dundas County, Canada, where his son, 
Simon P., was born When Simon P. was 
one year old, the family returned to New 
York, where he grew to manhood. In 1850 
he was living in Illinois, but later settled in 
Michigan, coming to Iowa in 1854, settling 



near Fairbanks on a farm. In 1880 he came 
to Orchard, Antelope County, Nebraska, and 
six years later to Ewing. In 1888 he bought 
a drug store, which business he still conducts. 
Peter Cramer married Mary Polly, the 
daughter of John Polly, a native of Massa- 
chusetts, and of Welch descent. By occu- 
pation, John Polly was a Sea-captain. Simon 
P. Cramer in 1854, married Sarah L. Soper, 
who was born in Franklin County, New 
York ; her father, Joseph Soper. was born at 
Rutland, Vermont, and served in the War of 
181 2 and was at the Battle of Lake Cham- 
plain. Simon P. Cramer's children are — 
Mary E. (Mrs. E. B. Rogers) ; De Witt L., 
the subject of this notice: Simon S. : Julia E. 
(Mrs. R. Howard); Elmer E. (deceased); 
William E. and Birdie M. 

De Witt L. attended the Upper Iowa 
University, at Fayette, completing a business 
course, and spent three years in a cla.ssical 
course. In the meantime he taught at 
intervals at Waterloo, Oelwine, and Maynard, 
Iowa. In the spring of 1878 he went to 
Leadville, Colorado, on a prospecting trip 
and in the autumn of that year came to 
Neligh, Nebraska, locating the first home- 
stead in township 27, range 8, west; Antelope 
County. He built the first house in the town- 
ship, of prairie sod, drawing lumber from 
Niobrara, a distance of fifty miles, with 
which to make a roof and floor. He con- 
tinued to live on his homestead until 1882. 
In 1882 he came to Ewing, taught school one 
winter, and in the spring of 1883 opened up 
the first drug store in the place, afterwards 
adding general merchandise. He sold his 
drug department in 1884. About 1885 he 
began studying law, and was admitted to the 
Bar March 13, 1891. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican, 
and was a candidate for County Judge in 
1891. He has served as Justice of the Peace 
several years ; was chairman of the first 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Village Board, and is also the present chair- 
man. 

Mr. Cramer was united in niarria<(C' 
August 30, 18S4, toMiss Christina K. Ander- 
son, a native of Sweden, born near Stock- 
holm. B\- this union two children were born, 
Arthur W. and Christina E. Our subject 
w as a charter member of tlie Masonic Lodge 
A. F. & A. M., at Ewing, also of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights 
of Pj'thias. 

He has alwajs taken an active interest 
in all public enterjirises, and in business 
seldom refused credit to any wortiiy 
customer, and in this way helped many early 
settlers to get a start. Owing to a failure of 
crops in 1886, and being unable to collect 
many outstanding accounts, he became 
linancially embarassed and was obliged to 
suspend business for a time. In 1883 Mrs. 
Cramer came to Ewing and engaged in the 
millinery business, which she still carries on. 



ALEXANDER BELMER, of Neligh, 
and one of the early settlers of Ante- 
lope County, was born in New York, 
November 26, 1823. He is the son of 
Anthony and Mary A. (Landree) Belmer 
who were born near Sorel, Canada. The 
paternal grandfather, Charles Belmer was a 
native of France. The grandfather, Landree 
was also a Frenchman. When Alexander 
was about eleven years of age the family 
moved to Lewistown, New York, where they 
lived on a farm. Al twenty-one years of age 
he left home and went to Battle Creek, 
Michigan, and in 1848 moved to Cairo, Michi- 
gan, where he followed farming and lumber- 
ing. One month after Fort Sumter had been 
fired upon and in May, 1861, he enlisted as a 
member of Company E, Seventh Michigan 
Volunteer Infantry and re-enlisted in Decem- 
ber, 1863,1 n the same companj-, receiving his 
final discharge December, 1S64. He was 



assigned to the Army of the Potomac and 
took part in the principle engagements, until 
the Siege of Petersburg, where he was 
wounded in the back and right hip, August 6, 
1S64. He was sent to a hospital, but never 
recovered and was discharged leaving him a 
cripple for life and is now totalh- blind. He 
had also been slighth- wounded in the Battle 
of the Wilderness. After the war he re- 
turned to Michigan and in the spring of 1870, 
came to Antelope Count}-, Nebraska, driving 
through witli a team. He located a home- 
stead on the southwest quarter of section 
fifteen, township twenty-five, range six. 
Their nearest neighbors were 'i\v& miles below 
them and the next settlement was at French- 
town, twelve miles above. Settlers there had 
been driven away shortly before by the 
Indians but returned that fall. In December, 
1870, he and ten others went in jnirsuit of the 
Indians and overtook them near the present 
site of O'Neill and after killing six of the red 
skins the others were dispersed ; one or two 
white men were wounded. This little com- 
pany of men included about all the able 
bodied men in the county. 

Mr. Belmer built a log house and stable 
immediately east and near the site of the 
present town of Neligh, and there broke five 
acres, the first year. He had on\y forty-eight 
cents in cash when he arrived in Nebraska 
and himself and sons worked in harvest at 
West Point and earned some money upon 
which to live. Their nearest store and mill 
was at Norfolk. The}- also worked on the 
railroad and made some money by making ox 
yokes for sale. After improving his farm he 
sold out and in i88o moved to the village of 
Neligh, where he now resides. He also 
planted five acres of timber on his timber 
claim, which are now large trees. 

Politically, Mr. Belmer is an enthusiastic 
Republican. He has served as contstable 
and deputy sheriff of Antelope County. 



550 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



He was united in marriage October 5, 1848, 
to Sarah E., daughter ol Frederick. Sheldon, 
of Dearborn, Michigan. Mrs. Belmer was 
born at Mercellis, New York. By this union 
eight children were born:. Mary Isabell, 
(Mrs. Brooks); Nancy J., (Mrs. N. Bro- 
man): Charles U. : Albert D. ; Lydia, (Mrs. 
L. Warren): Clara, (Mrs. S. Sanders); Fred- 
erick A. and Frank A. 

Mr. Belmer is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, an organization in 
which he has earned the right to be a 
member of; lie is a patriotic veteran, and a 
highly respected citizen, and no one but the 
blind can in any sense appreciate what his 
sacrifice has been in order that the Union of 
States might be preserved. 



HASON TURNER, County Superinten- 
dent of Schools of Pierce County, 
Nebraska, was born in St. Lawrence 
County, New York, April 14. 1847. His 
grandfather, Jonathan Turner, was of Massa- 
chusetts, and followed the occupation of cod 
fishing. His father was Elisha R. Turner, 
who was born in Piiillipstown, Massachusetts, 
who married Julia Hydron, a native of Tro}', 
New York, of German descent. They were 
married at Troy, New York, where the father 
carried on the shoe making business, and 
subsequently removed to St. Lawrence Coun • 
ty, where he engaged in farming. They were 
the parents of eleven children — Vincent, a 
farmer of St. Lawrence County ; Hosea B., 
a famer of the same county . Jefferson, a 
wheelwright of Clifton, Kansas. He was a 
soldier, enlisting from Michigan, and served 
through the Civil War with honor; William, 
a farmer of St. Lawrence County, who was a 
soldier in the One Hundred and Si.vth New 
York Infantry, who was wounded, being in 
every engagement that his regiment took part 
in ; Martha, wife of David L. Walker, of 
St. Lawrence County ; Elisha R., inspector 



of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and a resi- 
dent of St. Lawrence Count}-. He enlisted 
in the Sixtieth New York Volunteer Infantrv, 
and was with General Sherman on his mem- 
orable "March to the Sea." He was woun- 
ded in the tliigh, and mustered out as Orderly- 
Sergeant. Denn\-, a soldier of the Sixteenth 
New York Infantry, wlio was discharged on 
account of disability, he is now a resident of 
Pierce County, Nebraska ; Lydia, wife of 
Daniel Fleetham, of St. Lawrence County, 
New York; Dr. Jason and Hason, twins, lo- 
cated in St. Lawrence County, both of whom 
were in the employ of the Government at 
City Point, and were in the city of Petersburg 
the morning after it was captured ; Julia A., 
wife of J. R. Humphrej', of St. Lawrence 
County. 

, Elisha R. was a great admirer of Abraliam 
Lincoln, and was a stanch Republican. He 
died in St. Lawrence Count}- in 1S74. His 
wife survived him until 1881, and then died 
in the same county. The}' were members of 
the LIniversalist Church. 

He of whom we write this notice, was edu- 
cated at the common and high schools, and 
graduated at Bryant Sc Stratton's Business 
College at Ogdensburg, New York, and took 
a partial course at the Slate Normal School 
at Alban}-. He taught one term at Clifton, 
New York, after that he was employed as 
book salesman. For many years he was in 
the employ of Appleton »& Co., of New York, 
and afterwards for Brown & Co. He traveled 
extensively throughout the country. In 1882 
he came to Pierce County, Nebraska, pur- 
chased a homestead and proved up on the 
same. There was a frame building and a 
sod barn upon the place at the time, but today 
he is the owner of a well improved farm. 

He was united in marriage in St. Lawrence 
t^ounty, New York, in 1882, to Miss Nena 
Bell, daughter of James Bell. Our subject 
brought his young wife to the wilds ot Ne- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



5M 



hraska where he remained until he proved up 
on his hinds, after which he returned to St. 
Lawrence Counl\', lived two years, and then 
returned to Nebraska. In the autumn of 1S91 
lie was elected to his present office. 

Of our subject's domestic life it may be 
said, that their home is blessed by the advent 
of three children — Belle Ann, born July 9, 
18S3 ; Marshall, January 13, 1886, and Laura, 
January 21, 1893. In politics Mr. Turner is 
identified with the People's Party mo\ement. 



GEORGE H. McGEE, of Clearwater, 
one of the busy, enterprising citizens 
of Antelope County, was born nean 
Farley, Iowa, September 30, 1848. His 
parents were James and Martha A. (Ander- 
son) McGee, the former was born near 
Armagh, Ireland. He came to America in 
1831 and in 1836 settled at Dubuque, Iowa, 
and was one of the pioneers of that county, 
where he still resides. 

Mrs. Martha A. McGee was born near the 
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Her parents 
were John and Elizabeth (Ilaggardj Ander- 
son, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, 
respectively, and were originally of Irish and 
W'.'lsh descent. The Andersons took part in 
the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. 

Our subject attended the public schools 
and also Cornell College at Mount Vernon, 
Iowa. He taught school when nineteen years 
of age and three years later came to Ne- 
braska, May, 1871. He built a saw mill near 
the mouth of Clearwater Creek, a half mile 
east of the present village. This he carried 
on for about six years, when the supplv of 
timber became exhausted. He served as 
surveyor of Antelope County for ten years 
and has surveyed a large portion of the 
county, as well as at many othei* points 
throughout the northern part of the State. 
For a time he was engaged as a surveyor of 
the B. & M. R. R. Co. He laid out the 



town of Neligh and a portion of O'Neill. In 
1886 he built a grist mill two miles above the 
mouth of Clearwater Creek, which plant he 
still operates. It has a capacity of twenty- 
five barrels per daj\ He also carries on a si.x 
hundred and eighty' acre farm devoted to 
stock raising, usually keeping about one 
hundred and twenty-five head of cattle. Be- 
sides his home farm he also has a three 
hundred and twent}' acre tract in Blain town- 
ship, which he rents. For a number of years 
our subject carried on bridge building and 
other contract work. 

Politically, he is a Republican ; he has 
served as county supervisor for two j'ears, 
being chairman of the Board. 

He was united in marriage, July 9, iSSi, to 
Adelaide, daughter of George E. Van Oster- 
and of Clearwater. She was born at New- 
ark, New York. By this union six children 
have been born : Emma L. : Stella E. : 
Georginia,; Edward C; Susan M. ; Minnie. 

Mr. McGee is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, and no man 
stands higher in the community for integrity, 
uprightness and industry than does he. 

ALBERT STEINKRAUS, Treasurer of 
Pierce County, Nebraska, will form 
the subject of this biograph}-. He was 
born in Pommerania, German}', September 
8, 1S53. He received a liberal education in 
his native country. His parents were Fred- 
erick and Sophia (Marten) Steinkraus, who 
emigrated to the United States in the autumn 
of 1870, arriving in December, and spent 
the first winter at Omaha, Nebraska. 
The following March they moved to Madison 
County and settled on a homestead north of 
Norfolk, where they erected a cabin in which 
the family lived until a more commodious 
house could be built. The sons carried on 
the place, while the father worked at the 
tailor's trade. In 1S74 he erected a building 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



in which he followed his trade for several 
years, he being the first one in his line 
to locate at Norfolk. He is now living a 
retired life in Pierce County. Mr. and Mrs. 
Frederick Steinkraus liad four children — 
Albert Herman, a farmer in Pierce County, 
Charles of Denver, Colorado, and Fred, Jr., 
clerking in Treasurer's office for his brother 
Albert. 

The subject of this biography came to 
America when seventeen years of age, and 
followed farming up to January, 1884, when 
he was elected to the office of Treasurer of 
Pierce County, and re-elected in 1885. In 
the autumn of 1S87 he was elected County 
Clerk and e.x-Officio Clerk of the District 
Court and Register of Deeds. In 1890 he 
engaged in the real estate business under the 
firm name of Pohlman & Steinkraus. In 
December, 1890 he was appointed to fill a 
vacancy in the County Treasurer's office, and 
the following year was again elected to that 
position which lie still holds. Politically, he 
is a stanch supporter of llie Democratic 
party. 

Mr. Steinkraus was married March iS, 
1878 to Miss Mary Ruehlow, a native of 
Wisconsin. They are the parents of five 
cliildren — Ernest, Rhienhold, Lena, Martha 
and Albert, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Steinkraus are 
consistent members of the Lutheran Church. 

At the time Mr. Steinkraus came to 
Madison County, it was wild and unsettled, 
and its brightness could never have been 
dreamed of, and much less realized. He has 
lived to see school houses scattered over the 
prairies, with churches by tiieir side, and 
a well educated and contented people. He 
has lived to see countless manufactories 
spring up all over the great State, while rail- 
roads cross and re-cross each other, pene- 
trating every nook and corner. Telegraph 
and telephone wires can scarcely be numbered, 
and man is permitted to carry on conversation 



one with another, a hundred miles away. 
Surely tiie age of wonder is upon us, and to 
be an ej^e witness to these changes is an 
honor ; but to be more than an eye witness, 
even a participant, is not accorded to all, but 
among this number may be enrolled the name 
of Albert Steinkraus, one of tiie pioneers 
of Nebraska. 



JOHN W. WERTZ, editor and postmaster 
at Stuart, Nebraska, was born in Wayne 
County, Ohio, January 2, 1852, the son 
of Levi and Margaret J. (McGregor) Wertz, 
the former a native of Quinc}-, Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, who decended from 
Jacob Wertz a native of Switzerland: he 
came to America in 1732 landing at Phila- 
delphia. He settled in York County, Penn- 
sylvania about 1747. He was the great- 
great-grandfather of Levi Wertz. Mrs. 
Margaret J. Wertz was born in Bedford 
County, Pennsylvania : her father, Alex- 
ander and her grandfather, Alexander Mc- 
Gregor came from Dundee, Scotland, and 
claims to have been a member of the famous 
legion of fighters, known as the Scottish 
Highland Clans. Levi Wertz now resides at 
White Pigeon, Keokuk County, Iowa, where 
Mrs. M. J. Wertz died. 

When John W. was four years of age, the 
family removed to Iowa County, Iowa, and 
six years later to Keokuk Count}- and he 
attended the Western College now located at 
Toledo, Iowa, leaching school at intervals to 
earn money to pursue his studies. He con- 
tinued to teach for ten years. In 1880 he 
came to Holt County, Nebraska and claimed 
a homestead near Hainesville. In 18S3 he 
was made deputy postmaster at O'Neill and 
local editor of the Frontier. In December, 
1883, he accepted a position as manager for 
the Chicago Lumber Company at Stuart, 
which he held until the autumn of 1885. In 
18S6 lie purchased an interest in the Stuart 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



553 



Ledger and a few months later became the 
sole proprietor and has published the same 
ever since. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican ; he 
has been postmaster since June 15, 1892. In 
18S3 he was a candidate for county clerk on 
the Republican ticket, and has held the office 
of the Justice of the Peace for the last six 
years. He taught three terms of school in 
Holt Count}'. The first term in Willowdale 
township was taught at his own house. He 
was instrumental iti the organization of that 
township. 



JOHN F. HECHT, president of the Plain- 
view State Bank and a real estate dealer, 
is a native of Will County, Illinois, born 
at Joliet, November 3, 1854. He is the son of 
Christian Hecht, who was born in German}', 
emigrating to America in 1852, he being the 
first toestablish liis family name in the United 
States. Christian Hecht was married in Will 
County, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth Deerson, 
who was also a native of Germany. In 1861 
they removed to a point near Grant Park, 
Kankakee County, Illinois, which at that 
time was a very new country. They were 
obliged to go to Ciiicago, a distance of forty- 
three miles for flour and provisions. In 1884 
Mr. Hecht came to Pierce County, Nebraska, 
wliere he claimed a homestead which he still 
owns. Mr. and Mrs. Christian Hecht were 
the parents of five children who are living — 
John F. : George II.: Alice, (wife of Albert 
Herbert, of Grant Park, Illinois, a hardware 
merchant); Herman J., (a farmer of Pierce 
County, Nebraska) ; and Charles C. at home. 
Tlie father of our subject is a stanch Re- 
publican, and in the fall of 1884 was nomi- 
nated as county treasurer, and carried his 
precinct by a large majority. By good man- 
agement and much hard work he has accum- 
uhUed a large property, there being about 
one thousand acres of land in his family. 



John F., of whom we write this notice, was 
educated in the district schools which he 
attended during the winter, working on the 
farm during the summer season. In 1876 he 
attended the Normal School of Northern 
Indiana at Valparaiso, from which he gradu- 
ated. In the autumn of 1876 he came to 
Saunders County, Nebraska, where he was 
employed as a clerk and book-keeper for the 
firm of Henry Fuhrman, with whom he re- 
mained six years. In 1882 he was united in 
marriage to Miss Jessie Stocking, a daughter 
of the late Moses Stocking, her mother's 
maiden name being Anna Loomis: her father 
was the first county commissioner of Saun- 
ders County, and president of the State Agri- 
cultural Society. He also represented the 
State of Nebraska at the Centennial Exhibi- 
tion in 1876; he was awarded the first pre- 
mium on wool, and also received a gold medal 
as one of the Commissioners. He was a 
Republican, but never an ofiice seeker, how- 
ever he was talked of for Governor at one 
time. He was of a literary turn of mind and 
made many valuable contributions to the 
newspapers. 

After the marriage of Mr. Hecht he soon 
came to Plainview, where he established the 
first bank of the place, and since which time 
he has been extensively engaged in banking 
and real estate business. Politically, he is a 
supporter of the Republican parly : he was a 
candidate for county treasurer in 1891, but 
was defeated by a small majority, by the 
coming out of the People's Party. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hecht are the parents of 
three daughters — Inez, born June 20, 1885 ; 
Serene, born October 23, 1886 ; Freda, born 
June 25, 1889. Mrs. Hecht was born in 
Cass County, Nebraska, November 26, 1S59, 
and was educated at the State Normal School 
at Peru, graduating in 1880. 

Mr. Hecht belongs to the Masonic Fra- 
ternity, being a member of Plainview Lodge, 



554 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



A. F. & A. M. No. 204, and is at present 
Worthy Master of the Lodge, of which he is 
a charter member. He has represented his 
lodge three years at tlie Grand Lodge. lie 
also belongs to the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 



JAMES IL SMITH, of Madison, who is 
engaged in the furniture and undertak- 
ing business, was born near Alientown, 
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, March i, 
1832. His great-grandfather Abraham Smith, 
came from Germany, prior to tiie Rovolution- 
ary War, and served in that conflict. His 
grandfather, also named Abraham was a 
soldier in the War of 1812. He was married 
in Massachusetts, to Catharine Barker, by 
which union a family of eight children were 
born: Elizabeth, Abraham, John, Daniel, 
Sophia, Betsy, Bevie and Christian. The 
father of our sketch was Abraham Smith, 
born in Pennsylvania, in iSoo or in 1801, and 
married Amelia Serberling, born in Lehigh 
County, Pennsylvania, in 1808. They were 
the parents of eight children: Jane, who mar- 
ried Gideon Mayer, now a resident of Allen- 
town, Pennsylvania ; James li., the subject of 
this notice; William, for manj' years was a 
wholesale grocer in Philadelphia, he died in 
1888: Abraham, died in Pennsylvania, in 
1872; Sarah, of Eastern Pennsylvania; 
Thomas E., of Alientown Pennsylvania and 
two who died in infancy. 

Mr. Smith alHliates with the Congre- 
gational Ciiurch, while the motiier is a 
Lutheran, and is still living at Alientown, 
aged seventy-eight years. Her husband pass- 
ing from tiie scenes of this life in 1859. 

He of whom we write this notice was 
educated at the common schools and when 
eighteen years of age took up the carpenters 
trade and followed the same for several 
years. He was married in 1855. In 1876, 
he emigrated with his family to Madison, 



Nebraska, and followed his trade until 1888, 
and then engaged in his present business. 
When he came to Madison County, the 
village contained but thirteen houses and the 
farmers nearly all lived in dug-outs, and 
their nearest railroad point was Columbus. 
Behold, what a transformation has taken 
place. The unbroken prairies of the count}' 
have become well tilled, finely improved 
farms, yielding their annual harvest of golden 
wealth. 

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of five 
living children: Monroe, a general merchan- 
dise dealer at Madison, Nebraska; Albert, a 
merchant ; Clinton, life insurance and real 
estate agent; Charles, assistant cashier in the 
Elkhorn Valley Bank at Tilden ; Elmer, a 
clerk in a store. 

Politically, Mr. Smith is an old time Repub- 
lican, casting his first vote for General John 
C. Fremont, in 1856, and was greatly opposed 
to the extension of slavery in the Territories. 
He is a friend of all educational institutions. 
Both he and his estimable wife are members 
of the Evangelical Church and has done 
much toward the upbuilding of the same. 

THOMAS KRYGER, a real estate dealer 
of Neligh, Antelope Count}-, was born 
in Dunkirk, New York, July 17, 
1851, the son of Peter and Thressa (Karbael) 
Kryger. Peter Kryger came from Holland 
when a young man, settling at Buffalo, New 
York, about 1847. Mrs. Kr3ger, formerly 
Mrs. Squiner, was also a native of Holland, 
and died at Dunkirk about 1875. Mr. Peter 
Kryger now resides at Lyons, Nebraska. 
When fifteen years of age, Thomas, of whom 
we write this notice, left home and went to 
Holland City, Michigan, where he attended 
Hopehaven University, graduating in 187 1. 
The same year he came to West Point, Ne- 
braska, taught school seven months, and in 
the spring of 1872 took charge of a stock of 



Northeastern Nebraska. 



merchandise and a grist mill at Oakdale, 
Nebraska. In 1877 he engaged in general 
merchandising for himself, and in 1884 moved 
t(i Neligh, where he engaged in the abstract 
and real estate business, and has carried on 
the latter branch of business ever since. Me 
also has charge of a livery business, and is 
Secretary of tlie Antelope Agricultural 
Societ}'. Politically, he is a Republican. He 
was postmaster of Oakdale four years, and has 
held numerous local ofHces. He was married 
August 23, 1S73, to Mary L., dauglUcr of 
Thomas Harden, of Raritan, Illinois. Mrs. 
Kryger was born in Utica, New York. Their 
children are Marvin T., Elsie L. andOgdenE. 
Mr. and Mrs. Krj-ger are members of the 
Episcopal Church, and he is a public spirited 
intelligent citizen. 

HON. BENJAMIN F. ROBERTS, of 
O'Neill, came to Holt Count}' in July 
1S82, and located in tiie north-west 
part of the County, where he took a home- 
stead and tree claim. Among his improve- 
ments on tliis land may be nientioned a 
twelve hundred dollar residence, willi accom- 
panj'ing outbuildings. He remained on this 
land two years, and was elected to the ollice 
of County Judge, moved to O'Neill and held 
the oflice two years, after which he engaged 
in other business, and is still a resident of the 
place. When he came to the County the 
terminus of the F. E. cS: M. V. Railway was at 
Stuart, and O'Neill had a population of three 
luindred, and only contained two stores and a 
hotel. In January, 1888, a destructive storm 
swept over the country, causing the loss of 
many lives as well as property, including 
large herds of cattle that perished. 

He of whom we write this notice was born 
in Genesee County, New York, August 
1819, son of Benjamin V . and Electa Roberts, 
natives of New York and Connecticut respec- 
tively, whose children were : Benjamin F., 



Almii-a, Warren, Ebenezer, Elizabeth, Abigal, 
Electa and Albert. 

Our subject when six months of age, ac- 
companied his parents to Southern Ohio, and 
when ten years old, the}' moved to the 
Northern part of the same State, where he 
attended school, went through with an 
academic course and taught school. He also 
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 
Cincinnati, and followed his profession in the 
Buckeye State. He remained there until 
1854, when he moved to Madison County, 
Iowa, where he bought a farm of three hun- 
dred and sixty acres, upon which he put 
good improvements, including a six thousand 
dollar residence. Four )'ears later he was 
elected to the House of Representatives, and 
was then elected to the State Senate, and 
received the appointment of railroad com- 
mitteeman, holding the oflice one term. He 
was also attornc}' for tlie Des Moines Railway 
for three years, and also general agent. He 
moved to Des Moines and engaged as a rail- 
road contractor. He had a farm of one 
tiiousand acres in Polk County, Iowa, and 
remained in that State until 1882. 

He was married January, 1843, to Marietta 
Jennings, whose parents were natives of Con- 
necticut. Their children were: Marietta, 
John, Gustavius and Augusta. Mrs. Roberts 
died October, 1882, and for his second wife, 
he married in 1884, Maria C, daughter of 
Isaac and Sarah Wagers, natives of Pennsyl- 
vania and Ohio. 

Our subject and his second wife have no 
children, but b}' his former wife, five were 
born — J. F.. Augusta, M. W., Electa and 
Ettie. 

Mr. Roberts is Independent in politics and 
temperate in his habits: neither cliews, 
smokes or drinks. He is a member of the 
Metiiodist Episcopal Church, belongs to the 
Masonic Order and is a Knight Templar. 
He is also an honored member of the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



WILLIAM D. MATHEWS, editor of 
the Frontier at O'Neill, Holt Coun- 
ty, has been a resident since the 
spring of 1880. He first took a homestead 
thirty miles north of O'Neill, remaining a 
short time and moved to O'Neill where he 
established a local paper known as the 
Frontier, the second paper in Holt County, 
the first being the Record, which was only 
operated a few months. Fifty people would 
cover the population of O'Neill, at that time, 
while that of the county and territory attached 
was 3,100. Tlie town of O'Neill has grown 
to a population of about 1,500, and now has 
three newspapers besides the Frontier. Its 
first circulation was about one hundred, which 
has grown to about four thousand. In ad- 
dition to his newspaper work, our subject has 
also been engaged in the banking and land 
business, and buill a number of residences in 
O'Neill. 

Mr. Mathews was born in Stevenson 
County, Illinois, October 1855, the son of 
Samuel and Celia Mathews, who were natives 
of Ohio, whose four children were: Charles, 
William D., Harry and Ada. The parents 
are both deceased. Our subject remained in 
Illinois until twelve j'ears of age. He then 
went to Wisconsin, and from there to Iowa, 
and from that state moved to Nebraska. He 
obtained his education, by his own exertions, 
entering college at the age of sixteen, at 
Carthage, Illinois, remaining there one year. 
He came to Holt County, Nebraska, eleven 
hundred dollars in debt. 

He was united in marriage in 1876, to 
Emaline, daughterof Bowler and Anna Thorn- 
ton, natives of England, whose eleven 
children were : Thomas, Anna, Almyria, 
Adalade, John, (deceased) ; George, (de- 
ceased) ; Emaline, John, (deceased) : George, 
Fred and Matlie. 

Our subject anil his wife are the parents of 
six children. 



Politically, Mr. Mathews is a stanch Re- 
publican. He is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, Lodge No. 95, also of the Odd 
Fellow and Knights of Pythias Orders. 



HENSON J. COLE, Dental Surgeon, 
practicing at Norfolk, was born near 
Morganstown, West Virginia, Jul}' 
26, 1855. His parents were John H. and 
Sabina (Shirly) Cole, of old Virginia stock. 
Politically, the father was a Democrat, and 
held several otlices of importance, and was a 
member of the Constitutional Convention. 

He of whom we write this notice was edu- 
cated at the district schools, and graduated at 
the State Normal School. In 1874 he came 
West, and located at Cambridge, Ilenrj^ 
County, Illinois, where he studied his pro- 
fession, imder Doctor G. A. Vawter. In 
1882 he came to Norfolk, Nebraska, where 
he has been in active practice, he being the 
oldest dental surgeon in Madison Count}', 
where he has secured a large and lucrative 
practice. He is a member of the Nebraska 
Dental Society, and has filled all the positions 
from President down. He is also a member 
of the American Dental Association. 

The Doctor was united in marriage at Nor- 
folk, in 1883, to Miss Mary Harrison, the 
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Harrison, a 
retired farmer of Cambridge, Illinois. Two 
children bless this union — Rosella, born 
October 2, 1887, and Nadine. born April 16, 
1892. 

Doctor Cole takes all of the leading dental 
journals, is thoroughly posted regarding the 
modern school of dentistry, and is in the 
possession of almost every known instrument 
and appliance known to science, and hence is 
remarkably successful in his profession. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



HERBERT HENRY HAKE, of Nor- 
folk, an extensive slock dealer, and 
one of the directors of the National 
State Bank, of that city, was born in Prince- 
ton, Green Lake County, Wisconsin, June 
30, 1S52. He is the son of Seymour Hake, 
who was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 
1812, of "Pennsylvania German" stock. His 
grandfather settled in Warren County, at an 
early day. His mother was Mary Reed, 
a native of Virginia, the daughter of Austin 
Reed, a foundryman, the predecessor of 
James Reed & Son, stove and grate business. 
They were married at Hakes Corner, and in 
1850, removed to Green Lake County, Wis- 
consin. By this union were born — Celia, 
wife of W. J. Frank, of Princeton, Wisconsin, 
who was a soldier in the Civil War, being a 
member of the Eleventh Wisconsin Regi- 
ment ; Cynthia, widow of A. C. Nye, of 
Norfolk : Cornelia, of Denver, Colorado ; 
James A., a live stock commission dealer of 
South Omaha; Benjamin, a cattle dealer of 
Omaha; H. H., subject of this sketch. The 
mother of the above family died at Princeton, 
Wisconsin, in 1880, a devout member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

The subject of this notice was educated in 
the common schools and took a partial course 
at Tabor College. He remained at home 
until he came West in 1875. He was a 
traveling salesman from Council Bluffs for 
two years. He then embarked in the stock 
business at Harlan, Avoca and Shelby, Iowa, 
under the firm of Hake Brothers. He then 
went to Utah, where they purchased large 
droves of cattle, of from five hundred to one 
thousand head, which they sold for feeding- 
purposes in Iowa and Wyoming. In 1880 
they formed a Ranch Company in Rock 
County, Colorado, and kept three thousand 
cattle and one thousand horses. In 1883, he 
sold his interest to Chicago parties. He then 
settled at (Jniaha, where he engaged in real 



estate business, also established a horse 
market. In April, 1889, he settled at Nor- 
folk. He has a pasture of eight hundred 
acres, and now keeps twenty-seven hundred 
head of three year old steers. 

Mr. Hake is yet a young man, and has by 
his own enterprise, accumulated a handsome 
property. He was united in marriage in 1882, 
to Miss M. Clougli, who was born in New- 
port, Vermont, August 27, 1854. ^'^^ '^ ^^e 
daughter of Charles R. Clough, born in 
Washington County, New York, in 1827. He 
married Miss Eliza E. Moore, now living in 
Lennox, Canada. He was a man of more 
than ordinary business ability, and during the 
Civil War purchased large droves of 
horses and did an extensive Hour and grain 
business. Mr. and Mrs. Clough were the 
parents of two children — Sydney L. and our 
subject's wife. Mr. and Mrs. Hake are the 
parents of three children. 

GEORGE WILLIAM WILKINSON, 
jihysician and surgeon, practicing at 
Norfolk, was born in Park County, 
Indiaiui, February 20, 1831. The family 
were of English descent and of Quaker stock. 
The family settled in Loudoun County, \'ir- 
ginia. His father, Joseph Wilkinson, was 
born in that county, and when fourteen )-ears 
of age went to Warren County, Ohio, where 
he married Miss Eliza Harlan, a relative of 
Senator Harlan of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. They 
were the p;irents of eight children ; Dr. 
Justin H., a physician who graduated from 
Green Castle University, Indiana, and also 
from the Medical College, at Louisville, 
Kentucky. He settled in Peoria County, 
Illinois, where he was in active practice for 
nearly forty years. He died in that count)'. 
Emaline, who married Joseph McFarland, 
and settled in Terra Haute, Indiana, where 
the}' both died. Mahalon, an attorney, who 
settled in Dakota County, Nebraska, in 1856. 



558 



NOR THE A S JERK NEBRA SKA . 



He was afterwards connected with the Indian 
service and died in Washington D. C. in 
1880; Minerva, widow of D. Kirkpatrick, 
(deceased ). She resides in Park County, 
Indiana ; George W., the subject of this 
notice ; Olinda, wife of E. Kirby, of Kansas ; 
Cornelia, of Montana ; Clara, died at the age 
of twenty years ; Mary A., married Frederick 
Robins, who is now deceased, she is a resi- 
dent of Terra Haute, Indiana ; Lisle, married 
Frank Snyder, and died at Mt. Pleasant, 
Iowa . 

Mr. Snyder was a brother-in-law of Frank 
Hatton, assistant Post Master General at one 
time. Mr. Wilkinson the Senior, was a well 
informed man, took much interest in politics 
and the living issues of the da}', but was in 
no sense a political office seeker. He died in 
1852. Mrs. Wilkinson died in 1850. 

When George W , of whom we write tliis 
notice was a bo}' he attended the district 
schools, and received an academic education 
at Greencastle. He tauglit school in order to 
pay his tuition at Greencastle. When twenty- 
three years old he commenced reading medi- 
cine with his brother Justin, of Peoria, Illinois. 
In 1857 he graduated at Rush Medical Col- 
lege at Chicago. He i^racticed one year and 
in May 1858, came to Dakota County, Ne- 
braska. He was appointed Surgeon of the 
First Nebraska Volunteer Cavalry. He 
went to the front and was engaged at Fort 
Donaldson and Shiloh. Tiien went to Mis- 
souri and was under Colonel Thayer. At the 
time the regiment veteranized, he still re- 
mained with them and was mustered out at 
Kearney, Nebraska. At the close of the 
War he returned to Dakota Count)', remained 
until 1889, continuing in active practice. In 
Maj' 1889, he was appointed by Governor 
Thayer as Superintendent of the Insane 
Asylum, at Norfolk, wlu'reup(m he removed 
to that city, but subsequenllj' he was relieved 



by Governor Bovd, who was declared the 
Governor in fact. 

The Doctor was united in marriage in- 1874. 
Mrs. Wilkinson was born August 3, 1849, in 
Connecticut. B}' this union two children were 
born. In 1870 our subject was Register of 
the Dakota Land Office, holding such posi- 
tion unfit 1875. In 1881 he was agent for the 
Omaha and Winnebago Indians, holding the 
place until 1885, receiving his appointment 
under President Garfield. He has been a 
Free Mason for thirty-seven years and has 
been Grand Warden in the Grand Lodge. 

Politicall}!, the Doctor is a Republican, and 
held the office of County Treasurer for eight 
years. 



LIEUT. JAMES H. KIERSTEAD, one 
of the leading merchants of Tilden, 
Nebraska, and a highly resjiected 
citizen of Madison Count}-, was born in 
Thompkins County, New York, August 10, 
1842, the son of James F. Kierstead, a native 
of New Jersey, and Orrissa (Wardsworth) 
Kierstead, of New England stock. By this 
union there were nine children born, five of 
whom still survive : Nancy, of Holland, 
Michigan : James IL, the subject of this 
notice ; Rosetta J., wife of Walter Powell, of 
Norfolk, Nebraska : Geoige A., a resident of 
Tilden ; Myron, a resident of Antelope 
County, Nebiaska. James F. Kierstead 
alliliated with the Democratic party, and was 
a great admirer of Stephen A. Douglas. He 
died in 1861, his good wife surviving imlil 
tiie spring of 1892. 

James II. was educated in the high schools 
of La Porte, Indiana, and in 1862 enlisted as 
a member of Company B, Seventy-third 
Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered into 
service at South Bend, and after a short time 
the regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky. 
There they drew their arms and received 
orders to march to Richnioiul Ri\er, but 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



while enroute received word that our troops 
had been defeated, and fell back to Louis- 
ville again, where they remained until Hood 
made his raid north ; they intercepted him, 
followed on south and fought the Battle of 
Stone River. The following spring the regi- 
ment was made an independent command, 
and they were on Straight's raid through 
Rome, Georgia, where our subject was taken 
prisoner by General Forest, and sent to 
Richmond; remained two weeks and was 
paroled; sent to Indianapolis, where he 
remained three months. He was then ex- 
changed and sent South, where he was in 
active service until the close of the war. 
May 4, 1864, he was commissioned as 
Second Lieutenant at Nashville ^ Tennessee, 
and soon promoted to First Lieutenant. He 
finally received a Captain's commission, but 
was never sworn into office. He was mustered 
out of Union service July i, 1865. 

Soon after his return home he was united 
in marriage to Miss Cordelia, daughter of N. 
Shipper, a native of Ohio. In 1870 our sub- 
ject removed to Seneca, Kansas, where he 
followed the carpenter and joiners trade until 
the autumn of 1873, when he removed to 
Antelope County, Nebraska, and there pur- 
chased a quarter-section of land. But wish- 
ing to better his circumstances, in 1876 he 
came to Madison County and secured a 
homestead, upon which he remained until 
1S83, and then mo\ed into the village of 
Tiklet), where he has since been engaged in 
the mercantile business. 

Mr. and Mrs. Kierstead are the parents of 
six children, as follows: George (deceased) : 
Delia Uell: Elsie E; Henry J.; Guy and 
Daisy. 

Sociall)-, Mr. Kierstead l)elongs to '-Gov- 
ernor Harvey Post,'" No. 182 of the Grand 
Army of the Republic," was one of the charter 
members, as well as Commander. He 



belongs to Tilden Lodge of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen. 

He of whom we write this sketch has 
always taken an active part in educational 
matters, as well as to anj'lhing calculated to 
advance the interests of his community. 
Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the 
Republican party. Both he and his estimable 
lady are welcome in every circle of society, 
and enjoy the confidence and esteem of the 
entire community. 



JOHN F. NEWHALL, a druggist of Til- 
den, Madison Count)-, Nebraska, was 
born in Middlese.x County, Massachu- 
setts, at the city of Waltham, September 24, 
1839. '^^"^'^ family are of English descent; 
his father, Chauncy ^Newhall, was born in 
Stratton, Vermont, 1801, and when a child 
went to Athal, and later to Waltham, where 
he married Charlotte Parker. He was em- 
ployed in the cotton mill for many j'ears. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chauncy Newhall were the 
parents of eight children, all of whom lived 
to be adults. 

Joseph, a machinist in the North Platte 
Union Pacific shops; George, died in Rio 
Janeiro, the mate of a vessel : Charles ; Jose- 
phine, wife of Harrison W. Childs, of West 
Point, Nebraska : John F , the subject of this 
sketch ; Marcus, died in 1861 : Clara, married 
Wesley Frost, and died in 1869; Harrison 
H., now retired. 

Chauncy Newhall died in Waltham in 1872, 
but his good wife still survives. 

John F., of whom we write this notice, was 
educated in the public schools of Waltham, 
and was apprenticed when fourteen 3'ears of 
age to the Boston Manufacturing Company', 
serving three and a half years, receiving three 
dollars per month, boarding himself, which 
was considered good wages at that time. 
After several years he went with the Baker 



560 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



& Grover Sewing Machine Company, and 
later returned to tlie Boston Manufacturing 
Compan}- and became their chief machinist. 

He was united in marriage at Waltham, 
Massachusetts, in i860, to Miss Sophia Hill, 
daughter of Robert Hill, of Londonderr3% 
Nova Scotia. In 1877, on account of his 
health he came west, stopping in Butler 
County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming 
until 1879, ''"*^ then came to Madison County, 
Nebraska, and purchased a quarter section of 
land of the Railroad Company, paying $2.75 
per acre on ten years' time at three per cent 
interest. 

The lumber with which he built iiis first 
house he hauled from Columbus, a distance 
of si.\ty miles. The country was wild and 
new at that time, and wild game, including 
deer, antelope and prairie cliickens were 
very abundant. He made some improve- 
ments upon his place, remained two years, 
sold out, or rather traded, for another place 
having more breaking upon it but no house. 
On account of the grasshoppers devastating 
the country he was compelled to follow rail- 
roading at Grand Island for three years, after 
whicli he returned to his place, erected a 
house and made other substantial improve- 
ments. In 1885 he removed to Tilden (then 
called Burnett) and engaged in the drug busi- 
ness. He started in on a small scale, but in 
1890 he erected a comlortablc building and 
now enjoys a good trade. 

Mr. and Mrs. Newhail are the parents of 
three children: — Clara, wife of John Scott, 
of Tilden ; William, a traveling salesman 
from Chicago; and Florenc,', now attending 
schof)l. 

Politically, Mr. Newhail is in full sympa- 
thy with the Republican party, believing as 
he dues, that this party gives the country the 
best possible administration. 



WILLIAM E. BAILEY, one of the 
leading merchants of Ewing, Ne- 
braska, was born at Mechanicsville, 
Iowa, March 9, 1851. He is the son of Lyman 
and Maria (Intson) Bailey, the father was 
born in Elmira, New York, his grandfather 
being a native of Scotland. Mrs. Maria 
Bailey was born near Columbus, Ohio, while 
their parents were natives of Vermont. Mr. 
and Mrs. Lyman Bailey came to Neligh in 
1873, and built the second house in the place, 
drawing lumber from Wisner. When Wil- 
liam was four years of age the family removed 
to Franklin County, Iowa, and preempted 
land near Hamption. 

Our subject received no schooling until 
eleven years of age, and the first term he 
attended there were only three scholars. He 
accompanied his parents to Neligh in 187,^ 
and the following year took a homestead 
near that place. The grasshoppers destroyed 
his crops two 3'ears, when he sold his claim 
for one hundred dollars and returned to 
Slieflield, Iowa. In 1877 lie returned to Ne- 
braska and three years later preempted land, 
took a timber claim two miles southwest of 
the present village of Ewing: his nearest 
neighbor being four miles distant, while 
Wisner was iiis nearest railroad ]ioint. He 
built a sod house and commenced to improve 
his place. From time to time he added to his 
land, until he owns thirteen hundred and 
si.xty acres of deeded land which he devotes 
to the raising and dealing of live stock — 
horses and cattle. In December, 1891, he 
removed to the village of Ewing and the 
following August sold his farm, taking in 
payment a stock of merchandise : a half 
section of land in Cherry County and dtlicr 
propertv. This was the largest transfer of 
real estate in one body made in Holt County 
up to that date. He owned tiie third quarter 
section of land ever deeded in the county. 
Since August, 1892, he has been dealing in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



561 



general merchandise ; he also owns several 
valuable horses, some of the best in the 
country. Politically, he is a supporter of the 
Republican party and has held several local 
oflices. 

Our subject was united in marriage, March 
15, 1874, to Phoebe J., daughter of Thomas 
Stolp of Neligh, she was born near Chicago, 
Illinois. By this marriage union seven chil- 
dren were born: Loren D., Frank E., Otto 
v., Jessie M., Alma M., Gail V. and Ollie M. 

When Mr. Bailey came to this section of 
Nebraska, deer, elk and antelope were very 
plentiful and they often fed among the 
domestic cattle. Our subject shot thirty- 
nine deer during one winter and perhaps has 
shot as many as any one man in Holt County. 

JAMES II. BROWN, a real estate dealer 
and attorne}', residing -at Pierce, Ne- 
braska, was born in New Orleans, 
Louisiana, June, 1845, of English origin. S. 
Brown, the grandfather of our subject, was a 
native of Pittsfield, where he followed the 
tanning business. He married and was the 
father of four children: George, who was a 
wholesale merchant in Boston; Nelson, the 
founder of Pittsfield Medical College at Pitts- 
field ; Mar)' Ann, who married Judge Holster 
of Buffalo, New York; James 11., the father 
of our subject, who married Mahitable 
Barker, who was born in Bangor, Maine, and 
by this union there were three children born: 
Mary, who married J. C. Burns, clerk of the 
District Court in Iowa; James II., of whom 
we write this notice : Ella A., who married a 
clergyman of Colorado. Our subject's father 
died in Mercer, Pennsylvania, in 1850, his 
wife surviving until 1873. Mrs. Brown, 
however, married for her second husband 
Edward Conley, by whom three children 
were born: Emma, Edward and George B. 
Our subject received his education in 
Pennsylvania and Iowa, and attended Har- 



vard College for some time. He read Law 
with Edmunds & Ransom, at Iowa City, Iowa, 
and practiced in St. Louis, but on account of 
his health came to Nebraska, locating in 
Pierce Count}', in the spring of 1870. He 
organized the county and laid out the county 
seat, and is known as the "Father of Pierce 
County.'" Politically, he is a Republican. In 
1870 he was elected county clerk and clerk 
of the District Courts. He was county judge 
in 1874-75, and was elected the first atttorney 
of Pierce County, but as the years passed by, 
he kept accumulating real estate until this 
line demanded his whole attention. He now 
has from four to five thousand acres of land. 

1887 marked a new era in this man's 
career, for it was during that year that he 
was united in marriage to Miss Katie E. 
Wood, a native of Lancaster, Wisconsin. 
Three children bless this union : Myron W. ; 
Jessie IT. and James H. Jr. 

EBED N. BURKE, of Oakdale, Ne- 
braska, was born at Lancaster, Erie 
County, New York, December 26, 
1837. His parents were Ebed M. and Pris- 
cilla C. (Briggs). The former was born in 
Vermont and was of Irish descent, while the 
latter was born in Massachusetts and traces 
her ancestor to Scotland. Mr. and INIrs. E. 
N. Burke, Sr., died in Marshall County, 
Iowa. 

Our subject spent his boyhood da3's in his 
native town, attending an academy at Alex- 
andria, New York, and later on at Waterford, 
Pennsylvania, also at Govvanda, New York, 
graduating at the last named place when 
nineteen years of age. He then spent two 
years in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and returned to 
his old home. September 7, 1S61, enlisted 
in Company A, Sixt3'-fourth New York In- 
fantry, servitig until the end of the Civil War. 
lie participated in engagements at Fair Oaks. 



562 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



McClellan's retreat to Harrison's Landing, 
the seven days' fight in the Wilderness, 
Anlietam, the first and second battles of 
Fredrickburg, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, 
Siege of Petersburg and Richmond. He took 
part in the Grand Review at Washington. 
He was slightly wounded at Fair Oaks. 
During the raid on the Weldon Railroad, his 
company was detached for picket duty, and 
after three days of constant duty all of the 
company were taken prisoners except iiim- 
self. He enlisted as a private, but was pro- 
moted to Lieutenant Breviet Captain. He 
was discharged June 22, 1865 After the 
war he went to Illinois Grove, Iowa, where 
he engaged in farming and dairying. In 1880 
he came to Antelope County, Nebraska, and 
claimed a homestead on Section g, township 
23, range 8. Two years later he sold out and 
removed to Oakdale, where he has since 
resided. Since 1883 he has been a dealer in 
agricultural implements, from which business 
he is about to retire. He owns a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres near the village. 

Our subject was united in marriage June 
22, 1861, to Emeline, daughter of Lewis 
Stewart, of Cataraugus County, New York. 
She was born in Erie County, New York. 
Our subject and his wife are the parenl.s of 
the following children: Pearl, (Mrs. William 
Mills), deceased; Sadie, (Mrs. E. C. 
Morgan) ; Ella, a graduate of the Iowa Falls, 
Iowa, High School, and at present a teacher 
near that place; Mary, (deceased); Mossie. 
Mr. and Mrs. Burke have also reared a 
grandson, Harold Mills. 

In his political belief, Mr. Burke is a 
Republican. He is a member of the Grand 
Army of the Republic, and had an eventful 
as well as an honorable military' record. In 
addition to his business at (Jakdale, he has 
carried on a branch implement house at 
Clearwater, Elgin and Tilcleti. 



LIEUT. LYFORD R. CRAIG, Superin- 
teiulent of the Pierce Mill Company, 
at Pierce, Nebraska, is a native of 
Illinois. He was born in Bureau County, 
February 24, 1845. The family is of Scotch 
descent, but came from Ireland to this 
country. The father, Rufus L., was born 
in Massachusetts and came to Illinois about 
1832, and located in Bureau County, where 
he was a pioneer: took up government land, 
and made a home for himself. He was 
united in marriage in 1843, to Miss Caroline 
Lyford, a native of New Hamp.shire. By this 
union three children were born — Lyford R., 
of whom we write this notice : Ella, wife of 
L. J. Grillith, of Walnut, Iowa: James W., 
of Walnut, Iowa. 

When our subject's parents started out in 
life to make a home for themselves, Chicago 
was their nearest market, and that one hun- 
dred and forty miles away. Mrs. Craig was 
a life-long member of the Congregational 
Church, and was a favorite in e\eiy com- 
munity in which she lived. 

Lyford R. Craig was educated in the 
schools of his native Slate, remaining on the 
farm until June 15, 1862, which was during 
the Civil War period, when he enlisted as a 
member of Company "H,"' Sixty-ninth 
Illinois Infantry. He was mustered into 
service at Princeton, and sent to Camp 
Douglas, Chicago, where they received 
clothing and were placed upon guard duty 
over rebel prisoners. After eleven months' 
service he was mustered out at Chicago, 
June 15, 1864, and re-enlisted in Company 
"H," One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois 
Infantry, being mustered in at Peoria and 
immediately sent to St. Louis. He was on 
several raids through Missouri and Tennessee. 
He was commissioned as First Lieutenant of 
Company "H,"" and mustered out with the 
same commission. After the war he em- 
barked in mercantile business with his father 



\ OK 7 //HA S7/-:A\V A'HSKASA'.l. 



at Sheffield, Illinois. In the spring of 1871 
he engaged in farming, and later on bought 
grain. In the spring of 1S81 he came to 
Pierce Count}-, Nebraska : located on a 
rancii and engaged in stock raising, but after 
two years he went to Mindon, wIkml' he again 
embarked in tlie grain business. 

He was united in marriage to Miss Jennie 
M. Bath, and has been a resident of the 
village of Pierce since 1885. Mr. and Mrs. 
Craig have two children — Grace L. and Leo 
W. He is a member of the Masonic Fra- 
ternity, belonging to the Chapter at Kewanee, 
Illinois. In politics he is a Republican, but 
he never aspires to any office. 



GEORGE G. BAYHA, treasurer of 
Knox County, Nebraska, was born at 
Wheeling, West Virginia, August 11, 
1849. He is the son of Louis J. Hayha, a 
native of Germany, who emigrated to Ameri- 
ca in 1832, and settled in West Virginia, 
where he was married to Elizabeth Eckhart. 
He was the first to establish the name in this 
country. B}- this marriage union seven chil- 
dren were born: of these Louis J., is in 
Wheeling, Virginia: John P., a resident of 
Colby, Kansas; Charles F., of Neligh, en- 
gaged in law and land office work; Louisa, 
wife of Adam Hainer, of Newcastle, Penn- 
sylvania; Benjamin D., deputy county treas- 
urer of Knox County, Nebraska ; George G., 
our subject, treasurer of Knox County. 

Elizabeth (Eckhart) Bayha died at Wheel- 
ing in 1854, and Mr. Bayha subsequently 
married Catherine Nichols, by whom four 
children were born : Henry of Wheeling, 
Virginia. Katie, of Wheeling, Virginia; 
William, of Bridgeport, Ohio ; and Andrew 
of the same place. 

Mr. Louis J. Bayha died in 1889. 

The subject of this sketch was educated in 
the public schools of West Virginia, and in 
1869 emigrated West, locating at Dakota 



City, Nebraska. Before leaving Virginia he 
was apprenticed to the trade of a carpenter 
and joiner, and after coming West he follow- 
ed it for a livelihood. In 1879 he came to 
Niobiara, Knox Count}-, Nebraska, where he 
followed his trade up to 1889, when he was 
elected treasurer of the count}', and re-elected 
in the fall of 1891, on the Democratic ticket. 
Mr. Bayha is a man who stands high in his 
community, and it may truly be said of him 
that he is a self-made, self-educated and self- 
sustained man, having accumulated all he 
possesses by his own industry. 



ELIAS II. CLARK, an attorney at law, 
, residing at Blair, was born at Rich- 
land, Wayne County, Indiana, Sep- 
tember 13, 1828, the son of William Clark of 
Scotch descent, who was a native of North 
Carolina, born in 1789. His mother was 
Esther (Jones) Clark of Irish descent, but born 
in Tennessee in 1791. When young people 
they removed to Wayne County, Indiana. In 
1830, Mr. Clarke removed to La Porte, Indi- 
ana. He was in the governments employ as 
a surveyor and accumulated a handsome 
pro]ierty, mostly in lands. Later in life he 
engaged in the banking business and was 
president of the bank of Michigan City. By 
this union nine children were born, eight of 
whom lived to be adults: El wood, died at the 
age of fourteen years ; Cyntha, now the 
widow of B. Stanton, who now resides at La 
Porte, Indiana; Elam, died in Wasliington 
County, Missouri, where he settled in 1858, 
among the earliest settlers: Hannah, who 
married Doctor Vaughan, died in Indiana 
about 1849 ; Sarah, married Mr. Elam Brown 
who settled at Des Moines, Iowa, where he 
died in 1857; Emily, married Taylor Bradley, 
and settled at Beatrice, Nebraska, where she 
died in 1891 ; Elias J. married Jolin K. 
Tompkins, and settled at Ft. Calhoun, Ne- 
braska, where she died in 1869; Newton, 



504 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



married and settled at Ft. Calhoun. The 
fatiier of these children died durinj,' the chol- 
era epidemic of 1S52, at La rorle, Indiana, 
and the mother died in 1S60. 

The subject of this notice went to La 
Porte County, Indiana, with his parents when 
lie was two years of age, and there grew to 
manhood and received his education, attend- 
ing Mishawaka University of Indiana. When 
nineteen years of age he entered the ollice of 
Judge liradley, one of the first judges of 
Nebraska. He remained with him two years, 
was admitted to the bar, and went to Kanka- 
kee City, Illinois, where he embarked in the 
mercantile business, practicing Law at the 
same time. He linall)- sold his business and 
returned to La Porte, where in 1853, he was 
united in marriage to Miss Phoebe II. An- 
drew, daughter of Dr. Jacob P. Andrew. 
Soon after the marriage of our subject, his 
father died, and after settling up his estate in 
February 1855, he left for Nebraska, and lo- 
cated at Ft. Calhoun, where he followed his 
chosen profession. In 1862 he enlisted in the 
Second Nebraska Cavalry, and was in the 
Indian War in Yellowstone County, serving 
one year. 1 le suffered much from exposure 
and was linally mustered out at Omaha, 
October, 1S63. He returned to Ft. Calhoun 
where he practiced law a siiort time, and then 
abandoned tlie profession on account of 
riu'umatism caused by the above exposure. 
In 1S80 he came to lilair where he has since 
resided, and been practicing law since 1S85 
at that point. 

Politicallj', he is a stanch Democrat, cast- 
ing his first vote for Franklin Pierce, and has 
voted for every Democratic candidate since. 
In 1865-66 he represented Washington Coun- 
ty in the Nebraska Legislature. He has held 
the ollice of Chairman of tiie Democratic 
Central Committee, and has been a delegate 
to all tiie Territorial and State conventions, 
with few exceptions. 



Mr. Clark has seen many changes since he 
came to Nebraska, which was then a Ter- 
ritory. He built the lirst liotel at Ft. Calhoun, 
the same being a log building, 14^24 feet. A 
few persons met and laid oft the town jilat of 
Ft. Calhoun, and a claim jumper came along 
and located on the town site, which caused a 
fight in which one man was killed, his name 
being John Goss, his being the first death in 
Washington County. The hotel was opened 
by Col. George Sternes, and became a 
celebrated hotel for the land seekers of that 
daj'. His own home was 14x14 feet, to 
which he brought his lady, who had been 
reared in a comfortable home. Their first 
table was a dry good box and a couple of 
smaller boxes served as chairs. Omaha was 
then but a small hamlet. 

During the memorable great snow winter 
of 1856-57, provisions got very scarce, and 
they had to go far over into Iowa to procure 
the necessaries of life. 

Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of live 
children: Fannie M., wife of Phillip Potter, 
secretar}' of the American Loan and Trust 
Company at Omaha ; Caradora, who was 
assistant post mistress under President Cleve- 
land at Blair, Nebraska, and now ca.shier of 
the queensware store of Samuel Burns, of 
Omaha; Cora B., a teacher in Brownell Hall 
at Omaha; Jessie M., at home: Andrew, at 
home. 

Mr. Clark is a member of the Masonic 
Fraternity, is now Master of the Lodge, and 
has been a representative in the Grand Lodge 
for many jears. Both our subject and his 
wife are members of the Episcopal Church. 



JAMES CRUM, of Clearwater, Nebraska, 
is a native of New York City, born 
April 14, 1822. His parents were 
Josejih and Phdbe (Coe) Crum. The Crum 
familv descended from James Crum, a native 
of Holland, who came to Ameiica as a 



NORTHEAST EKN NEBRASKA. 



British soldier, being one of the "Hessians," 
durin^r the Revohitionary War. He was 
ciiptured ;it Trenton, and was paroled by 
(Jcnoral Washington, alter which he settled 
in Rockland t'ounty. New York. lie after- 
wards enlisted as a soldier in the War of 
1S12, in General Wilkinson's Division, and 
died in Canada during that expedition. He 
has a brother who was also paroled by 
General Washington, after which they be- 
came separated and never met. Joseph Crum 
was a grandson of James Crum. Joseph 
died in Akron, Ohio, in 1877. 

Mrs. Phcebe Crum was also a resident of 
Rockland County, New York, and died at 
Bennington Centre, Wyoming County, New 
York, about 1867. Members of the Coe, 
Conklin and Crum families are still numerous 
in Rockland County, New York. Joseph 
Crum was a s )n of James and Mehitable 
(Conklin). Crum. 

Our subject received a limited education. 
His father was engaged in the wholesale 
grocery business on Chatham street. In 
1842, the family moved to a farm in Wyom- 
ing County, and at the age of twenty-five, 
our subject began his active life. In 1847 he 
was found in Boone County, Illinois, and 
three years later in Buchanan County, Iowa, 
farming near Independence. In 1871 he 
came to Antelope County, Nebraska, and 
claimed a homestead in Ord township. He 
broke sixty acres, built a frame house, 
sixteen by twenty feet, which was the first 
house with a shingled roof, (except one), 
west of Norfolk. He returned to Indepen- 
dence that fall, and the following spring 
brought his family hither, moving by team, 
bringing sixteen head of cattle and six horses 
with him. The spring was very pleasant, 
and after sowing the land he had broken tiie 
previous season, he was surprised by a very 
severe snow storm, April 14th to i6th. He 



succeeded in getting to the stable and saved 
the lives of his animals, but many of his 
neighbors were less fortunate in this regard. 
This storm will be remembered by all the 
early settlers of the Elkhorn Valley. Our 
subject lived on this homestead for ten years, 
during which time it became a well improved 
farm. In 1882 he purchased his present farm 
of eight hundred and forty acres in the same 
township. He has about seven miles of wire 
fence upon his place. His present com- 
modious farm-house was built in 1890. His 
farm is devoted to stock raising, and he has 
begun breeding Polled Angus cattle. 

Our subject was first married about 1843 
to Nancy, daughter of Edward Hedges, of 
Wyoming County, New York, by whom six 
children were born — Eugene: Louise (Mrs. 
F. Spencer, deceased); Florence (Mrs F. 
Bellows) ; Frank, Elroy and Charles. 

Mrs. Nanc)' Crum died at Independence, 
Iowa. September 8, 1868. For his second 
wife, our subject married fjune 12, 1869), 
Mrs. Margaret Wilson, the daughter of 
Robert Sharp: she was born in Scotland. 
By this marriage union, three children were 
born — Louise, Mattie and Dermot. Tiiey 
also have an adopted son — Marion. 

Mr. Crum is a member of the Grand Army 
of the Republic. He enlisted September 25, 
1861, as a member of Company B, Fourth 
Iowa Cavalry, and was discharged September 
29, 1862, having served under General 
Curtis, and was engaged in several skir- 
mishes. While scouting in Missouri, he had 
two horses shot from under him, and tiie last 
time, the falling horse injured him so tliat he 
had to be sent to the hospital at Keokuk, 
Iowa, where he was discharged for total dis- 
ability; he has never recovered. 

Mr. and Mrs. Crum are widely known for 
their hospitality and good cheer. 



566 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



BENJAMIN F. CHAMBERS, County 
Judge of Knox County, Nebraska, was 
born in Westmoreland County, Penn- 
sylvania, May 26, 1832. His grandfather, 
George Chambers, was born in Scotland, and 
on account of his belief was driven out and 
located in the North of Ireland, where he 
married Miss Mary Roytston. He emigrated 
to Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of 
a large family, all of whom were of large 
stature. The family was of the old Scotch 
Presbyterian religious faith. His father was 
Benjamin Chambers, who was born in Penn- 
sylvania, and was a soldier in the Blackhawk 
War. 

In politics our subject's father was a Jack- 
sonian Democrat, and held the office of town- 
ship treasurer for many j-ears. He died in 
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Novem- 
ber 1844, and his good wife survived him until- 
1879, when she died at Marshalltown, Iowa. 
Both herself and husband were life-long mem- 
bers of the Presbyterian Church. 

Judge Benjamin F. Chambers was educated 
in the common schools of the Keystone State, 
leaving the same when he was fourteen years 
of age, and a year later he left home, since 
which time he has made his own way in the 
world. In 1S54 he emigrated West and settled 
in Grinncll, Iowa : but in March 1856, came 
to Dakota County, Nebraska, then a wild and 
unsettled country, with but a half dozen fam- 
ilies living in the county. He built the first 
house in what is now Dakota City, the first 
lumber he used came from St. Louis, via 
Missouri River. His first house, however, 
was of logs and poles covered with slough 
grass and earth. 

In 1854 our subject was united in marriage 
in Pennsylvania, to Miss Nancy McCartney, 
who died in Grinnell, Iowa, August 1855, 
leaving one daughter, Elizabeth, now thevvife 
of David Florence, of Boulder Cit}', Colora- 
do. For his second wile he married Miss 



Sarah A. Hull, of Pennsylvania. The date 
of their nuuriage was March 1857, and by 
this union seven children were born : — Mar)' 
B., wife of John W. Wood, of Calliope, Iowa; 
Edwin H., a resident of Columbus, Nebras- 
ka; William Lincoln, died in Dakota Cit}' in 
1867; George W., cashier of the Niobrara 
Valley Bank; Allie B., wife of John L. Tur- 
ner, of Springfield, South Dakota; Hairy G.. 
died in Niobrara in 1888, having been acci- 
denth' shot through tlie arm : Sarah M , at 
home. 

In 1862 our subject enlisted as a membei^ of 
Company "I," Second Nebraska Volunteer 
Infantry, andtookpart in the Indian Warfare, 
being under Colonel Furnas ; he was in the 
battle of Whitestone Hill. He was mustered 
out as Duty Sergeant at Dakota City, Nebras- 
ka. He then came to Niobrara as Register 
of the United States Land Office, holding the 
position until July 18S4. From that date 
until 1889 he was engaged in real estate 
business. 

Politically, the Judge is a Republican. In 
1874 he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature, and in 1889 as Judge of his 
county. From 1867 to 1873 he was sheriff 
of Dakota County : also deputy U. S. Marslial 
for the same years. He has represented his 
district in the state convention, and was State 
Land Commissioner, and had charge of two 
hundred thousand acres. 

Great has been the change in Northeastern 
Nebraska since the Judge first looked out 
upon this fair and fertile domain. He came 
in advance of railroads, telegraphs, and real 
civilization itself. It will be remembered 
that this was before the Civil War period, 
but he has lived to see a prairie wilderness 
turned into an ideal garden spot. Countless 
manufacturers have sprung up, while railroads 
cross and re-cross each other, penetrating 
every nook and corner of the great and pros- 
perous commonwealth. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



567 



EH. HOUSTON, an Attorney-at-law, 
, practicing at Niobrara, Nebraska, 
was born in Marion, Linn Count)-, 
Iowa, August 26, 1857. The grandfather of 
our subject was a cousin of Samuel Houston, 
of Texas, well known in political history. 
Alexander P. Houston, in 1823, when a 
young man came West to Indiana, and was 
educated in the High Schools of Indianapolis, 
in 1842 he came to Marion, Iowa, where he 
embarked in agriculture, opening up a small 
farm, which he sold, and afterward purchased 
land in Jackson township, Linn County. He 
was married during the latter part of 1855 to 
Miss Catherine Beckiner, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, but of German descent. The date 
of her birth was 1S25. By this union seven 
children were born — Ida May, wife of Emory 
Courtney, of Central City, Iowa; Ross B,,a 
builder and contractor of Iowa; Elizabeth, 
wife of Will Sharp, Portland, Oregon; Silas, 
a resident of Portland, Oregon: Maggie, 
single ; and Perry, at home. 

In early life our subject's father was 
a Whig and a Free-soil advocate. He was 
often tendered public otlice, but would not 
accept. He was a successful man and 
accumulated considerable property. 

The subject of this sketch attended Cornell 
College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, where he 
finished his education, after which he taught 
school in Cherokee County, Iowa, one year, 
and then entered an office at Aurelia, where 
he was engaged two years, and was then 
admitted to the Bar under Judge Lewis, and 
commenced the practice of law at Marcus, 
Iowa. In the fall of 1884 he came to 
Niobrara, where he entered into partnership 
with Judge Spargner, continuing one year, 
since which time he has practiced alone. In 
the fall of 1890 he was elected County 
Attorney. 

December 29, 1886, he was united in mar- 
riage in Niobrara, to Miss Sarah A CuUa, 



of Buffalo, New York, who was born in 
1859. O"*^ child blesses this union. 

Mr. Houston makes law his special work, 
and has worked up a large and lucrative 
practice. He began life with no means save 
a determination to gain a good education, 
and finally became well versed in law, and in 
this he has succeeded remarkably well. 

CHARLES GATES, present postmaster 
of Pierce, Pierce County, Nebraska, 
was born in Gallia County, Ohio. 
January 8, 1840, of English descent, and 
traces back to Gen. Gates. The grand- 
father of our subject was Stephen Gates, who 
emigrated to Ohio at an early day. He mar- 
ried Mary Merrick of Puratanic stock. 

His father, Jacob M. Gates, was born in 
Muskingum County, Ohio, about 1803. He 
received his education in the old log cabin 
with a puncheon floor with slabs for seats. 
He married Catherine Odell, a native of 
Virginia. By this marriage six children were 
born : Junius, who was among the first to 
enlist from Gallia County, Ohio at the time 
of the Civil War. He served his time and 
was mustered out a Lieutenant. He assisted 
in raising a company of the Thirty-fifth regi- 
ment, and was made First Lieutenant of it. 
He was promoted to captain of the company, 
and died after the war in Ohio: David, who 
was also a soldier in the Rebellion, and last 
heard of was living in the Southern States. 
Charles, of this sketch ; John, who was also a 
soldier from Ohio, who was taken prisoner, 
but soon exchanged : James, a resident of 
Indiana, engaged in railroading. 

Mrs. Gates, the mother of our subject, laid 
down the burdens of life in Ohio, after which 
Mr. Gates again married, and was the parent 
of the . following children: Mary L., Sarah 
C, William W., Perry M. and Irene. Mr. 
Gates was for man}- years a pilot on the river 
to New Orleans, but after marrying he quit 
the river. In politics he was a Whig. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



The subject of this notice was educated in 
his native Slate, at the district and the high 
school, receiving a Hberal education. He 
remained at home until the breaking out of 
the War for the Union. 

lie enlisted September 20, 1861, as a 
member of Company F, Thirty-third Ohio 
Infantry. In November was put on board of 
a steamship and sent to Maysville, Kentucky, 
and from there up to the Big Sandy. He 
was in the army of the Cumberland, under 
Gen. Anderson. Anderson died when Gen. 
Buel took command. The regiment went 
into winter quarters and in the spring the 
regiment was sent to Bowling Green, Mis- 
souri, and from there they went to Nashville 
and Iluntsville. Finally they were under the 
command of Gen. Bragg, and later on under 
Rosen crans. 

At Buzzard's Roost he was wounded and 
sent to the field hospital, where he remained 
until after the battle of Atlanta, and was 
mustered out October 10, 1864, when he 
returned to Ohio. Soon after the war he 
came to Cliampaign County, Illinois, where 
he followed farming and teaching. He was 
engaged in the lumber business in Ohio, 
West Virginia and Kentucky for nine years, 
coming to Pierce County, Nebraska, in the 
spring of 18S1 and took a homestead. In 
the fall of 1 88 1 he was elected as the Supcr- 
inteiulent of School-^, .serving until 1892. In 
February, 1892, he was appointed post- 
master at Pierce, under Benjamin Harrison's 
administration. He is a charter member of 
tiie Knights of Pytliias Order, and is a 
member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 153 of the 
Masonic Order, of which he is Master. In 
politics lie is a Republican. 

JOSlCl'll KALAL, proprietor of the Cen- 
tral House at Verdigre, Nebraska, is a 
native of Bohemia. born August 14, 1851. 
He grow to manhood in his native country. 



receiving his education in the common schools. 
In 1870 he left Bohemia, crossed the ocean, 
landing at Baltimore, Mar\land, he being the 
first to establish the family name in this coun- 
try. He went to Chicago and there located. 
His father's family joined him, and in 1873 
they came by rail to Sioux Cit}', Iowa, that 
being the first year after railway communica- 
tion was established between Siou.x City and 
Yankton. From the last named place they 
came to Knox County bj' team. He took a 
homestead adjoining what is now Verdigre, 
also a tree claim of eighty acres. At first he 
erected a log house, 14x18 feet, which was 
covered with wild grass and earth. In this 
primitive abode he lived several years, until 
a good substantial frame house was built. He 
started out with a yoke of oxen, one cow :ind 
a plow. He now has ninety acres of land 
unddr cultivation, beside pasture and hay 
land. When he first came to the countr}" he 
hauled his grain to Yankton: also bought 
his lumber at that point. He was in the coun- 
try through the grasshopper plague, and en- 
dured all the hardships co-incident with those 
times. 

He was united in marriage at Chicago 
in 1871. By this marriage two children 
were born : — Frank, born in Chicago, Sep- 
tember 20, 1872, a graduate of the Omaha 
Business College; Mary, born in Nebraska, 
September 14, 1S74, at home. 

Mr. Kalal owns two hundred and forty 
acres of land, and is well surrounded with 
the comforts of life. In the fall of 18S8 he 
moved into the town of Verdigre and erected 
a building in which he opened up a nuat 
market. In 1891 he took down the old build- 
ing and erected the Central House, where he 
still lives. In connection with his hotel busi- 
ness he still operates a meat market. 

Politically, he of whom we write this no- 
lice, is an Independent Democrat. While on 
the farm he was school treasurer for six 



NOk 77/ E. 4 S r/£KN NEBR.l SKA. 



years. He is a member of the Roman Cath- 
olic Church, and stands higii in the commun- 
ity in which he hves. When IMr. Kalal lirst 
came to Nebraska, roving bands of Indian? 
were no unfrequent sight, and wild game was 
very plentiful ; but a score of years has made 
a great transformation, for now ho is in the 
lieart of a thickly settled, prosperous farming 
community, with schools, churches, railroads, 
and thriving towns on every hand. 



JOHN MAYBURY, one of the enterprising 
citizens and business men of Neligh, 
Nebraska, was born in Ireland, Febru- 
ary 9, 1849. His parents were Richard and 
Annora (Sullivan) Maybury. John received 
a common school education. His father was 
an extensive agriculturist, and died in Ireland 
in 18S7. At the age of nineteen, John, of 
whom we write, left home and came to New 
York, and was there misled by an "Intel- 
ligence Office," which purported to send him 
to California, but shipped him to London, 
and on his return he went lo Yonkers, New 
York, and there engaged as a clerk in a dry 
goods store. The following spring however, 
he began work at the carpenters trade, fol- 
lo'ving it for several years. In the fall of 
1869 he went to St. Louis, and the next 
spring came up the Missouri River on a 
steamboat to Helena, Montana. The next 
season he went to Deer Lodge, and later to 
Bitter Root Valley, prospecting in the mines. 
Not meeting with good success, in 1873, he 
went to Bismark, Dakota, then the terminus 
of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and that 
fall began work as a carpenter for the United 
States government at Fort Rice and Standing 
Rock Agency. About nine thousand Indians 
were kept at that agencj' at that time. Our 
subject was employed in making cotlins, the 
Indian agent having persuaded the Indians to 
bur}' their dead, according to civilized 



customs. The next spring however, they 
concluded to exhume the bodies and place 
them on poles and trees, according to their 
ancient custom. In the spring of 1874 our 
subject went down the Missouri River to 
Niobrara, thence fo O'Neill. The following 
fall he came to Neligh and worked at his 
trade. In 1S78 he look a homestead in Holt 
County, near the present Stafford's Station. 
In 1882 he sold out and returned to Neligh, 
and there became a dealer in grain and live 
stock ; later he carried on a meat market for 
several years. In the spring of 1892 he built 
a refrigerator and cold storage building, 
which he now operates. 

June, 1876, he was united in marriage to 
Francis, daughter of Captain John To]iham. 
Francis was born in Ireland. By this mar- 
riage the following children were born : 
Maggie, Herbert, Gladstone, Lottie, and 
three others who died in infanc}-. 

Politically, our subject is a Republican. 
For three years he has been a member of the 
City Council. He belongs to the Masonic 
Fraternity, being a member of the Blue 
Lodge. 



ELMER C. MILLION, of Elgin, Ne- 
braska, was born at Argyle, Wiscon- 
sin, May 8, 1866. His parents were 
Alfred N. and Agnes (Patterson) Million, 
the former of French descent, boin in 
Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His father, 
Washington Million, was one of the pioneers 
of that county. He and two of his sons 
served in tiie Black Hawk War. At that 
time they were in Grant County, Wisconsin, 
opposite Dubuque, Iowa. Mrs. Million, 
grandmother of our subject, once swam 
across the Mississippi River to escape the 
Indians. Alfred N. Million enlisted at the 
first call for volunteers to put down the Re- 
bellion in 1861. He served three years, and 
was with Sherman on his campaigns; was at 



NOR THE A S TEKN NEBKA SKA. 



Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Savannah. He 
was employed as a scout and was wounded 
at Cedar Mountain and left on the fields for 
dead. His brother obtained permission to 
hunt up his bod}-, and succeeded in finding 
him alive. After several months in the 
hospital at Washington, he rejoined the 
scouts, although rejected from regular 
service, on account of physical debility. He 
was three times taken prisoner, but each time 
made good his escape : on one occasion 
he spent three days in the woods without 
food. In 1869 he accidently shot himself at 
Argyle, Wisconsin. He had been unfit for 
business ever since the war, and spent much 
of his time in hunting. 

The Patterson family originally came from 
Scotland, and settled in Connecticut, where 
Mrs. Million was born. She is now a resi- 
dent of Argyle. Wisconsin. Her father, 
Alexandria Patterson, was a Scotchman. 
When he landed at Tarrytown witli his 
family, he had but one shilling. During the 
"forties" he went to Wisconsin, and became 
one of the most prosperous citizens of 
Lafayette County. 

Elmer C. left home at thirteen years of 
age, and after spending a year in the 
pineries of Wisconsin, he returned home. 
When fifteen 3'ears of age, he went to 
Monona County, Iowa, and worked on a 
ranch and clerked in a store. We next find 
liim at the Western Normal College of Shen- 
andoali, Iowa, from which institution he 
received a first grade certificate, averaging 
ninety-three per cent. He began teaching at 
seventeen ; taught one year, then went to 
Holton, Kansas, and attended Campbell 
Normal Uni\ersity, from which he took a 
business course ; also a German course. In 
1884 he came to Neligh and was appointed 
Deputy County Treasurer, serving six years, 
and spent about eighteen montlis in an 
abstract otlice. In May, iiS92, he became 



cashier of the Bank of Elgin, of which he is 
a stockholder. 

He of whom we write was united in mar- 
riage September 5, 1887, to Winnie M., 
daughter of John A. Stephens, now of Des 
Moines, Iowa. Mrs. Million was born in that 
city. One child blesses this union — Beatrice 
Anne. Mrs. Million is a member of the 
Episcopal Church. Our subject is a member 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
and has represented his lodge in the Grand 
Lodge of Nebraska for three years. He also 
has been City Clerk at Neligh for several 
years. In 1888 he lived for a few months at 
Petersburg, Nebraska, and was the first 
clerk at that village. 



WILLIAM W. QUIVEY, an attorney 
at law, residing at Pierce, Ne- 
braska, was born in Coles Count}-, 
Illinois, July 19, 1843, of Scotch descent. 
His grandfather, Nathan Quivey, was born 
in Scotland and emigrated to America after 
the Revolutionary War, and settled near 
Buffalo, New York. He married Catherine 
Hart, by whom nine children were born: 
Nicholas ; Joseph ; John; Eraslus ; William : 
Addison M. : Amanda; Mary J. ; and Cathe- 
rine. 

Nathan, the grandfather, was a soldier 
in the War of 1812, holding a Lieutenant's 
commission. In 1815 lie went to Oliio, with 
what is known as the "Putman Settlement," 
where he cut out from the big timber' an 
excellent farm, upon which he lived and died. 
The father of our subject was Addison M., 
born near Buffalo, New York, in 1806. In 
181 5 he accompanied his parents to Ohio, 
where he grew to manhood. In 1832 he 
went to Coles County, Illinois, and there 
enlisted and served as Sergeant in Abraham 
Lincoln's company, and was at the surrender 
of the Indians at Bad Axe, Wisconsin, in the 
Black Hawk War. Soon after that trouble 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ended, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Tlieresa Ohnstead, daughter of Moses E. 
Olmstead, one of the pioneers of that count}'. 
By this union ten children were born : Alvira, 
wife of Rev. Robert Randall, of Todd 
County, Minnesota; Almyra, married Her- 
man Tebbitts of West Union, Iowa, where 
she died in 1863, leaving three children: 
Catherine, wife of E. M. Eastman of South 
Dakota ; Daniel, who was a member of the 
Eighteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, died 
from wounds received at the battle of Prairie 
Grove : William W., subject of this sketch : 
John C, who was a member of the Twelftli 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was taken 
prisoner at the battle of Shilo, and died while 
incarcerated in prison at Macon, Georgia. 
The date of his death being October 3, 1862 : 
Ellen M., wife of James Eastman of Alpina, 
South Dakota; Amanda, wife of Joseph 
Norrison of Tama County, Iowa ; Cassie D., 
wife of Charles Eastman of Eugene City, 
Oregon ; Nicholas, died at the age of eight- 
een months in Wisconsin. 

In 1845, Mr. Quivey moved to Dane 
County, Wisconsin, and in 1851, to West 
Union, Fayette County, Iowa, where he died 
in 1870, age si.Kty-four years. His wife pass- 
ed from the scenes of this life at Alpine, 
South Dakota, in 1882, aged si.\t3'-nine 3'ears. 
She iiad been an acceptable member of the 
Methodist Church for fifty years. 

William W., the subject of this notice, was 
educated in the city schools of West Union, 
and when the Civil War came on, he had 
just entered the Upper Iowa University, at 
Fayette, Iowa. He abandoned his school 
and enlisted in the Twelfth Iowa \'^olunteer 
Infantry, as a member of Company C, and 
was mustered into services at Dubuque, Iowa, 
and from there sent to St. Louis, and from 
tliere to Paducah, Kentucky. The following 
February he was sent to Fort Henry and was 
IMX'sent at its capture by the fleet. February 



14th, 1862, he was wounded in the neck and 
sent home where he remained until July and 
then returned to his regiment at Corinth, 
Mississippi. The Twelfth Iowa, Eighth 
Iowa, Fourteenth Iowa, and the Fifty-eighth 
Illinois regiments, lost heavily in the battle of 
Shiloh, and were consolidated into wiiat was 
known as ^Plie Union Brigade. Our subject 
participated in the two battles of Corinth. 
October 20th, 1862, he was transferred to 
Battery K, First Missouri Light Artillery. 
This Battery was sent to Memphis, and there 
went into winter quarters, and in the early 
spring of 1863, was sent to Helena, Arkansas. 
In the latter part of July, he went with Gen. 
Steel to Little Rock, which was captured in 
August, and our subject remained th re until 
the close of tiie war. He was mustered out 
at St. Louis, August 4, 1865, when he re- 
turned to West Union, Iowa, where he was 
married the same year to Miss Mary J. East- 
man, a native of Canada. She died Febru- 
ary, 1866. Our subject attended scliool two 
years at West Union, and then took charge of 
a school one year, reading Law in the mean- 
time. He followed teaching ten years, and 
held the office of Superintendent of the 
schools for some years. In 1879 ''*^ ^^•''^ 
admitted to the Bar, and commenced the 
practice of law at Humboldt, Iowa, where he 
remained five years. In April, 1885, he ''*^" 
moved to Neligh, Nebraska, where he pre- 
empted a piece of land, and afterwards 
located in Pierce, where he has since j)racliced 
law. In 1886 he was elected county attorney 
and served two terms. He is a member of 
the Masonic Fraternity, also of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. 

For his second wife he married Miss Jennie 
C. Babcock at West Union, in the autumn of 
1868. She is the daughter of Rev. Amos 
and Elma (Cornell) Babcock, the latter a 
distant relative of Gov. Cornell of New York. 
They are the parents of three children now 



r.72 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



living: Arthur L , born March 28, 1870, a 
studont at tlie State Normal School; Grace 
G., born March 28, 1872, a teacher in Penn- 
sylvania, who graduated at the State Normal 
School : Claud, born May 16, 1875, and died 
April 14th 1S79; ^o*^ ^■' ^°''" March 16, 
1883. 



J (J I IN RERAN, of the firm of Pavlik & 
Beran of Verdigre, Knox County, Nc- 
iiraska, was born in Bohemia, October 
12, 1849. He came to America in 1868, lo- 
cating in Chicago, being the first of his family 
to establish the name in America. In Sep- 
tember 1870 he came to Knox County, Ne- 
braska, where he located a homestead near 
what is now Verdigre. He first claimed one 
hundred and sixty acres for a homestead, and 
eighty acres as a tree claim ; he now has one 
hundred and sixty acres under cultivation. 
He first lived in a dug-out until he could build 
him a log house, in which he lived until 1885, 
when he erected a comfortable frame iiouse 
16x38 feet. In 1888 he, in company with 
Mr. Pavlik, built a store in Verdigre and be- 
came the first merchants of the place. This 
store building was 22x64 fct^t> in which they 
carry a general stock. 

Our subject was united in marriage in Chi- 
cago, August 29, 1870, to Miss Veronika M. 
Cady, by whom eight children were born : — 
Vaclav, born September 29, 1871 ; Mary, 
September 28, 1872; John, May 6, 1874; 
Francis, July 29, 1876; Louis, July 3, 1878; 
Emily, April 11, 1881 ; Tony, May 12, 1884; 
Stozie, November 25, 1886 

Mr. lieran first voted the Republican ticket, 
but in 1889 joined the People's Part)'; he 
has been treasurer of the township, and chair- 
man of the School Board for nine years. He 
is a member of the Catholic Church, and 
president of the Board of Trustees, he was 
also a mi-mbtr of the building committee 
which managed tlie building of the church. 



He, of whom we write this notice, came to 
Nebraska a poor man, having \>vi\. sixteen dol- 
lars in his pocket. Soon after coming to the 
county he walked to Chicago, being nineteen 
days on the road. Wlien he came to Nebras- 
ka all was yet new and wild, and it has been 
his good fortune to take part in the develope- 
ment of one of the best portions of tiie great 
West. Notwithstanding our subject had no 
capital to begin with, he took advantage of 
the opportunities afforded in a new coimtry, 
secured choice land, and improved the same. 
This gave him the foundation for the goodly 
property he now possesses. Indeed he is en- 
titled to much credit, coming as he did, from 
a foreign shore, unacquainted with the ways 
and customs of our people ; he is now a 
thorough believer in American form of gov- 
ernment, and duly apprev iates our public 
school system, and everything that goes to 
make his adopted country superior to his 
native land. 



ALBERT PAVLIK, of the firm of Pavlik 
cS: Beran, was born in Bohemia, July, 
1858. He is the son of Mathias and 
Mariah (Barton) Pavlik, who emigrated to 
America in June, 1869, landing in Chicago 
the 23rd of that month. In 1870 the}' came 
to Sioux City, Iowa, purchased teams and 
came on to Knox County, Nebraska, and 
took a homestead where they still reside. 
They were the parents of nine children — 
Joseph, a miller of Verdigre: John, a miller 
of Verdigre: Frank, died May 18, 1879; 
Barbara, wife of Frank Pavelka, of Oregon; 
Vac, a farmer of Knox County, Nebraska ; 
Albert, of Nebraska ; Charles ; Mathias, and 
Mariah, wife of Louis Kalal, of Verdigre. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pavlik, the older, are both 
living, and have been "comjianions on the 
the road" for more than fifty years. The 
subject of this notice was educated in his 
native countrj-, completing his schooling in 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



573 



America, receiving a liberal education in 
English, lie was employed by J. L. Packard 
in tliL- iuinher yard at Creighton, and in 1888 
became manager cf a lumber yard established 
by Ilolbrook & Free, at Creighton, which 
was operated in connection with grain and 
live-stock. At the same time lie embarked in 
mercantile business at Verdigre, and since 
1890 has been actively engaged in his present 
business. 

He was united in marriage June 9. 1891. 
One son lias been born — George, April 24, 
1892. 

Politically, Mr. Pavlik was a Republican 
up to 1889, when he joined the Liberal party, 
and now votes for the best man regardless of 
party lines. He is a consistent member of the 
Roman Catholic Churcli. 

This man, though 3'oung in years, is 
thoroughly posted regarding Nebraska and 
the Wist in general. At the time he came to 
the State, numerous bands of Indians were 
roaming over the country. Their first trading 
point was at a small store in the neighbor- 
hood, but generally they went to Sioux City, 
Iowa, and later on at Norfolk, Nebraska, 
where the}' usually went to mill. !\Ir. Pavlik 
was the only man in the compan}' who had 
teams, lie possessing two yoke of oxen, 
which were used in common by all. He also 
owned the first horse team in tlial locality. 
Vast has been the change from that day to 
this. It was their ill-fortune to live in the 
country (because they could not get away), 
during the grasshopper years, when they had 
to exist on the plain diet of corn-meal and 
milk. Upon one occasion, when the mill had 
been washed out by high water, the family 
were obliged to live on potatoes, salt and 
milk. Future generations will never ex- 
jierience what these, the first pioneers of 
North-eastern Nebraska, had to encounter to 
secure for themselves homes and develop a 
wild prairie country. 



DAVID G. ROLL, a prominent farmer 
of Holt County, Nebraska, was born 
at Fredericksburg, Indiana, October 
9, 1S54, the son of Jacob and Louisa (Fisher) 
Roll. The former was born near Louisville, 
Kentucky, his mother being French, while 
the father was German. Jacob R. died at 
Cedar, Monroe County, Iowa, in 1864. Mrs. 
Louisa Roll resides at Atlantic, Iowa. When 
our subject was five years old, the family 
came to Iowa, where he was reared on 
a farm and received but little schooling. 
When ten years of age, his father died, after 
which he left home and began life as a farm 
laborer and afterward worked in a coal mine. 
In 1878 he came to Holt County, Nebraska, 
and took a homestead six miles south-west of 
the present village of Evving. Here he built 
a sod house and began to improve his place. 
He now owns a half section of well improved 
land, devoted principally to stock raising. 

Politically, he of whom we write this notice 
is an Independent, and has been Supervisor 
of Ewing township. 

Mr. Roll was united in marriage October 
7, 1885, to Emma, daughter of Stephen 
Davis, now of McCann, Cherry Count}', Ne- 
braska. Mrs. Roll was born near Pough- 
keepsie, New York, and is now the mother 
of two children — Claudene and Millard. Mr. 
Roll is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
Order, and is identitled with the Farmer's 
Alliance. 



GEORGE N. SEYMOUR, a highly re- 
spected citizen of Elgin, Antelope 
County, was born at Gloversville, 
New York, May 7, 1865, the son of James II. 
and Mary L. (North) Seymour, now of Meri- 
daii, Connecticut. He is a descendant of 
Richard Seymour who came from England, 
early in the seventeenth century, and settled 
at Hartford. His descendanis included many 
prominent persons, including Ex-Governor 



574 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Horatio Seymour of New York, and Ex- 
Governor Seymour of Connecticut. The 
Nortli's are also an old Connecticut family, 
early members of which settled at Berlin, 
Connecticut, and arc probably of English 
ancestry. 

When our subject was eight years of age, 
the family moved to Meridan, Connecticut. 
I le attended the Hartford Public High School, 
graduating in 1884, alter which he entered 
Amherst College, from which institution he 
graduated in 1888, with the degree of Bache- 
lor of Arts. After graduating, he came to 
Neligh, Nebraska and four months later came 
to Elgin and took part in the organization of 
the Elgin State Bank, and has ever since 
been its cashier: he also deals in real estate. 

Politicall}-, he is a Republican, has held 
numerous local offices and is now a member 
of the County's Central Committee. 

Mr. Seymour was united in marriage, May 
18, 1892, to Miss Jessie L., daughter of Hiram 
Butler (deceased) of Meridan, Connecticut. 
Mr. Se3'mour is a member of the Baptist 
Church, while his wife belongs to the 
Congregational Churcli. 

Our subject is looked upon as one of the 
most capable and trust-worthy young busi- 
ness men in Antelope County. 



CHARLES VAN CAMP, the present effi- 
cient county clerk and recorder of 
Knox County, Nebraska, was born in 
Jefferson County, New York, February 16, 
1858. He is the son of William and Harriet 
(Winnie) Van Camp, who were known as the 
Mohawk dutch. Mr. and Mrs. V'an Camp 
are the parents of three children, two of whom 
are living — Charles, and Clara B , wife of 
W. W. Brown, of Creighlon, Nebraska. 

In 1869 the I'amilv moved to Wallworth 
County, Wisconsin, later to Wood County, 
where he engaged in lumbering. In 1S77 he 
moved to Kno.x County, Nebraska, where he 
at present resides. 



The subject of this biographical notice has 
made his own way through life, having but 
limited educational advantages and having to 
shift for himself. He was reared in the ranks 
of the Republican parly, but after that organ- 
ization lost its usefulness he joined the Far- 
mer's Alliance, and is at present a member of 
the People's Party. While he lived on the 
homestad he served as township assessor, 
and in the fall of 1891 was elected as county 
clerk and recorder for Knox County. 



AUGUST LUBELEY, a lumber dealer 
at Hartington, Cedar County, Nebras- 
ka, came to that locality in the spring 
of 1873, first locating at St. Helena, where he 
followed carpentering for ten years ; he then 
came to Hartington and engaged with the 
Wilcox Lumber Company, remaining until 
1887, when he bought his employers out and 
has since run the business under the firm 
name of A. Lubeley & Co. In 1888 he 
added agricultural implements. He has a 
building 50x142 feet, and an addition of brick 
25x75, in which is located their ofiice, buggy 
and wagon department. In 1889 he had a 
fire and suffered a loss of $1,500. 

Mr. Lubeley was born in Germany, April, 
185 1, son of Bernard and Gertrude Lubeley, 
who had a family often children: William, 
John, Gertrude, Regina, Theressa, Catherine, 
Josephina, Elizabeth, August and Sophia, 
nine of whom are living, our subject being 
the only resident in Nebraska. Mr. Lubeley 
was twenty-one years of age when he came 
to America. He landed at New York, and 
from there to Wisconsin where he remained 
about one year. We next find him in Cedar 
County. He came to America a poor man. 
but having learned the carpenter trade in his 
nati\e country, he put it to good use in 
America. 

He was married in May, 1875, to Elizabeth 
Stratman, daughter of F. P. and Elizabeth 



NOkTHEASlERN NEBRASKA. 



Stralman, also natives of Germany. There 
were eight children in her father's family, 
she being the fourth child, all living but one. 
i\Ir. and Mrs. Lubeley have had a famih' of 
ten children: A. F., Francis, Ferdinand, 
Josephine, John, Matilda, Ludwic, Rosa, 
Mary and Anna, nine of whom are living. 
He and his family are members of the Catho- 
lic Church. He is a member of the C. K. of 
A. No. 675, and in liis political choice is a 
Democrat. 



C^ EORGE I. PARKER, of Hartington, 
J Nebraska, tirst saw the light of day in 
Cedar County, May 5, 1867. He is 
the son of Amos S. and Mary M. Parker, 
natives of New Hampshire. His parents 
were among the pioneers of Cedar Count}-, 
coming to that section in 1858, while Ne- 
braska was yet a Territory. They squatted 
on a piece of land at St. James, erected a log 
house, in which they resided until about 1861, 
when, on account of an Indian scare, they 
concluded to change quarters, and moved to 
the north-west corner of the County, near 
Yankton, where they located another claim, 
erecting a log house, in which they lived 
until 1881. 

From 1861 to 1865 his father was engaged 
freighting for the Government from Sioux 
City to Fort Randall, during which time the 
balance of the family were in New Hamp- 
shire. 

George remained at home until twenty-one 
years of age when he engaged as clerk in a 
store at Aten, for fifteen months, at which 
time he came to Hartington where he worked 
in the otiice of tlie County Clerk, as deputy, 
for three years. He then engaged in the 
Citizen's Bank as casliier. This institution 
was organized as a private bank February i, 
189,^, with K. L. Dimick as president and 
our subject as cashier, which position he still 
holds. 



As a matter of history it should be recorded 
that in the spring of 1881, his father's farm, 
near Green Island, was overflowed by the 
Missouri River and stripped of all of its 
improvements, causing a loss of about $5,000. 
Amos Parker has figured (juite prominently 
in Cedar County politics, having been one of 
the County Commissioners for seventeen 
years. 

George I. is still a single man. He is a 
member of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 199, 
at Hartington, and believes that the Republi- 
can party best subserves the interests of the 
people. 

JOHN ANDRES, who is living a retired 
life at Hartington, is one of the early 
pioneers of Cedar Countjs as he came in 
the fall of 1856. He first located at St. 
Helena ; first squatted on a piece of land of 
one hundred and sixty-six acres, which he 
afterward pre-empted. It was situated on 
the Missouri bottom and was nearly all tim- 
ber. On this place he erected a log house, 
the doors of which were of puncheon, and 
the roof of diit. He lived in this primitive 
abode until i860, when he sold out and went 
South and remained one winter. On the 
breaking out of the war in 1861 became back 
to Cedar County and purchased a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, and erected a house 
of sawed logs, 12x36 feet, one stor\- high. 

November 25, 1862, he enlisted in Com- 
pany I, Second Nebraska Cavalry, was mus- 
tered in at Dakota Cit}- under Captain Leam- 
ing. They went to Fort Pierre, and from 
there to Devils Lake, fighting the Indians. 
His company was at the battle of Whet Stone 
Hill, but on account of his loosing lis horse 
Mr. Andres was left at the Fort to take care 
of the stock : he remained on this expedition 
one year. Was mustered out at Dakota Citj' 
and returned to his farm, where he was en- 
gaged summers, but followed shoemaking 



576 



KORTHEASTERlf NEBRASKA. 



winters. He continued to operate this farm 
until 1889, when he sold out and has since 
been living a retired life. 

His early pioneering in Nebraska was ac- 
companied by many hardships, as he started 
out a poor man and was damaged four jears 
by the grasshoppers. Sioux City was their 
nearest market, and at one time he lived on 
fish for fourteen days. 

To acquaint the reader with Mr. Andres' 
earlier history it should be stated that he was 
born in Germany, November, 1831, son of 
John and Anna Andres, who had a family of 
five children, our subject being the fourth, all 
deceased but John. He came to America 
when twenty years of age, landing at New 
York. From there he went to Pennsylvania 
where he was engaged frr two years at blast- 
ing and blacksmithing work on the railroad. 
At one time, while blasting rock, he came 
near loosing his life ; he had one ear torn off 
and nearly lost the use of one arm, which laid 
him up for si.x months. He then made a trip 
to Washington, Pittsburg, New Orleans and 
Vicksburg. At the latter place he hired to a 
circus, but was only with it six weeks and 
came up the Missouri River to St. Louis, 
where he hired out to the American Fur 
Company and went to Fort Benton, where he 
remained one year, returning to St. Louis. 
He then came up to Sioux City, where he 
hired out to the government to drive team. 
He went to Fort Randall and remained two 
months, when he again returned to Sioux 
City, and two months later landed in Cedar 
County. At different times he has been quite 
prominent in Cedar County politics, was one 
of the County Commissoners seven years. 

He was married in November 1868 to Anna 
Sewing. Tlu-y lived together twenty years, 
when in July, 1888, he was bereft of his com- 
panion. He and his wife were both accept- 
able members of tlie Roman Catholic Church, 
in his jiolilical clioicc he is a Republican. 



JOHN J. GOEBEL, County Clerk of 
Cedar County, Nebraska, came to that 
section in the spring of 1879, ''•'^^ locat- 
ing at St. Helena, taking a homestead of one 
hundred and sixtj' acres of wild land, he 
began to make some substantial improve- 
ments. He built a log-house, 16x20, in 
which he lived seven years, when he built a 
frame house 16x26, besides building a sub- 
stantial barn and other outbuildings. He also 
beautified his place by planting out an arti- 
ficial grove of four acres and also a two-acre 
orchard. He commenced in Cedar Count}' 
a poor man, and was obliged to place a 
mortgage on his homestead in order to get a 
start. He taught school during the winter 
months, and was elected assessor of his 
precinct six successive years. He continued 
to farm his homestead until the fall of 1891, 
when he was elected to the oflice of County 
Clerk. 

Mr. Goebel was born in Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin, April, 1858, son of John J. and Mary 
K. Goebel, natives of Wurtenburg and 
Bavaria, Germany, respectivel}'. There were 
three children in his father's family : Fred J ; 
Mary K. and John J.; all of whom reside in 
Nebraska. Our subject lived in Wisconsin 
until twenty-three years of age, when he 
emigrated to Cedar County. In Milwaukee 
he had good educational advantages, and was 
at High school one year. 

He was married in June, 188.1, '" Anna 
Ffiner, daughter of William and Anna 
Feiner, natives of Bavaria, Germany. In her 
father's family there were four children : 
William, Anna, Jacob and Eva. Three are 
living and are re.sidents of Cedar County. 
Mr. and Mrs. Goebel had two children born 
to them: John W. and Claude H. He with 
his family are members of the Catholic 
Church. In his political belief he is a Dem- 
ocrat. 

In glancing over the sketch of this man's 



NOliTI/EASIERN NEBRASKA. 



life, the reader will note that his has been 
one, not "on flowery beds of ease." Mis 
father dying before he was born, he never 
had the counsel of that parent. John re- 
mained in Milwaukee until fifteen years of 
age, when he left llie city and went at farm 
labor, which he followed for so many years, 
and which is still his chosen occupation. 
The above goes to show what ma}- be accom- 
plished by a man with willingness to work 
accompanied by good management. 



T CECIL GRIMES, located at Harting- 
, ton, Cedar County, will form the 
subject of this biographical notice. 
He came to this County in June, 1882, first 
locating at St. Helena. His first work was 
three months on a set of abstracts. Was then 
principle of the St. Helena scliool three 
years, and had as high as a hundred and 
seven scholars enrolled. His next field of 
labor was at Hartington, where he was princ- 
iple for three years, after which he engaged 
in journalistic work and was editor and one 
of the proprietors of the Hartington Democrat 
one year. He then engaged at school teach- 
ing and after teaching two terms was elected 
to the office of Superintendent of Schools, 
and is now serving Iiis second term. He has 
seventy-three organized districts under his 
charge, with an enrollment of 2500 scholars, 
and under his management the schools are 
continually improving. 

Returning to his earlier life, it should be 
said he was born in Montgomery County, 
Missouri, in February, 1859. ^^^ ^^ the son 
of John M. and Sarah A. Grimes, both na- 
tives of Missouri. There were six children in 
his father's family, four of whom are living: 
James A., T. Cecil, Elizabeth and Rebecca, 
all have followed leaching. His brother is 
now preparing for the ministr}'. 

Our subject lived in Missouri until twent}'- 
tliree years of age when he came to Cedar 



County as before stated. His education, 
however, was acquired in his native state. 
He attended the State Normal of Missouri 
two years and graduated at Paynesville 
Academy, paying his own tuition. 

June, 1881, conmienced a new era in this 
man's life, for it was on that date he was 
united in marriage to Ettie Currie, daughter 
of John Currie. There were si.x children in 
her father's family: Mollie, Frank, Mattie, 
Rebecca, Ettie and Thomas, all living, three 
residing in Nebraska. They have had born 
to them four children: John R., Claude C, 
Bulah and Homer H. 

Mr. Grimes is a member of the Knights of 
Pythias order and Ancient order of United 
Workmen. He and his wife are members of 
the Christian Church, and in his political 
belief he is a Democrat. 



E MARTIN, County Judge of Wayne 
, County, came to that section in the 
fall of 1881, first locating at La Porte, 
which at that time was the county seat, pur- 
chased a farm of one hundred and sixty- 
acres, partly improved, on whicli Ire lived 
two years, when he was elected to the office 
of County Judge and moved to Wayne, and 
has served in that capacity ten years. 

He was born in Connecticut in April, 1820, 
son of Orra and Polly S. Martin, also natives 
of Connecticut. There were eight children in 
the famil}-, of which our subject is the 
second. Four are yet living, two in Ne- 
braska. 

When our subject was three years of age 
his parents moved to Massachusetts, and in 
1840 to Wisconsin; his father being a Baptist 
minister. When twenty-one years of age he 
went to farming on his own account in Wal- 
worth County, where he remained four 
years. He then went to Fondulac County 
and followed agricultural pursuits for about 
four years, and sold his farm, as it was then 



578 



NOK THE A S TERN NEBRA SKA . 



being flooded from the dam of Rock River, 
lie went to Sauk County where he still fol- 
lowed Ills chosen calling nineteen years, and 
was Sheriff of that County two terms. We 
next find him in Beaver Dam, Dodge County, 
where he was engaged in the drug business, 
which did not prove a success. In 1870 he 
sold and came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where 
he engaged in gardening and fruit raising, 
which he followed until moving to Wayne 
County. 

January 12, 1843, he was united in mar- 
riage to Matilda A. Lewis, the eldest child of 
William Lewis, a native of New York. 
There were six children in her father's 
family. James Lewis was one of the firm of 
the Lewis Publishing Company, of Chicago. 

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of 
seven children: Sarah, deceased; William 
O., deceased; Almena : L^dia, deceased; 
Emma ; Charles and Nettie. 

Mr. Martin's early advantages for an edu- 
cation were somewhat limited, but in his con- 
tinuous battle with the world he has acquired 
a good education. 

Both he and his estimable wife are accept- 
able members of the Baptist Church. In his 
political choice he is a Republican, believing 
as he does, that that party best subserves the 
interests of the people. 



LF. RAYBURN, County Treasurer of 
, Wayne County, was elected to that 
oflice in the fall of 1891. Before 
entering into the details of the latter years it 
might be well Ui acijuainl tlie reader with his 
earlier history. 

He was born in Indiana, December, 1837, 
son of Ilayden and Matilda Rayburn, natives 
of Kentucky. There were seven children in 
the father's family, born in tlie following 
order: Joseplioena ; Rupty; L. F. ; Catura; 
Ilayden II: Willard and Inid. 



L. F. remained in his native state until 
twenty years of age, when he went to Louis- 
ville, Illinois, where he engaged in the manu- 
facture of buggies and plows, which business 
he followed for about eleven years. He then 
engaged in the mercantile business in the 
same town, remaining two years. He next 
engaged in the furniture and undertaking 
business which he followed for about two 
years. We next find him in Corning, Iowa, 
engaged at general blacksmilliing, at which 
he remained until coming to Wayne County, 
Nebraska. 

His early educational advantages were 
somewhat limited. His father was a Meth- 
odist minister, and during his service in the 
ministry' married 1,149 couple and preached 
over 500 funeral sermons. 

Mr. Rayburn was married in i860, to 
Elizabeth Neff, daughter of Henry and 
Mary Neff, natives of Ohio. There were 
fourteen children in her fatlier's familv, ten 
of whom are living. Three went into the 
service : two were killed, and one died by 
disease contracted while in tlie army. 

Mr. and Mrs. Rayburn are the parents of 
one interesting child, Zetta. 

He is a member of the Masonic Order A. 
F. & A. M., Lodge No. 196, of Louisville, 
Illinois, and in his political choice is an 
Independent. 



CHARLOTTE M. WHITE, Superinten- 
dent of Public Instruction of Wayne 
County, Nebraska, dates her settle- 
ment in that county from the fall of 1884, at 
which time, with her parents, they settled 
twelve miles S'>uthwestof Wayne, on a farm. 
They leased a ranch on which they remained 
three years, and moved to Rock County, Ne- 
braska. In that count)' she and her brother 
both located homesteads of one hundred and 
sixty acres each, on which they lemained, 
pro\ed up and secured title from the govern- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



579 



ment. While holding down this claim she 
devoted the bigger part of her time to teach- 
ing school and has taught in all seventy terms. 
I lomesteading in the far West for a lady was 
anything but a jilcasant task. She relates 
that at times she was entirely alone for two 
weeks on this claim, her nearest neighbor 
being one mile distant. The trip to that 
count}' was made with her brother in a 
prairie schooner. vShe gave several lectures 
on the subject of Temperance at different 
towns along the route. 

Miss White was born near PiUsburg, Penn- 
sylvania, November, 1845, daughter of John 
G. and Margaret A. White, also natives of 
the Ke^'stone State. They were the parents 
of five children born and named in the follow- 
ing order: Elizabeth E., Clementine, Angel- 
ena, Charlotte M. and William J., all of 
whom are living. 

Our subject was twenty-four years of age 
wiien in company with her parents she left 
Pennsylvania and came to Johnson County, 
Iowa, where her father rented land for two 
years and then moved to Shelby County. 
Here her father purchased a farm on which 
they lived thirteen years, when they sold and 
came to Nebraska. Her education was ac- 
quired principly in the common schools of 
her native state and Iowa. She attended 
however, one term at tiie State University at 
Iowa City, Iowa. 

She has devoted eight years of her life in 
the Temperance cause in Iowa and Nebraska, 
and was organizer of the W. C. T. U. for the 
seventh district of Nebraska. She is a mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and has 
always lived a life of "single blessedness." 

JOHN N. LAWRENCE, located at 
Wayne, Wayne County, Nebraska, is 
ijuite extensively engaged in the breed- 
ing of trotting horses. He came to Wayne 
County in the spring of 1882 and engaged in 



the dray and express business, which he fol- 
lowed about nine years. In 1885 he pur- 
ciiased one hundred and si.\t\' acres of wild 
land which he broke out and man.aged for 
six years and sold. In 1887, liaving a love 
for the horse kind, he purchased the noted 
horse, Frank Allen, which he owned two 
seasons and sold. He then purchased A. B. 
C. as a colt and worked him to a record in a 
race of 2:28 1-2. He then purciiased the 
son of Membrino Patcheon, also a son of 
Counselor. To the lattL'r he gave a record, 
at two years old. of 2 :50 1-4. He still owns 
these horses and has them in keeping at the 
Wayne fair grounds. He owns llfteen head 
of brood mares, from such noted horses as 
sons of Membrino Patcheon, grandsons of 
Ethan Allen and others of lesser note. He 
makes a specialty of breeding and training 
trotting and pacing horses. 

He was born in Chenango County, New 
York, April, 1851. His parents, Joseph and 
Lydia A. Lawrence were also natives of the 
Empire State and were the parents of thirteen 
children, named in the following order: Le- 
vancha, Prescott, Eugene, Freelove, Sally A,, 
Monterville, William (deceased), Charles, 
Joseph, Dallas (deceased), Mattie, Burdelt 
(deceased) and John. 

John i-emained at home until eighteen years 
of age, when he came to La Crosse, Wis- 
consin, and went onto a steamboat on the 
Mississippi River in the capacity of engineer, 
which he followed one season. We next find 
him in Dixon County, Nebraska, where he 
was engaged in the dray and teaming busi- 
ness which he followed until coming to 
Wayne County. 

He was united in marriage in September, 
1872, to Tamar Ilannant, eldest daugatcr of 
Robert Hannant. By this marriage union 
there has been the folowing children born : 
Eddie, BlancW, John Jr. and William P., 
all of whom are living. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



JIT. PINGREY, who is living a retired 
, lile in the village of Wayne, first 
located in tliat town in November, 
1889. lie was bom in Rutland Count}-, Ver- 
mont, in April, 1819. His father and mother, 
Jacob and Olive Pingrey, were also natives of 
the Green Mountain State, and had a family 
of eiglit children: J. H. ; Procta ; Robbins 
R.; Susan; Marietta; Darius; Henry and 
Ruhamar. Five of this family are still living. 
At the age of twenty-one our subject com- 
menced working out by the month, and soon 
bought a small place of twenty acres. He re- 
mained in his native State until thirty-three 
years of age, when he moved to Muscatine 
County, Iowa. Here he purchased two hun- 
dred and forty acres of wild land, which he 
developed and added to, until he had one 
thousand acres in a body. Me remained in 
lliis locality twenty-three years. He then 
rented his farm fourteen years, when he sold 
out and came to Nebraska and bought a resi- 
dence at Wayne, Wayne County, where he 
has since lived. 

He was united in marriage, February, 
1844, to Mary L. Parker, daughter of Walter 
and Ro.xa Parker, natives of Vermont. There 
were four children in her father's famih-: 
Benjamin; Mary L. ; Lafayette, (deceased); 
and Crawford. By this marriage union there 
has been two children born : Roxj^ and 
Wilson H. 

Mr. Pingrey is a stalwart Republican. He 
had four brothers in the Civil War, one of 
whom died in the hospital at Baton Rouge. 

It should be stated that the ten years prior 
to his coming to Nebraska he had been in the 
hardware and agricultural implement business 
at Wilton, Iowa. 

lie now possesses four thousand acres of 
land in Nebraska, the outgrowth of a cash 
capital of .f 1,000 when he landed in Musca- 
tine County, Iowa, fort)- jears ago. 



^ B. RUSSELL, County Clerk of Wayne 
>3^» County, Nebraska, dates his residence 
from the fall of 1882. On coming to 
the county he worked at anything he could 
get to do in order to earn a livelihood; done 
carpentering, dug wells and other odd jobs, 
following this for about three years. He then 
engaged with Millig;ui & Co., grain, lumber 
and stock dealers, remaining with them about 
eight years. In the fall of 1889 he was elected 
County Clerk, whicli office he still holds. 

Mr. Russell was born in Washington Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, October, 1853. He was 
the third child born to Edwin and Sarah J. 
Russell, natives of the Keystone State. There 
were nine children in the family: Isaac J., 
William, S. B., David B., Samuel C, Mar- 
garet, Nancy A., Elizabeth E., and Ida M., 
seven of whom are living, our subject being 
the only one residing in Nebraska. When 
twenty-two j'ears of age he came to Des 
Moines County, Iowa, where he taught school 
winters and worked at farm labor during the 
summer months, following this for four years. 
We next find him in Henry County, Iowa, 
running a restaurant, where he remained two 
years. The following year he formed a part- 
nership with a Mr. Holland, and ran a hotel 
in Conway, Iowa, after which he came to 
Wayne County. 

His early advantages for an education were 
somewhat limited, and up to the time of com- 
ing to Wayne Count}' he had not succeeded 
in accumulating any amount of this world's 
goods. 

December, 1880, Lydia Sliipley became 
his wife. She was the seventli child of a 
family of twenty-two children, born to Josiali 
M. and Elizabeth Shipley, natives of Ohio 
and Virginia respectively. Our subject and. 
his wife are the parents of five children: 
Nora, May, "Elizabeth, Crawford E., Helen 
C, all living. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



.Nfr. Russell is a member of the Odd Fel- 
lows Order, Lodge No. ii8, of Wayne, also 
of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and 
Modern Woodmen of America. In his polit- 
ical choice he is a Democrat. 

JAMES P. BUTLER, an agricultural im- 
plement dealer of Wayne, Nebraska, has 
been a resident of that county since the 
fall of 1890. He has been p'-ominently 
identified for some years in Dixon County. 

He was born in Oswego County, New 
York, December, 1853. He is the son of 
|ohn J. and Catharine Butler, also natives of 
the Emjiire State. There v^ ere six chikhen 
in his father's family, named as follows: 
Benjamin ; Asel (deceased) ; Eliza (deceased) ; 
James and John twins, and Catharine. 

James P., left the Empire State when 
nineteen j-ears of age and came to Jones 
County, Iowa, when he engaged in the 
lumber business which he followed for seven 
years. In 1879 he sold and moved to Dixon 
County, Nebraska, where he purchased a 
large tract of land. This he developed and 
placed thereon substantial tennants. His 
home farm of four hundred acres, situated on 
section 20 of Logan township, was one of the 
linest arranged and well equipped farms in 
the county. On this place he had a well 
selected nursery and an artificial grove which 
is a modern beauty. He closed out his 
business in Dixon County in 1S92 and 1893, 
establishing himself in Wayne. 

In November, 1S89, he met with a serious 
accident, being run over with a wagon loaded 
with hay, which injured his spine, from which 
lie will never fully recover. 

He was united in marriage Februar}^ 1890, 
to Mary Lessman, daughter of David and 
Martha Lessman, natives of Germany. Mr. 
and Mrs. Butler are the parents of one child ; 
James P., Jr. 



Besides attending to his agricultural imple- 
ment business he still has eighty acres on 
which is developed a fine nursery stock and 
a good orchard. Mr. Butler is known 
throughout that section as a liberal and enter- 
prising man. 

"♦-• 

JARED W. JONES, who is living a retired 
life in the villnge of Wayne, Nebraska, 
is one of the leading men of that town, 
and is justly entitled to a biographical sketch 
in this volume. 

He was born in Paulet, Rutland County, 
Vermont, November 14, [S15. son of 
Ephriam and Rachel Jones. When twent}'.- 
two years of age, Jared left Vermont and 
went to Marshal County, Illinois, where he 
purchased wild land, and immediately com- 
menced to make substantial improvements by 
erecting a log cabin and the necessary out- 
buildings. He lived upon this place fifteen 
years ; he then built a more commodious 
house across the line in Putnam County. His 
total residence in that neighborhood was 
forty-si.x j-ears, during which time he experi- 
enced the hard times coincident to pioneer 
life. In 1885 he sold his place in Illinois and 
came to Nebraska. 

Mr. Jones was united in marriage in 
Putnam County, Illinois, March, 1846, to 
Mary J. Pool, eldest daughter of Guy Pool. 
Bj- this marriage union there were four 
children born: Walter ; Moiris ; Eugene and 
Estella. 

His second marriage took place January 
19, 1871, at which time he was united in 
marriage to Mary E. Baker, daughter of 
John and Mary Baker, residents of Putnam 
County, Illinois. B}' this marriage union one 
child has been born; Harry. 

Mr. Jones has always followed the occu- 
pation of a farmer ; as did his father before 
him. While his early ad\'antages for an 
education were poor, he has never lost an 



5S2 



SORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



opportunity to acquire that which in his 
earlier life was somewhat necjlected. He 
has succeeded in accumulating a competenc}- 
ot this worlds goods. 

Mr. Jones is what may be termed a stal- 
wart Republican, as he has been a member 
of that party since its origin in 1856. 



CO. FISHER, real estate dealer of 
, Wavne. was born in Bradford Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvani.i, December 18, 1841. 
He is the son of Frederick and Dolly Fisher, 
natives of Pennsylvania, who had a family of 
nine children, our subject being the youngest 
child. Two are deceased, and he the only 
resident of Nebraska. When twenty years 
of age he came to Muscatine, Iowa, with but 
five dollars in money. He worked on a farm 
eight months, and on account of failure of 
crops he onlj- received about $17. cx) of his 
wages. He then went to Black River Falls, 
Wisconsin, where he was engaged in the 
lumbering woods and rafting to different 
points, including St. Louis. This he followed 
for about three years. In 1866, "67 and '(^ 
he was in the State Universitj- at Iowa Cit},-. 
We next tind him at Des Moines, Iowa, teach- 
ing school, which he followed until 1870. 
From that date until 1S73 he followed teach- 
ing in Muscatine Count}-. He was then en- 
gaged as bookkeeper for a firm in West Lib- 
erty, Muscatine County, one j-ear. The 
following year he was at Center Point, Linn 
County, Iowa, in the capacity of Station 
Agent, then principle of the citA* school four 
years, and the following four years were 
were spent in a lumber yard in that town. 

April, 1884, Mr. Fisher located in Wayne 
County. Nebraska, and engaged in the lumber 
business, which he followed until 1889, when 
he sold out and the following fall was elected 
County Treasurer, holding his office two 
years. On his retirement from otTice he en- 
gaged at his present business, that of buying 



and selling real estate. He came to Wayne 
County with limited means, commencing in 
the lumber business on a salan.-. but afterward 
became a partner in the business. 

He was mairied June, 1S73, to Marv A. K. 
Alger, daughter of Pierson and Susan Alger, 
natives of Ohio. There were nine children 
in her father's fnmily. Mar}- being the sixth 
child. Seven are still living, five are residents 
of Nebraska, also her father and mother. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are the parents of one 
child, Harr}-. 

He is a member of the Masonic Order of 
the Lodge of Wayne, also of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen No. 120, of Center 
Point. He believes that the Democratic 
party best subser\-es the interests of the peo- 
ple, and therefore votes with that party. 

His house is one of the best in the city, 
erected with modem improvements. 



JAMES H. GALLEY, one of the promi- 
nent old settlers and merchants of 
Columbus, Nebraska, was born in Che- 
shire, England, April 23, 1S40. He is the son 
of James and Ann (^Whittaker) Galley. In 
his fathers family there were nine children, 
seven of whom lived to be adults ; of these 
George W., is a resident of Columbus; 
Martha, wife of John Barrow, of Salt Lake 
Cit}-, Utah : Samuel, a prominent merchant 
of Creighton. Nebraska: Sarah Ann, also a 
resident of Creighton and James H. Galley. 
In 1853 the family left England, sailing for 
America, landing at New Orleans. They 
came up the Mississippi River by steamboat 
as far as Keokuk, Iowa, and from there with 
teams to Council Bluffs and on to Utah, 
locating in Salt Lake City. They remained 
in that city until June, 1859, when they re- 
traced their steps, again crossing the plains 
and locating in Platte County, Nebraska, 
where his father purchased three hundred 
and eighty-nine acres of government land. 



NORTf/EASTEKJV NEBKASK.i. 



His father was a man of more than ordinarx'^ 
ability and was elected one of the first 
Justices of the Peace in that locality. He 
died in iS6i, his good wife only surviving 
him three months. 

In the fall of 1862, James H. enlisted in the 
Second Nebraska Cavalry, Company K, and 
was in the Indian war, participating in the 
battle of White Stone Hills, under General 
Sully. He received his discharge at Omaha in 
1863, after lea\ing the army he returned 
home and again engaged in farming which he 
followed until the spring of 1866 when he 
embarked in the mercantile business in com- 
pany with V^incent Kummer, continuing about 
one year, and sold out to Dale & Willard and 
again returned to the farm. In 1S73 the firm 
of J. H. Galley & Bro. was formed and en- 
gaged in the mercantile business in Columbus. 
In 1880 they started a branch at C^reighton, 
Nebraska. In 1892 the firm was dissolved, 
our subject remaining in Columbus, his 
brother, Samuel, taking the Creightpn stock. 

On February 21, 187 1, Miss Helen Hudson 
became his wife, daughter of Judge Hud- on, 
of Columbus, a pioneer of that section. By 
this marriage union eight children have been 
born, six sons and two daughters: Albert J. 
is a graduate of the Columbus High School 
and of Rohrbough's Commercial College of 
Omaha and is now a clerk in his father's 
store. Vincent H., also took a course in 
Rohrbough's Commercial College ; Walter 
W., at school: Ethel G., Earl R., William 
H., Maud E. and Clifford R. 

Mr. Ga'ley is a stanch Republican and has 
always taken an active interest in tlu' ]i()litical 
issues of the day. He also takes an active 
interest in educational matters and is to-day 
one of the Board of Education in the city of 
Columbus, and a member of the town 
Council. Mr. Galle}' has always taken an 
activ'e interest in all enterprises tending to 



the upbuilding of his town and county, being 
a liberal donator in all public enterprises. 
The First National Bank of Columbus is 
considered one of the substantial institutions 
of that place, Mr. Galle}' being its vice-presi- 
dent. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum, 
has held nearl}' all the subordinate ollices in 
the order and is to-day deputy supreme 
regent. 

When our subject came to Nebraska, where 
now is situated the thriving city of Columbus, 
it was then a wild, unsettled region in the 
midst of the great American desert. The 
success of his town would never have been 
guessed much less realized. He has lived to 
see school houses erected over the country, a 
distance of from two to four miles apart, 
and church spires towering above them on 
every hand. He has seen cities and towns 
spring up over the once desolate prairie; a 
net-work of railroad cross and re-cross until 
to-d;iy it is almost impossible, in the State of 
Nebraska, to get more than twent}' miles 
distant from one of those main thoroughfares. 
Suiely the eye of wonder is upon us and to- 
day an eye witness of thtse changes is an 
honor, but to be a participant is not accorded 
to all. 

When Mr. Galley tirst came to Platte 
County their nearest trading |iost was Omaha 
and their milling was done at Calhoun, taking 
a week to make the trip to either place. At 
the time he built his first house in Columbus, 
the lumber was hauled from Fremont, and 
he was obliged to pay 1^90 00 per thousand 
for the same. He has seen much of the 
hardship coincident to pioneer life but has 
succeeded in accumulating a competency in 
this world's goods. 

Mr. and Mrs. Galley rank among the best 
citizens of the place and are surrounded by a 
host of friends. 



584 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



FRANS NELSON, cashier of the First 
National Bank at Hartington, came to 
Cedar Count}- with his parents in the 
fall of 1866, and was then but seven years of 
age. His father located near Grand Island, 
taking a homestead of one hundred and sixtj- 
acres of wild land, and six months later was 
taken sick and died. His older brothers then 
took charge and made substantial improve- 
ments by erecting a house 16x24 feet, barns 
and other outbuildings, and were reasonabl}' 
successful until March 1881, when the high 
water of the Missouri of that spring washed 
the buildings away, forty head of cattle and 
fifteen head of horses, sustaining a loss of 
about $3,000.00. Feeling somewhat disheart- 
ened they all abandoned the farm. Our sub- 
ject then went to the Black Hills, where he 
was engaged in mining for six months. 
He then engaged in teaching school, which he 
followed for three years. He then came back 
to Cedar County, farmed the old homestead 
one year. In 1885 he was deput}' County 
Clerk, remaining two years, at which time he 
was elected County Clerk, holding the office 
four years. At the expiration of his term of 
ofllce he helped organize the First National 
Bank and was elected its cashier, which po- 
sition he has since held. The bank was 
organized with a capital of $50,000.00. 

Mr. Nelson was born in Sweden in August, 
1859, son of Solomon and Christina Nelson, 
iKilives of Sweden, who had a family of eight 
children, Frans being the sixth child. When 
he was seven years of age his parents came 
to America, landing at New York, and from 
there came direct to Cedar County. His 
father died in 1867 and the mother in 1881. 

Our subject had good educational advanta- 
ges. He graduated from the Yankton High 
School after a three year's course, which was 
in the class of 18S1. 

He was married in January, 1885, to Mrirv 
O. Parker, daugliter of A. S. and .Mary Par- 



ker, natives of New Hampshire. There were 
four children in her father's family: W. B., 
Mary O., George I., and Sadie W., all living. 
Two children have blessed this union: George 
A. and Sadie Mae. 

In his social relations it should be said he 
is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 
199 of Hartington, A. O. U. W.. and in his 
political choice is a Republican. 

CHARLIi:S PLUMLEIGH, County Judge 
located at Hartington, Nebraska, came 
to that count}- in April, 18S3, first 
locating four miles south-east of that town. 
He and his brother located a claim, erected a 
house and afterward found there was another 
claimant, so abandoned it, receiving pay for 
their improvements, diaries then engaged 
at carpenter work in the village, following it 
until the fall of 1890. He was elected County 
Judge at that time : re-elected the following 
year, which office he still holds. 

He was born in Albany, New York, Sep- 
tember, 1845. His father was twice married. 
By his first marriage there was one son born, 
Robert, who went away on a whaling voyage 
and was never heard from afterward : by his 
second wife there were eight children : 
Thomas H.; Charles; George; Robert K.: 
Harry H. ; Mary A. (deceased): William P. : 
Helen E. (deceased). 

Our subject lived in New York State until 
two years of age, when in company with his 
parents they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where 
his father, Thomas Plumleigh, purchased a 
large tract of land, and also engaged in the 
milling business. He erected a large brick 
structure, deriving power from the outlet of 
Crystal Lake and operated the mill about 
five years. 

Charles remained at home until January 
24, 1862, at which lime he enlisted in 
Company F, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry ; w;is 
musteretl in at Chicago under Captain Henr} ; 



NO A' THE AS TERN NEBRASKA. 



went to Tipton, Missouri, from there to Si. 
Louis, Missouri, where they joined the 
Fourth Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps 
under General Hurlbert; and from there to 
Fort Donelson. During 1862 Mr. Piumleigli 
participated in tlie following engagements: 
Pittsburg Landing, Siege of Corinth and 
the Hatchie. The following j-ear he was in 
the Siege of Vicksburg under General 
Lauman, and the Battle at Jackson, Missis- 
sippi, going into winter quarters in the rear of 
Vicksburg. In 1864 he was in the second 
Battle of Champion Hills, on the Mendoin 
expedition: returning to Vicksburg with his 
regiment, was transferred to the Seventeenth 
Army Corps, under General F. P. Blair, and 
was sent to re-enforce Sherman, remaining 
with him through the entire campaign ; par- 
ticipating in the Battle of Atlanta. While 
near Altoona, guarding the railroad, the 
company were taken prisoners October 4th, 
and was incarserated in that den of horrors, 
known as Andersonville Prison, seven 
months. After his release, Mr. Plumleigh 
went to Jacksonville, Florida, arriving April 
28, 1S65. He was there parolled and sent to 
Annapolis, Mar^'land, thence to Benton 
Barracks, Missouri, and from there to Camp 
Butler, Illinois, w'here he was mustered out 
June 21, 1865; receiving his discharge on the 
29'.h, returning home without a scratch. lie 
soon engaged at carpenter w'ork, doing odd 
jobs, which he followed until 1869, when he 
came to Omaha, Nebraska, where he fol- 
lowed his trade for a short time. He then 
engaged with a surveying party to do survey- 
ing in Nebraska, but the Indians being so 
bad, they were obliged to return. He then 
went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and from there 
to Quincy, Illinois, where he was engaged 
getting out ties for the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road Company, six months ; after which he 
followed his trade at Quincy, until 1871, 
when he again came to Nebraska. 



April, 1871, marked a new era in this 
man's life, for it was on that date he was 
united in marriage to Ella M. Bradford, 
daughter of Daniel P. and Harriet Bradford, 
natives of Massachusetts. They have had 
born to them : Harry C. ; Marian ; George 
VV. ; Doran C. ; Grace; Louis G.; Frank 
and Fred ; all living. 

Mr. Plumleigh' s early advantages for an 
education, like man)' an other man of his 
day, were somewhat limited : he only attend- 
ing the public schools, but with his contin- 
uous battle with the world he has acquired a 
good education. 

He came to Nebraska a poor man, but by 
industry and good management he has ac- 
cumulated a good property, owning a farm 
near town and property in Hartington. 

In his social relations it should be stated 
he is a member of the Masonic Order, A. F. 
& A. M. Lodge No. 190, Dundee, Illinois. 
He is also a member of the Grand Army of 
the Republic and Knights of Labor Orders. 
In his political belief he is an Independent. 



BERNARD SUING, who is living a re- 
tired life at Hartington, Cedar County, 
Nebraska, will form the subject of this 
biographical notice. Coming to this County 
in the spring of 1861 he can rightfully be 
termed a pioneer. He first located at St. 
Helena where he squatted on a piece of land 
of one hundred and sixty acres which he 
afterward homesteaded. He built a log house 
16x18 feet, with dirt roof, in which he lived 
ten years. He then erected another log 
house 18x28, but soon after covered it over 
with frame and built an addition 12x28 with 
a kitchen 10x12. He made other and sub- 
stantial improvements, including a barn 30x75 
feet. He made his place more beautiful by 
adding a grove of six acres. He kept adding 
to his land until he had two hundred and 
forty acres, all under fence. In the fall of 



S8C 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



1893 he gave the place to one of his sons, he 
moving into the village of Ilartington. 

Coming to a new country at an early day, 
was anything but a pleasure trip, for many of 
the early settlers suffered great hardships 
with grasshoppers destroying their crops. 
Such was the case with Mr. Suing the first 
few years he was in Cedar County. They, 
moved to Ponca several times abandoning their 
claim for fear of Indians. Their nearest mill 
was at this point which was forty miles 
distant. At one time he relates that it took 
nine days to make the trip, being obliged to 
wait for their grist, there being so many 
ahead of him. Their nearest market places 
were Sioux City and Yankton. One not ex- 
perienced in ihe hardships of the early days 
can form but little idea of tlie trials the early 
pioneer passed through. 

To acquaint the reader with Mr. Suing"s 
earlier history, let it be said he was born in 
Germany, September, 1820. lie was the 
second child born to Henry and Elizabeth 
Suing, also natives of the German Empire. 
There were eight children in the family, lour 
of whom are living, three residents of Ne- 
braska, and one in Germany. 

Bernard remained in hi.s nali\e countr}' 
until thirty years of age, when he sailed for 
America, landing at Baltimore, was there en- 
gaged in working in a nursery five years. 
He then went to Dubuque County, Iowa, 
where he followed farming for about four 
years when he came to Nebraska. 

lie was married April, 1853, to Madaline 
Kough, daughter of Frederick and Anna M. 
Kougli, who had seven children in the famil3% 
she being the oldest. They have a family of 
ten children: John B., Henry, Catharine, 
Stephen, Mary, Joseph, Frank, Maud, Anna, 
August all of whom are living; nine residents 
of Nebraska and one of Oregon. 



He and familj^ are members of the Catho- 
lic Church and in his political choice he votes 
the Democratic ticket. 

Mr. Suing, in his native country, received 
a good common school education, serving in 
the German army six year.*. When he came 
to America he was a poor man, but by liard 
work and careful management has secured a 
good home and enough to keep the wolf from 
his door during his declining years. 

GEORGE BERNY, who is living a re- 
tired life in the City of Columbus, 
Platte County, Nebraska, dates his 
settlement in that county from 1857. 

Mr. Berny was born in Valz Canton, 
Gresson, Switzerland, January 30, 1832. He 
is the son of Anton and Ursula (Furger) 
Berny, by whom there were three children 
who lived to be adults. His mother died 
when he was six years of age : two years 
later his father married ag;iin George left 
home on that account; went to Lindan, 
Germany, where he was employed herding 
cattle, remaining there three years. He then 
returned home and herded goats and cattle in 
the Alps of Switzerland in the year 1846. He 
then went to the City of Meiland, Ital}-, where 
he was engaged in a hotel by his uncle. 

At the time of the Revolution in 1848, lie 
took part in tliat unpleasant affair ; he was 
taken prisoner, but remained only four days, 
when the Austrians retreated from Meiland 
and he was set free ; five months after, the 
Austrians returned. He then went to tlie 
Armory for a gun, and came near getting 
killed by the blowing up of the Armory: one 
hundred and eleven others, however, sus- 
tained fatal injuries. In the spring of 1849 
he participated in the Battle of Nuvara, being 
defeated by the Austrians and came near 
being wiped out : after which, he took 
occasion one dark night to escape, and in 
which he succeeded, returning to his home in 



NOK THE A S TERN NEBKA SKA . 



Switzerland ; but only remained a short time 
wlien he again returned to Italj', remaining 
until 1853, when, he again returned to 
Switzerland, and then was under militar\- 
service for two montlis. 

In the montli of Octol^er, 1854, he sailed 
for America : took a sailing vessel, and landed 
in New York December nth. He came 
from that city to Chicago, and for a time was 
employed in a hotel. In the spring of 1855 
he went into the lumbering woods of Northern 
Wisconsin ; working there with Canadian 
French, he soon learned their language. We 
next find him in New Orleans, and as he 
could not secure work in a hotel, he was 
obliged to work on a steamboat with the 
negros, which run from that city to Mobile, 
Alabama ; after one month he secured employ- 
ment in the largest hotel of Mobile, remain- 
ing there three months. He soon had the 
California fever: returned to New Orleans, 
but when counting his cash found it short the 
required amount, so he remained in that city 
three days ; he then was asked by the captain 
of a military company if he could handle a 
gun, to take part in the procession in the 
laying of the corner stone for a monument for 
some prominent General, He was told that 
he could. Our subject soon donned the blue 
muflin and fell in, participating in that grand 
affair, this being in 1856 ; after which he took 
a steamboat to St. Louis. While there he 
saw an advertisement for sixty men to drive 
cattle and teams to California from the west 
part of Kansas; he made inquiries in the 
matter, paid one dollar for his information, 
and started for that point ; but when he 
arrived he found it was a hoax. Hut still he 
had the California fever. 

Hearing that there was a wagon road from 
St. Joe, Missouri to Omaha, and from there 
to California, he started for Omaha, and 
arrived in May, 1856. There still was no 
chance of getting to California, so he con- 



cluded that Nebraska was possibly as good. 
He secured employment with a stone mason, 
John H. Green. That fall his employer sent 
him and Fred Gottchalk witii two yoke of 
oxen to Columbus, Nebraska, to cut logs for 
a sawmill. The first day they arrived at 
Elkhorn City; the second day there was a 
tremendous snowstorm ; snow fell to the 
depth of two and a half feet, but they still 
continued their journey. The third day 
reaching within three miles of Fremont, their 
cattle gave out ; our subject agreed to sta}- 
with the sleighs, while Fred Gottchalk and 
Fred Becker went to Fremont to get a team 
to get their's out of the snow. After the 
two men left our subject for Fremont, a tre- 
mendous blizzard came up, and he had 
given up hope of being rescued. His two 
companions notified the people of Fremont 
that there was still a man out in the storm. 
Two brave citizens of Fremont one by the name 
of Kittle and another, started to his rescue, 
and as luck would have it, found him, it 
being a miracle indeed to rescue a man in 
such a blizzard ; and he still feels thankful to 
those two men for his life. The next day 
they went after the teams, unyoked them and 
drove them back to Omaha, as it was impos- 
sible to continue their journey on account of 
the snow. Fremont consisted of three log 
huts at this time. 

Mr. Berny resumed his journey from 
Omaha to Columbus in the first part of 
March, 1857, alone this time, and on fool, 
carrying provisions, bed and clothing on his 
back. When reaching Shell Creek he went 
snowblind, but still continued his journey 
up Shell Creek, with great disadvant- 
age, up to his waist in snow. Some 
few months prior, two friends of his, 
Charles Rcinke and Henry Lusche, 
had taken claims about twenty-five miles up 
Shell Creek, and were living tliere ; that was 
what our subject was heading for. When he 



588 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



had traveled about the distance he thought 
his friends were livinji;, he attempted to shoot 
off his gun, but found the powder had got 
wet; he then began hallooing, but no answer 
could be heard from his friends, and being 
snowblind, could not see, so he still kept 
going on, but was at this time going by his 
friends some distance; but as luck would 
have it Reinke saw him, and went after him, 
or he would have been lost, as a heav}- snow- 
storm came up that night. 

Land not being surveyed yet, our subject 
took a squatter's claim two miles west of 
Charles Reinke, and six miles north of 
Columbus. He made trips to Omaha and 
worked there at intervals until i860, when he 
sold the claim for one hundred and fifty dollars, 
with which he purchased an ox team and 
went to Pikes Peak, Colorado, and took a 
hay claim, and was engaged in the haj' busi- 
ness, hauling hay to Denver, thirtj^-five miles ; 
and Central City, seventy miles, and received 
as high as $200 per ton, but experienced a 
great deal of hardship ; fording rivers, sleep- 
ing under the wagons in the snow, and eating 
frozen bread. In Ma}', 1864, a terrible hail 
storm brought the water down from the 
valley live feet high, and as he lived close to 
the Platte River, was nearly drowned, but 
rescued by a man on horseback. This flood 
covered his hay land with sand and gravel 
from two to three feet deep, rendering it 
worthless. After this he took two ox teams 
and went to Omaha for freight, mostly flour. 
On his return, reaching Fort Kearney he was 
stopped by the soldiers on account of the 
Indians, as they had destroyed and killed 
every thing for about three hundred miles 
west of tliem. He was obliged to stay there 
about seven days ; by this time about five 
hundred teams had gathered. The}' then 
made their way through in trains, camped 
at night about llfly teams together. When 
reacliing Denver he got twenty dollars a sack 



for his flour, which he had paid three dollars 
and fifty cents for in Omaha. In April, 
1865, he took the stage from Denver to 
Columbus. 

He married at Columbus Rosa Hengeller, 
and went to Des Moines, Iowa, and bought 
a team of four mules to freight from Omaha 
to Denver. Starting from Des Moines, the 
mules ran away; he jumped from the wagon 
and broke his leg and was laid up for some 
time, after which he loaded his team in 
Omaha with bacon and meat and went back 
to Denver, but lost money on this load, as 
the war had ended by this time. We next 
find him in Columbus ; he took a homestead 
and pre-emption claim aboutfour miles west of 
that town, on which he farmed until 1892. 
He was an extensive cattle and hog raiser 
and feeder, being one of the first in the busi- 
ness in this county. He has sold two hundred 
and forty acres of his land for $7,000, and 
has two hundred and forty acres left in the 
same neighborhood. 

Mr. Berny has been married twice ; his 
first wife, Rosa Hengeller, was a native of 
Switzerland. They had one son, Joseph, 
cashier of the First National Bank of 
Columbus, Nebraska. His second wife, 
Amelia Dutches, is a native of Germany. 
She has three half brothers, two of wiiich, 
Joseph and John Berny, live in Greeley 
County, Nebraska, wealthy farmers, and one 
in Cairo, Egypt. Politically, our subject 
believes in the principles of the Democratic 
parly. 

In 1881 he made a trip to his native 
country, visiting France, Switzerland, Italy, 
and principle towns in those countries. In 
1889 he again made a trip to those countries, 
seeing the World's Fair at Paris, in company 
with Robert Kummer and John Gisin. 

This man's life has been truly an e\entful 
one ; being left on his own resourse when but 
nine years of age, herding goats in the Alps 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



589 



in his native country while yet a small boy, 
serving in the revolution of that country, and 
tlnally coming to America and going on the 
Irontier among bands of hostile Indians, is 
certainly an experience that the young man 
of to-day would think he could not endure. 
But pioneers were born, not made. 



HENSON WISEMAN, a pioneer of 
Cedar Count)', is justly entitled to a 
biographical notice in this connec- 
tion. He was born in West Virginia, No- 
vember 5, 1817. Came to Iowa in 1S39, 
moved to Fort Des Moines, in 1850, and six- 
years later to Sioux Cit}'. In the spring of 
1857 he came Cedar County, Nebraska, 
where he now resides. 

In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Second 
Nebraska Cavalry and served thirteen 
months. During his absence his family was 
attacked by Indians, a detailed account of 
which was written b)' Wilbur F. Bryant and 
from which we have extracted the principal 
features. 

On the Missouri river, in the northeast 
portion of Cedar County close to the Dixon 
County line, is what is known as "Brocks 
Bottom," a considerable portion of which is 
covered with a heavy growth of timber and is 
about three miles wide by six miles long. 
Near the upper end of this bottom is a spot 
which, for being the scene of a bloody deed 
may yet be memorable in "poetry and song." 
It was in this bottom that Ilenson Wiseman 
and his young wife located in 1857. They 
belonged to the middle class, coming from 
the mountain region of the old dominion 
state, they were no novices in frontier life. 
Poor in worldly good but rich in love and 
hope. When they first came west they set- 
tled at Burlington, Iowa, then a frontier town. 
Living in wildernesses became a passion with 
some men. Boone, Carson or Crockett could 
never have thrived in civilizaton. Our sub- 



ject, being of the same turn, riding on the 
crest of the advancing wave settled at Fort 
Des Moines, later at Sioux City, where he 
shingled the first house in the now Corn 
Palace City. But advancing civilization 
drove them still onward and in 1857 they 
settled in Brocks Bottom, as before stated. 
He and his estimable wife had been blessed 
with a family of eight children, two of whom 
they had buried in Iowa. By dint of toil and 
industry they accumulated a comfortable 
property on a squatters claim, where another 
son died, the first natural death in Cedar 
Count}-. Another son was born to them. 
Their sorrow was thus merged into their new 
joy. Father, mother and children bent their 
united energies to the subduing of the forest 
and a happy future appeared to be before 
them. 

In September, 1862, when Abraham 
Lincoln issued his immortal Emancipation 
Proclomation, and the month following called 
for more troops with which to suppress the 
slave holders, the heart of the pioneer and 
his Virginia blood burned within him. His 
second son was seventeen years ot age and 
was deemed sufficient protection for the 
mother and children. The father joined 
Company I, commanded by Captain John 
Taffe, and the company was sent to join 
Sully's regiment. 

On the 23rd of June, 1863, the mother had 
gone to Yankton, Dakota, by pony express, 
to buy some of the necessaries of life. On 
her return, leaving the carrier at old St. 
James, she walked three miles through a 
ravine to her home. Arriving there with a 
mother's joyful expectation, she was alarmed 
at seeing no signs of life and no outstretched 
arms to meet her, no lips were upturned to 
receive a mother's kiss. Looking through 
the window she saw an Indian lying on the 
fioor. Telltale marks of gore were upon the 
door, as the terrible truth Hashed upon her. 



590 



NORTHEASTERN /NEBRASKA. 



She was siezed wtih a frenzy of despair, rushed 
to the other side of the house, and there lay one 
of her children, a boy of eight years, shot to 
death; wild with grief, fear and frenzy, the 
poor woman fled back up the revene to old 
St. James and told the dreadful story. It 
was now night-fall. No one dared to move 
till day-break. What a night it must have 
been for that fond mother. Forever un- 
described, let it remain. The following 
morning the small band of settlers at old St. 
James, took a circuitous route on the open 
prairie to the scene of the massacre. Three 
of the children were dead, the two others 
were yet alive. The eldest, a boy of seven- 
teen lay upon the floor, with his skull crushed 
and both arms broken. His hands still 
clutched ills rifle, the barrel was empty. The 
brave boy had perished in a hand to hand 
struggle to protect the honor of his sister 
from savage infam}'. The sister yet living 
had been maltreated in a manner which for- 
bids detail. The poor girl lived five days but 
never spoke. The second bojs a lad of 
thirteen years, had been stabbed to death and 
another of eight years lying outside the door. 
But the saddest of all was the sight of "ma- 
ma's darling" a little fellow of five summers, 
mortally wounded, "Indians scared me 
mamma," was all he could saj". He died 
three days later. 

In less than two weeks the sad story 
reached the father, two hundred miles away. 
Mounting his horse, without taking refresh- 
ments, he set out on his dismal journey and 
rode night and day, with the energ}- of mad- 
ness and despair. Arriving at Brock Bottom, 
Henson Wiseman entered the house, his home 
no more. Above the grave of his slaughter- 
ed children he swore a terrible oath of ven- 
geance. How well the oath has been kept is 
a secret between him and his God. But this 
is certain, for over twenty years none of the 
vagabond bands of Indians, which infested 



this county, could be induced to enter Brocks 
Bottom. To the red men, it is "the valley 
of the shadow of death." 

Henson Wiseman and his wife are now liv- 
ing near the scene of the massacre. 



GEORGE O. ACERS, cashier of the 
Concord State Bank, came to Concord 
township, Dixon Count}', Nebraska, 
in the spring of 1879. His earthlj' possessions 
invoiced at that time one span of mules, wagon 
and harness, one cow and two pigs. He 
took a homestead of one hundred and sixtj' 
acres of wild land, broke it out and erected a 
frame hovise 16x22, one story high, in which 
he lived until 1885, when he made an addi- 
tion 12x22. This house was the first in that 
localit}'. He added to his land imtil he had 
one hundred and seventy-two and a half acres, 
ninety acres of which is under good cultiva- 
tion, surrounded by good fence. He opera- 
ted this farm nine years, and had brought it 
to a high state of cultivation and added sub- 
stantial improvements to the plflce in the way 
of a good barn, well, with wind power, feed 
and corn sheller combined. In 1889 he sold 
his place and purchased the lumber interests 
of Shumway & Everett at Concord, which 
business he carried on, including that of agri- 
cultural implements, three ^ears, when he 
sold and went into the grain business, in 
which he remained eighteen months. During 
this time the Concord State Bank had been 
organized, with Mr. Acers as one of the 
•directors. In 1893 he was made its cashier, 
which position he still holds. This bank was 
organized with an authorized capital of $50,- 
000.00, and does a general banking business. 
At the time Mr. Acers came to Dixon Coun- 
ty his nearest market place was twenty seven 
miles away, and his nearest mill seventeen 
miles. He ferried the lumber across the Mis- 
souri River with which to build his house and 
constructed his own bridges across the un- 



NOK THEASTEKN NEBRASKA. 



bridged stream in order to draw his lumber 
to the homestead. He suffered some reverses 
two different seasons, one season by hail and 
the other by heavy wind storms. He also 
had an idea of the grasshopper plague, as he 
was in the county the last year that those little 
winged pests did their damage, and suffered 
no little inconvenience the first year in secur- 
ing the necessaries of life. 

He was born in Delaware County, Iowa, 
June, 1855, son of George and Charlotte B. 
Acers, natives of New York State, who reared 
a family of four children: Attie M., Mary 
H., George O. and Albert C, all of whom 
are living. 

His father was one of the pioneers of Iowa, 
as he came to Delaware County, that state, 
in 1S48, his homestead being what is now the 
city of Manchester, the great dairy town of 
the state today, and which it has been since 
1876, when a leading butter man of that 
town took the first premium at the Centennial 
Exposition, on butter made in Delaware 
County. 

Our subject was married in that county, 
September, 1878, to Ida Hudson, daughter of 
William and Emmaline Hudson, natives of 
Ni w York, who had a family of seven chil- 
dren, she being the third child. Of this 
family of children si.v are living, two of whom 
are residents of Nebraska. 

Mr. and Mrs. Acers are the parents of 
seven children, born and named in the follow- 
ing order: Attie, Inez, Claude, Angle, Ro- 
maine, Charlotte and Rowland, all of whom 
are living. 

Mr. Acers is a member of the Indejiendent 
Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 115, of 
Ponca; also of the Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. In his political choice he is a 
Republican. 

In Delaware County his early advantages 
for an education were good. Besides attend- 



ing the public schools in Manchester, he was 
three years in the Iowa Slate Universitj-. 

During his residence in Dixon Countj^ he 
has always taken an active part in all public 
enterprises, as well as taking an active inter- 
est in the politics of the County and State. 
He is widely and favorably known throughout 
that section of country, and iiis friends can 
be counted by that one word legion. 



GEORGE F. CHITTENDEN, of the 
firm of Wheeler & Chittenden, real 
estate dealers, doing business in the 
village of Pender, came to Thurston County 
in the summer of 1885. His first work in 
that town was for the Crov/el Lumber and 
Grain Company, with whom he remained 
about seven years. 

November, 1892, the firm of Wheeler & 
Chittenden was formed to do a real estate 
and loan business. This firm has under their 
control for lease and for sale over 20,000 
acres of farm and grass lands. 

Our subject was born in Fond du Lac 
County, Wisconsin, May, i860. His parents, 
Frederick and Laura Chittenden, were 
natives of Burlington, Vermont, and were the 
parents of '[w^t children: Charles T., B. F., 
George F., H. J. and William. The last 
named is deceased. When George F. was 
si.\ years of age his parents moved to Belvi- 
dere, Illinois, where his father was in the 
grocery and live stock business. When 
twelve years of age, he in company with his 
parents moved to Chicago, and three years 
later commenced business for himself. He 
went to Chicago, where he worked for a 
time as shipping clerk. 

In 1884, Mr. Chittenden came to Blair, 
Nebraska, where he engaged in the live stock 
business. We next find him in Thurston 
County. He has built five different resi- 
dences in the village of Pender. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Virginia A. Gray became his wife in 
March, 1885. She was the daughter of Wil- 
liam II. and Evaline Gray from Altoona, 
Pennsylvania, she being the oldest child. 
Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden are the parents of 
three children: William, Eva and Norma. 
William is deceased. 

Mr. Chittenden is a member of the Knights 
of Pythias Order, Lodge No. 127, in the vil- 
lage of Pender. Both he and his wife are 
acceptable members of the Episcopal Church. 
Politically he is a Republican. 

JG. DOWNS, a real estate dealer in the 
, village of Pender, will form the subject 
of this biographical memoir. He tlrst 
saw the light of day in Vermont, March, 
1833. He is the son of George G. and 
Betsy R. Downs, also natives of the Green 
Mountain State. They were the parents of 
two children: J. G. and Mary, now Mrs. 
Philo M. Richardson, of Magnolia, Harrison 
County, Iowa. Mr. Richardson came to 
Harrison County in 1874, ^^^ commenced 
work at farm labor by the month, during the 
summer months, teaching school during the 
winter. He now has a comfortable home, 
and is considered one of the well-to-do 
citizens of that county. 

Our subject lived in Vermont until twenty- 
four years of age, when he came West to 
Iowa and followed school teaching for ten 
years. We next find him in Magnolia, Har- 
rison County, Iowa, in the mercantile busi- 
ness, which he followed for eight years. 

In 1862 Mr. Downs enlisted in Company 
C, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantrj-, first under 
Captain Fuller, later under Captain Bacon. 
He was elected First Duty Sergeant and pro- 
moted to Orderly Sergeant, which otllce lie 
held until discharged. He served three 
years and ten days, and during his time of 
service he was in the battle of Helena, 
Spanish Fort and Fort Biakeley, and was only 



in the hospital three days during his entire 
service. He received his discharge at Daven- 
port, Iowa, August 28, 1865. 

He was united in marriage Februar\- 25, 
i860, to Hattie Lawrence, daughter of Eli^s 
and Mary Lawrence, natives of Vermont. 
By this marriage union there has been eight 
children born, six of whom are living, named 
as follows: Franklin, Bert, George, Roy, 
Newton and William. 

Both he and his wife are members of tiie 
Presbyterian Church. In his political choice 
he believes in the principles of the Inde- 
pendent party. 

In the spring of 1885 at the laying out of 
the village of Pender, Mr. Downs moved his 
family to that town and cast his lot with the 
people in the New Eldorado. His first move 
was to construct comfortable quarters in 
which to live. This he succeeded in doing 
by erecting a house 16x24 ^'^'^ ^ wing 14x16. 
He was the first Justice of the Peace in the 
town, and was the first County Judge after 
the county was organized, and was Post- 
master under Cleveland's first administration. 

JAMES WEISER, a hardware dealer in 
the village of Pender, came to what is 
now Thurston County, in the spring of 
1884, then a part of Cuming Count)'. He 
first located at Athens, two miles from Pen- 
der, and engaged in the agricultural imple- 
ment business, but on the laying out of the 
town of Pender he moved to that point. 
During the year that he was at Athens he 
located a claim of one hundred and sixty 
acres which he alterward improved and 
brought to a high state of cultivation. After 
six years dealing in agricultural implements 
he added a stock of hardware. 1 he firm is 
now known as Weiser Brothers. In 1S91 
they erected a building of brick 50x100 feet, 
two stories high, the first storj' and basement 
of which is occupied by them in tlieir busi- 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



ness, the second story being used as an 
Opera House. 

To say that Mr. Weiser has succeeded, it 
only needs to be added that when he came to 
this section he was the possessor of a very 
small amount of this world's goods. 

Mr. Weiser was born in Juniata County, 
Pennsylvania, Februar}-, 1S54. ^'^ parents, 
Jacob and Margaret Weiser, were also natives 
of the Keystone State, and were the parents 
of ten children ; James being the third child. 
Seven of tliese children are still li\ing. 

In 1882 our subject left his native State 
and went to Michigan, and two ^•ears later 
found him in Nebraska. 

In his social relations he belongs to the 
Masonic Order, A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 
203, of Pender. He casts his vote with the 
Republican part}'. 



JOHN R. HOUSE, who is engaged in 
general merchandising in the village of 
Pender, dates his settlement in Thurston 
County from the spring of 18S5. He first 
located four miles west of Pender, purchasing 
a homestead right, paying eighteen dollars 
per acre for the same. This place was 
partly improved. He lived on his place four 
years. In Jul3s 1891, he started his present 
business, and carries a full and complete 
stock of general merchandise. He has seen 
Bender grow from a small town to one tiiat 
draws trade for miles around, 

Mr. House was born in Pulaska County, 
Illinois, in 1857. He is the son of Jacob and 
Martha House, natives of North Carolina 
and Virginia, respectively. There were 
eight children in his father's family, John 
being the third child, five of whom are living ; 
our subject is the only resident of Nebraska. 
His father is deceased, but his mother is still 
living. 

When twenlj'-two years of age he was 
a resident of Illinois, but soon left that State 



and went to Missouri, where he worked at 
farm labor two years, and then came to 
Nebraska. 

Emma House became his wife in January, 
1880. By this marriage union there- has been 
two children born : Nellie and Nora. 

In his boyhood days Mr. House only 
received a common school education, but in 
his business relations he has become to be a 
well informed man. 

He believes that the Democratic party best 
serves the interests of the people, and there- 
fore casts his vote with them. 

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
Order, Lodge No. 127, of the village cf 
Pender. 



JOHN F. MYERS, County Clerk of 
Thurston County, has been a resident of 
Pender since October, 1887. 

Mr. Myers was born in Cambria Count)', 
Pennsylvania, August, 1854. ^^'*^ parents, 
Anthony' J. and Catharine !\Iyers were also 
natives of that State. There were twelve 
children in tiie family, nine of whom are 
living, and all residents of Nebraska. His 
parents are living in Dakota Count}', liis 
father possessing some three hundred and 
eighty acres of Dakota County soil, which is 
one of the finest equipped and well arranged 
farms in the County. 

Our subject left the Keystone State in 
company with his parents when but si.\ years 
of age, and came to Dubuque, Iowa, where 
his father was a member of the police force 
one year ; after which they came to Dakota 
County, Nebraska. John's early advantages 
for an education were somewhat limited, but 
to-day is a well informed man. 

He was united in marriage in June, 1889, 
to Alice McPortland, daughter of James and 
Mary McPortland, who were nati\es of 
Ireland. There were sixteen children in .er 
father's family, eight of whom are living. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



Our subject and his wife are the parents of 
two children : Mary and Anna. Both he and 
his wife are members of the Catholic Church. 
In his political choice he is a Republican. 

When Mr. Myers first came to Thurston 
County in company with his brother they 
erected a store buildin<f 22x86 feet, which 
the)- filled with a complete line of general 
merchandise. This was the fourth store in 
that village. The}' continued in this business 
under the firm name of Myers Bros, three 
years, when they sold the stock, but still 
retain the building, which they rent. 

After they retired from the mercantile 
business they became members of the firm 
known as the Flournoy Live Stock and Real 
Estate Company. This firm controlled about 
two thousand four hundred acres of plow 
land and fifteen thousand acres of pasture 
land. They also leased tvvent}' thousand 
acres more of pasture, making in all thirtj-- 
seven thousand four hundred acres. They 
have under their care about five hundred 
head of cattle, and do a general feeding and 
shipping business. 

This firm has the following officers; J. S. 
Lemon, President ; A. W. Turner, Secretary ; 
J. F. Myers, Treasurer ; and R. R. Myers, 
General I^Ianager. 

September 16, 1889, our subject was ap- 
pointed County Clerk of Thurston County. 
The following year was elected to that office, 
and is now serving his second term. 

In glancing over the foregoing sketch one 
cannot help but be convinced that our subject 
has made a financial success in nearly all of 
his undertakings. His entire business interests 
is the outgrowth of a cash capital of seven 
thousand dollars, wliich he and his brother 
possessed when starting in the mercantile 
business at Tender in 1887. 



THOMAS L. SLOAN, of the firm of 
Chase & Sloan, Attorneys at Law in 
the village of Pender, came to Thurs- 
ton County in the spring of 1881. He came 
to that county with iiis grandparents and lo- 
cated at the Omaha Indian Agency; his 
grandfather was in the Governments emplo)', 
and located the first mill on the reservation. 

Thomas attended the government school 
at the Omaha Agency two years. From there 
he went to the Indian school at Hampton, 
Virginia, going through the regular course of 
study, graduating in the class of 1889; he 
stood at the head of the class and was the 
Valadictorian of the class. With his other 
studies he began reading law, completing his 
law study under his present partner, Mr. 
Chase. 

He was born at St. Louis, Missouri, Ma}-, 
1863 ; his parents, William E. and Catharine 
Sloan, were natives of Nebraska and Mis- 
souri, respectively. His father was a well 
informed man, and was a graduate of the St. 
Louis College. Thomas was the only child. 

When fourteen years of age our subject 
left home and made a voyage at sea in the 
merchants service. He was very apt in the 
parlance of the seaman. After his sea-fareing 
life, he was in the regular army on the 
frontier in Montana and Idaho one year. 
His mother securing his release on account 
of his age. 

January 1, 1S91, marked a new era in his 
life. At that date he was united in marriage 
to Anna Tellkamp. She is an acceptable 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
while he adheres to the Presbyterian faith. 

In his political choice, Mr. Sloan belie\es 
in the principles of the Democratic party. 

In reviewing the foregoing sketch, the 
reader will easily grasp something of the 
character of this young man. Leaving home 
when but fourteen years of age, going on board 
a merchants vessel, and a few months later 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



joining the regular arm\', his place of duty 
being on the frontier, one will be thoroughly 
impressed with the idea that in his ycung 
days, at least, he knew no such thing as 
fear. 

The firm of Chase & Sloan are prominent 
tliroughout the State and County as Indian 
attorneys. 



ED. ROSE, a liveryman in the village of 
Pender, came to Thurston County in 
the spring of 1887, and located on a 
partly improved farm of one hundred and 
sixty acres, just north of Pender. On this 
place he made some substantial improvements 
in the way of a house, barn, shedding, etc., 
which involved an expense of $1,500.00. He 
operated tliis place three years, when he sold 
out and went into the stock business in the 
village of Pender. He then drifted into the 
livery business and is now proprietor of what 
is known as the Star livery barn. He carries 
a stock valued at $2,500.00. He still devotes 
some time in the stock business. In connec- 
tion with his livery business he runs a bus and 
transfer line in connection with the Peebles 
house. 

He was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, July, 
1863, son of Solomon and Mattie Rose, natives 
of Ohio, who are the parents of seven chil- 
dren, our subject being the oldest child. When 
three 3'ears of age, in company with his 
parents he came to Omaha, Nebraska. His 
father was a government contractor, furnish- 
ing supplies to the different forts. His father 
afterward purchased a ranch near Hermon, 
Nebraska, on which our subject grew to man- 
hood, and from there he came to Thurston 
County. 

He was united in marriage in the spring of 
1887, to Mattie Ray, daughter of Edward 
and Elizabeth Ray, natives of Illinois, who 
had a family of two children, George and 
Mattie. 



Our subject and his wife have been blessed 
by the birth of two children, Nettie and Inez. 

He belongs to the Knights of P3'thias Or- 
der, Lodge No. 127, of Pender. In his politi- 
cal choice he is a Republican. 



HIRAM CHASE, attorney at law, doing 
business in the village of Pender, 
under the firm name of Chase & 
Sloan, located in that town in 1S91. Soon 
after his arrival, this firm was formed, an 
office rented, and a law shingle put out. The 
firm's practice has been principally, with the 
Indians, and are known throughout the state 
and county, as Indian lawyers. 

Mr. Chase was born on the Omaha Indian 
Reservation, Nebraska, September 9, 1861. 
His father, a Goverment interpretbr and 
trader among the Indians, was Hiram Chase, 
Sr. (a white man), his mother was Nun- 
zainza, granddaughter of Wahnookega, 
chief of the Omaha Indians. From such 
lineage, the subject of our sketch, derives an 
equal mixture of white and Indian blood. 
He attended the Government and Mission 
schools on the reservation until fifteen years 
of age, after which time, under the guidance 
of a paternal will, he was constantly awaj^ 
from the place of his birth, under ellicient 
training and schooling, at Zelienople, Penn- 
sylvania, and also at the State Normal School 
of Peru, Nebraska, until 1879, when he re- 
turned to his old home. From that date until 
1886, most of his time was passed at Decatur, 
Nebraska, (near the Reservation,) and on 
his farm on the Reserve. 

Cynthia Snyder became his wife in the 
spring of 1882. She is the daughter of S. G. 
Snyder, of New York ; they are the parents 
of four interesting children : Isabelle, Ger- 
trude, Ethelyn and Thurman,all of whom are 
living. 

Our subject commenced reading law in 
1885, while on his farm ; admitted to the Bar 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



in the summer of 1889, and became dis- 
tinguished as the first lawyer of Indian blood, 
ever known in Nebraska, and perhaps in the 
northwest. In the fall of 1885, he moved 
with his family to Decatur, and there read 
law in the ofllce of Thomas R. Ashlejs and 
while there, was instrumental in the organ- 
ization and publication of The Eaglet, a small 
newspaper. 

At the age of twent3'-six years, under a 
general law of Congress, he with many others 
was declared a citizen of the United States, 
February 8, 1887. From that fall until the 
spring of 1889 he attended the law school of 
Cincinnati, Ohio ; graduating from that insti- 
tution, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. 
He then returned to his old home, and was 
admitted to the Bar, during the summer of 
1889, as before stated. 

Socialh', Mr. Chase is a member of the 
Masonic Order, A. F. & A. M., Lodge No. 
88, Decatur, Nebraska. Politically he is a 
stanch Republican. 



D WIGHT N. WHEELER, a real estate 
dealer, located in the village of 
Pender, dates iiis settlement in Thurs- 
ton County from the spring of 1883, at which 
time he located in the Logan valley, one mile 
from where the village of Pender is now 
situated. 

Mr. Wheeler was born in New London, 
Connecticut, October, 1861, son of Dwight 
and Louisa Wheeler, also natives of Con- 
necticut. Tliere were four children in liis 
lather's family, named as follows : Dwight 
N.; Maria; Sarah and Hattie, three of whom 
are living ; our subject tlie onl}' one, liow- 
ever, residing in Nebraska. When eight 
years of ag.- his jnirents moved to Harrison 
County, Iowa, where his father engaged in 
agricultural pursuits. In 1878, when but 
fifteen years of age, Dwiglit left home and 



went to Kansas, where he worked by the 
month at farm labor about one jear, after 
which he came to Wayne County, Nebraska, 
and followed the occupation of farm laborer 
until 1883, when he came to his present 
location. 

When Mr. Wlieeler located in Thurston 
County he purchased one hundred and si.xly 
acres of wild land, and immediately com- 
menced to break it out. For three years he 
lived in an old shack of a house, whicii he 
rented. At the end of this lime he erected a 
residence which cost $3,000, also added 
barns and outbuildings at a cost of about 
$4,000. He has since added to his landed 
interests until he now has one thousand and 
twenty acres, five hundred acres of which is 
in timoth}' and clover, the balance under the 
plow ; all surrounded by a good fence and 
divided into lots of from forty to one hundred 
acres. He continued in the farming and live 
stock business until the fall of 1S92, when he 
added real estate and loan, and now does 
business under the firm name of Wheeler & 
Chittenden. He still superintends his lands 
and carries on an extensive live slock busi- 
ness. His annual output from his farm is 
about eight hundred head of cattle, which he 
feeds the year round, and three hundred 
head of hogs. He is assisted in the manage- 
ment of his farm by a competent foreman. 

Mr. Wheeler was married December, 1886, 
to Minnie Breneman. Two children have 
blessed this union: llatlie and Timollu'. 

Mr. Wheeler believes in the principles of 
tlie Republican party, and therefore casts his 
vote with that body. 

In his social relations it should be said that 
he belongs to the Masonic Order A. F. & A. 
M. Lodge No. 203, of Pender, and also of 
the Indejiendenl Order of Odd Fellows. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



597 



WILLIAM L. GIBSON, located in the 
thriving little town of Dixon, Dixon 
County, Nebraska, came to that 
county in the fall of 187S, from California. 
He purciiased one hundred and sixtj' acres 
of wild land on which he erected a house 
30x32, and made otlier and substantial im- 
provements. One liundred and twenty acres 
of this place he had under the plow ; he 
continued to operate this farm for thirteen 
vears, but when the Pacilic Short Line Rail- 
road was built tlirougli that count\-, and the 
village of Dixon located, he sold his landed 
interests and moved to tiuit town, where he 
is living" at present. 

lie was born in Canada, wliere Ciiathan is 
now located, July 6, 183S, son of John and 
Nancy Gibson, natives of New York, who 
were the parents of elc\-en children, five of 
whom are living, our subject being the tenth 
child. 

When but a small cliild liis parents moved 
to Boone County, Illinois, where his father 
purchased a farm, on which they lived eight 
years, and came to Clayton County, Iowa. 
Our subject remained at home until twenty 
years of age, when he went to California, 
where for a time he was engaged at mining, 
but afterward was engaged with his brother 
Joseph in llie mercantile business, whicli he 
followed four years ; he was then on the coast 
three years engaged in the dairy business. 

He was united in marriage in August, 1865, 
to Sarah Howard, eldest child of John How- 
ard, who is a native of Ohio. By this mar- 
riage union there were five children born : 
William H., JayL., Earnest H., Kate M., 
and Hugh O. 

In liis political choice .Mr. Gibson is a Re- 
publican, failing to see where any other party 
better serves the interests of the people. In 
liis social relations, it should be stated that he 
is a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 147, of Manches- 



ter, Iowa, which he helped organize. He 
took the first degree in Masonry in Dixon 
County, but never advanced. At the incor- 
poration of Dixon he was elected Mayor. 



M. 



EMMINGTON, dealer in wines and 
liquors in the village of Pender, 
dates his settlement in Thurston 
County from the spring of 1S84. His first 
work was for the firm of J. R. 'riionias lS: 
Sons, in the lumber business, but only re- 
mained with them one year, when he engaged 
in the drug business, putting in the first stock 
of drugs in Thurston County. This he 
operated about two years, sold out, and 
engaged in the saloon business, which he has 
since followed. He erected a building for 
this purpose 22x48 feet. 

He was born in Sweden, October, iS57,son 
of J. P. and Emma Emmington, natives of 
England and Sweden, respectively. Our 
subject was their only child. 

Mr. Emmington sailed for America when 
he was but eight y^i.:\x^ of age; landed at New 
York, and from there went to Illinois, where 
he remained one jear, and came to Burt 
County, Nebraska. In that count}- he 
worked at farm labor ami in a lumber \ard 
for fifteen years. 

December, 1S86, he was uifited in marriage 
to Emma Freed, the fourth child of John 
Freed. There were eight children in her 
father's family, named as follows: Augusta: 
Tillie; Cairie; Emma: Emil: Albert; 
William and Berlha. Tlie first three are 
deceasech 

Mr. Emmington is a member of tite 
Knights of Pythias Order, Lodge No. 127, 
of Pender. He believes that the Republican 
party serves the interests of the people in the 
best possible manner, and therefore casts his 
vote with that party. 



NORTHEASTERN NEBRASKA. 



BY. SWAN, cashier of the Wayne 
County Bank, dates his settlement in 
Wayne, from May, 1890 He was 
one of the first orj^anizers of the Wayne Na- 
tional Bank, superintending the erection of 
the building, '.vhich is a two story structure, 
25x60 feet. The bank was organized with a 
capital of $50,000.00 and is counted as one 
of the substantial institution.s of that count}'. 

Mr. Swan was born in Monroe County, 
Ohio, June 10, 1856. His parents, E. F. and 
Sarah Swan were natives of Vermont and 
Ohio, respectivel}', who reared a family of 
five children, four sons and one daughter, all 
of whom are living, two are residents of Ne- 
braska. 

When fourteen years of age, our subject 
left his native state and with his parents 
moved to Calhoun County, Iowa, where his 
father engaged in agricultural pursuits. 

When nineteen years of age, our subject 
commenced teaching school, which he fol- 
lowed for six years. The following twelve 
years were spent in the drug business at 
Sioux Rapids, Iowa. He then went into the 
bank and brokers business, which he followed 
in that town until coming to Wayne, Nebras- 
ka. Mr. Swan is the architect of his own 
fortune. Starting in life poor, but with a 
good education, he has succeeded in ac- 
cumulating a competency. 

January, 1890, Mary Moore became his 
wife. They iiave been blessed by the birth 
of two children, Clara E. and Harrold. 

In ins social relations, Mr. Swan is a mem- 
ber of the Masonic Order, A. F. & A. M., 
Lodge No. 332, Sioux Rapids, Iowa. 

He has always voted the Republican ticket, 
believing that that parly best serves the in- 
terests of the people. 



AC. ABBOTT, County Judge of Thurs- 
ton County, whose home is at 
Pender, came to that county in 
August, 1885. Before entering into the 
details of this man's experience in his latter 
years, it will probably be well to give the 
reader some idea of his early history. 

Mr. Abbott was born in Norwalk, Huron 
County, Ohio, in 1844, son of Rev. A. I), 
and Phojbe Abbott, natives of New York, 
who were the parents of five cliildren, two 
sons and three daughters, named as follows: 
A. C: Emma; Phabe ; Stella and Welcom. 
The parents are both deceased. 

In his native State, our subject had good 
educational advantages While a s'udent in 
the Dennison Univeisity, he enlisted in Com- 
pany C, First Michigan Sharp Shooters, 
under Colonel De Land, serving two years 
and seven months, during which time he par- 
ticipated in the Battle of the Wildernevs, 
Spottsylvania, and all the battles in front of 
Richmond, until the surrender of General 
Lee. During his army career he was never 
in the hospital nor sick a day, though he was 
twice wounded, once in the leg and once in 
the mouth. He received his discharge at 
Jackson, Michigan, and then came to Burt 
County, Nebraska, where he took a home- 
stead, which he improved, and on which he 
lived sixteen years. While on this place he 
was taken sick, and while yet on his sick bed 
commenced the reading of law, and in 18S2 
was admitted to the Bar. 

Upon coming to Thurston Counl\-, he 
immediately commenced the practice of his 
chosen profession in the vilhige of Pender, 
which he still follows. Pender at that time 
was included in the Indian Reservation. 

He was a lobyistin the State Legislature in 
the sessions of 1886, '87, '88 and '89. He 
was one of the eai'ly organizers of the town 
of Pender; there being but two houses in the 
town site when he came to that place. He 



NORTHEASTERN' NEBRASKA. 



built two business houses in the town, of 
which he still owns an interest, besides 
several private residences. He is considered 
one of the well-to-do citizens of that county. 

Harriet Morrill became his wife in 1865. 
She was the daughter of Harrison and Mary 
Morrill, and of a family of six children born 
and named in the following order: Freman ; 
Sarah ; Harriet ; Almira ; Dudley and Har- 
rison ; all living but Almira. 

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are the parents of 
two children: Dora and Earl. He is a 
member of the Masonic Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M., No. 203, of Pender. 

RALPH B. CRAWFORD, located at 
Wayne, Nebraska, is justly entitled to 
a biographical notice in this volume, 
and can rightly be termed a pioneer, as he 
located in Wayne County in May, 1869, tak- 
ing a homestead of one hundred and sixty 
acres on section 2, town 26, range 5. He 
commenced to improve his place by erecting 
a primitive abode 8x10 feet, built of slabs and 
covered with the same material. One year 
later he added an addition Sxi2 feet, and a 
lean to of the same size. He beautified his 
premises by setting out a grove and an or- 
chard, and a row of trees around the entire 
farm. 

He was elected County Clerk, and during 
his term of office was ex-otficio Clerk of the 
courts; he held this office four years. During 
his term the county seat was at La Porte. 
At the expiration of his term of office he 
owning the town site of Wayne, he moved 
to that place and gave the railroad company 
an imdivided interest in the town to locate 
and build a depot. He was the first phy- 
sician in the place and was the only one, 
practically, for the first twelve years in 
Wayne County. He has practiced con- 
tinuouslj^ since his residence here and has 
been one of the heaviest donators to all public 
enterprises. 



To return to his earlier histor}', it my be 
said he was born in Pennsylvania, Jul}-, 1840, 
and is the fifth child born to James and 
Elenor Crawford, natives of New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania respectively. There were six 
children in his fathers's family, named as 
follows: Marshal A., Milo D., Catharine A., 
E. R., Ralph B., C. W., all of whom are 
living, the Doctor being the only one residing 
in Nebraska. 

When twelve years of age he came with 
his parents to Clayton County, Iowa, where 
his father owned a farm and worked at his 
trade, that of mill-wright. As was customary 
in those days, he remained at home until 
twenty-one years of age, when he began to 
educate himself, teaching while not in school, 
in order to pay his tuition. He is a graduate 
of a Seminary, of New Jersey, also from two 
medical colleges in New York and Bennet 
Medical College, of Chicago. 

Being inspired with the western fever, in 
1869 he started west with a team and wagon, 
from Clayton County, Iowa. On arriving at 
Siotix City, was out of means not having a 
dollar to pay for ferrying him across the 
Missouri River. In May of that year he 
landed in Wayne County, which was organ- 
ized the fall of 1870. 

November, 1867, Hannah M. Frazee be- 
came his wife, second daughter of Benona 
Frazee. By this marriage union one child 
has been born, Nora M. now a resident of 
Ponca, Nebraska. 

He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
Order and in his political choice is a Re- 
publican. 

The Doctor is what may be justly termed a 
sell-made man. Starting out in life without 
means, earning the money with which to 
educate himself, and after this accomplished, 
coming to Nebraska, one dollar in debt, goes 
to show what may be accomplished by energy 
and good management under a Republican 
form of trovernment. 



RART SECOND. 



PRESIDENTS 



UNITED STATE5 



GEORGE WASHINGTON. 








EORGE WASHING- 
TON, the '•Father of 
his Country" and its 
first President, 1789- 
'97, was born Febru- 
iwy 22, 1732, in Wash- 
ington Parish, West- 
X^^}-'^^ nioicland Co u n t}', Virg-inia. 
\t^]^ His father, Augustine Wash- 
ington, first married Jane But- 
ler, who bore him four chil- 
dren, and March 6, 1730, he 
married Mary Bail. Of six 
children by his second mar- 
riage, George was the eldest, 
the others being Betty, Samuel, John, Au- 
gustine, Charles and Mildred, of whom the 
youngest died in infancy. Little is known 
of the early years of Washington, bej-ond 
the fact that the house in which he was 
born was burned during his early child- 
hood, and that his father thereupon moved 
to another farm, inherited from his paternal 
ancestors, situated in Stafford County, on 
the north bank of the Rappahannock, where 
he acted as agent of the Principio Iron 
Works in the innuediate vicinity, and died 
there in 1743. 

From earliest cliiUlhood George devel- 
oped a noble character. He had a vigorous 
constitution, a fine form, and great bodily 
strength. His education was somewhat de- 



fective, being confined to the elementary 
branches taught him by his mother and at 
a neighboring school. He developed, how- 
ever, a fondness for mathematics, and en- 
joyed in that branch the instructions of a 
private teacher. On leaving school he re- 
sided for some time at Mount Vernon with 
his half brother. Lawrence, who acted as 
his guardian, and who iiad married a daugh- 
ter of his neighbor at Belvoir on the Poto- 
mac, the wealthy William Fairfax, for some 
time president of the executive council of 
the colony. Both Fairfax and his son-in-law, 
Lawrence Washington, had served with dis- 
tinction in 1740 as officers of an American 
battalion at the siege of Carlhagena, and 
were friends and correspondents of Admiral 
Vernon, for whom the latter's residence on 
the Potomac has been named. George's 
inclinations were for a similar career, and a 
midshipman's warrant was procured for 
him, probably through the influence of the 
Admiral ; but through the opposition of his 
mother the project was abandoned. The 
family connection with the Fairfaxes, how- 
ever, opened another career for the 3'oung 
man, who, at the age of sixteen, was ap- 
pointed surveyor to the immense estates of 
the eccentric Lord Fairfax, who was then 
on a visit at Belvoir, and who shortly after- 
ward established his baronial residence at 
Grecnway Court, in tlic Shenandoah V'allcy. 



PRES/DEXTS OF TUB UN/TED STATES. 



Three years were passed by young Wash- 
ington in a rough frontier life, gaining ex- 
perience which afterward proved very es- 
sential to him. 

In 1751, when the Virginia militia were 
put under training with a view to active 
service against France, Washington, though 
only nineteen years of age, was appointed 
Adjutant with the rank of Major. In Sep- 
tember of that year the failing health of 
Lawrence Washington rendered it neces- 
sary for him to seek a warmer climate, and 
Geirge accompanied him in a voyage to 
Bar ladoes. They returned early in 1752, 
and Lawrence shortly afterward died, leav- 
ing hi> large property to an infant daughter. 
In his will George was named one of the 
executors and as eventual heir to Mount 
Vernon, and by the death of the infant niece 
soon succeeded to that estate. 

On the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie as 
Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia in 1752 
the militia was reorganized, and the prov- 
ince divided into four districts. Washing- 
ton was commissioned by Dinwiddie Adju- 
tant-General of the Northern District in 
1753, and in November of that year a most 
important as well as hazardous mission was 
assigned him. This was to proceed to the 
Canadian posts recently established on 
French Creek, near Lake Erie, to demand 
in the name of the King of England the 
withdrawal of the French from a territory 
claimed by Virginia. This enterprise had 
been declined by more than one officer, 
since it involved a journey through an ex- 
tensive and almost unexplored wilderness 
in the occupancy of savage Indian tribes, 
either hostile to the English, or of doubtful 
attachment. Major Washington, however, 
accepted the commission with alacrit}- ; and, 
accompanied by Captain Gist, he reached 
Fort Le Bfjeuf on French Creek, delivered 
his dispatches and received reply, which, of 
course, was a polite refusal Ui surrender the 
posts, This reply was of such a character 



as to induce the Assembly of Virginia to 
authorize the executive to raise a regiment 
of 300 men for the purpose of maintaining 
the asserted rights of the British crown 
over the territory claimed. As Washing- 
ton declined to be a candidate for that post, 
the command of this regiment was given to 
Colonel Joshua Fry, and Major Washing- 
ton, at his own request, was commissioned 
Lieutenant-Colonel. On the march to Ohio, 
news was received that a parly previously 
sent to build a fort at the confluence of the 
Monongahcla with the Ohio had been 
driven back bv a considerable French force, 
which had completed the work there be- 
gun, and named it Fort Duquesne, in honor 
of the Marquis Duquesne, then Governor 
of Canada. This was the beginning of the 
great " French and Indian war," which con- 
tinned seven years. On the death of Colonel 
Fry, Washington succeeded to the com- 
mand of the regiment, and so well did he 
fulfill his trust that the Virginia Assembly 
commissioned him as Commander-in-Chief 
of all the forces raised in the colony. 

A cessation of all Indian hostility on the 
frontier having followed the expulsion of 
the French from the Ohio, the object of 
Washington was accomplished and he re- 
signed his commission as Commander-in- 
Chief of the Virginia forces. He then pro- 
ceeded to Williamsburg to take his seat in 
the General Assembly, of which he had 
been elected a member. 

January 17, 1759, Washington married 
Mrs. Martha (Dandridgc) Custis, a young 
and beautiful widow of great wealth, and de- 
voted himself for the ensuing fifteen years 
to the quiet pursuits of agriculture, inter- 
rupted only bv his annual attendance in 
winter upon the Colonial Legislature at 
Williamsburg, until summoned b)' his 
country to enter upon that other arena in 
which his fame was to become world wide. 

It is unnecessary here to trace the details 
of the struggle upon the question of local 



nEORGE WASHINGTON. 



self-government, which, after ten years, cul- 
minated by act of Parliament of the port of 
Boston. It was at the instance of Virginia 
that a congress of all the colonies was called 
to meet at Philadelphia September 5, 1774, 
to secure their common liberties — if possible 
by peaceful means. To this Congress 
Colonel Washington was sent as a dele- 
gate. On dissolving in October, it recom- 
mended the colonies to send deputies to 
another Congress the following spring. In 
the meantime several of the colonies felt 
impelled to raise local forces to repel in- 
sults and aggressions on the part of British 
troops, so that on the assembling of the next 
Congress, May 10, 1775, the war prepara- 
tions of the mother country were unmis- 
takable. The battles of Concord and Lex- 
ington had been fought. Among the earliest 
acts, therefore, of the Congress was the 
selection of a commander-in-chief of the 
colonial forces. This office was unani- 
mously conferred upon Washington, still a 
member of the Congress. He accepted it 
on June 19, but on the express condition he 
should receive no salary. 

He immediately repaired to the vicinity 
of Boston, against wiiich point the British 
ministry had concentrated their forces. As 
early as April General Gage had 3,000 
troops in and around this proscribed cit}-. 
During the fall and winter the British policy 
clearly indicated a purpose to divide pub- 
lic sentiment and to build up a British party 
in the colonies. Those who sided with the 
ministry were stigmatized by the patriots 
as " Tories," while the patriots took to them- 
'selves the name of " Whigs." 

As early as 1776 the leading men had 
come to the conclusion that there was no 
hope except in separation and indepen- 
dence. In May of that year Washington 
wrote from the head of the army in New 
York: "A reconciliation with Great Brit- 
ain is impossible When I took 

command of the army, 1 abhorred the idea 



of independence ; but I am now fully satis- 
hed that nothing else will save us." 

It is not the object of this sketch to trace 
the military acts of the patriot hero, to 
whose hands the fortunes and liberties of 
the United States were confided during the 
seven 3ears' bloody struggle that ensued 
until the treaty of 1783, in which England 
acknowledged the independence of each of 
the thirteen States, and negotiated with 
them, jointly, as separate sovereignties. The 
merits of Washington as a military chief- 
tain have been considerabh' discussed, espe- 
cially by writers in his own country. Dur- 
ing the war he was most bitterly assailed 
for incompetency, and great efforts were 
made to displace hiin ; but he never for a 
moment lost the confidence of either the 
Congress or the people. December 4, 1783, 
the great commander took leave of his ofii- 
cers in inost affectionate and patriotic terms, 
and went to Annapolis, Marjland, where 
the Congress of the States was in session, 
and to that bod)-, when peace and order 
prevailed everywhere, resigned his com- 
mission and retired to Mount Vernon. 

It was in 1788 that Washington was called 
to the chief magistracy of the nation. He 
received every electoral vote cast in all the 
colleges of the States voting for the office 
of President. The 4th of March, 1789, was 
the time appointed for the Government of 
the United Stales to begin its operations, 
but several weeks elapsed before ciuorums 
of both the newly constituted houses of the 
Congress were assembled. The cit)' of New 
York was the place where the Congress 
then met. April 16 Washington left his 
home to enter upon the discharge of his 
new duties. He set out with a purpose of 
traveling privately, and without attracting 
any public attention ; but this was impossi- 
ble. Everywhere on his way he was met 
with thronging crowds, eager to see the 
man whom they regarded as the chief de- 
fender of their liberties, and everywhere 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



he was hailed with those public manifesta- 
tions of joy, regard and love which spring 
spontaneously from the hearts of an affec- 
tionate and grateful people. His reception 
in New York was marked by a grandeur 
and an enthusiasm never before witnessed 
in that metropolis. The inauguration took 
place April 30, in the presence of an immense 
multitude which had assembled to witness 
the new and imposing ceremony. The oath 
of office was administered by Robert R. 
Livingston, Chancellor of the State. When 
this sacred pledge was given, he retired 
with the other officials into the Senate 
chamber, where he delivered his inaugural 
address to both houses of the newly con- 
stituted Congress in joint assembi)'. 

In the manifold details of his civil ad- 
ministration, Washington proved himself 
etpial to the requirements of his position. 
The greater portion of the first session of 
the first Congress was occupied in passing 
the necessary statutes for putting the new 
organization into complete operation. In 
the discussions brought up in the course of 
this legislation the nature and character of 
the new system came under general review. 
On no one of them did any decided antago- 
nism of ofiinion arise. All held it to be a 
limited government, clothed only with spe- 
cific powers conferred by delegation from 
the States. There was no change in the 
name of the legislative department; it still 
remained " the Congress of the United 
States of America." There was no change 
ill the original flag of the country, and none 
in the seal, which still remains with the 
Grecian escutcheon borne by the eagle, 
with other emblems, under the great and 
expressive motto, " E Pluribus Uiiuin." 

The first division of parties arose upon 
the manner of cc^nstruing the powers dele- 
gated, and they were first styled " strict 
constructionists" and " latitudinarian con- 
structionists." The former were for con- 
fining the action of the Government strictly 



within its specific and limited sphere, while 
the others were for enlarging its powers by 
inference and implication. Hamilton and 
Jefferson, both members of the first cabinet- 
were regarded as the chief leaders, respect 
ively, of these rising antagonistic parties 
which have existed, under different names 
from that day to this. Washington 'vas re- 
garded as holding a neutral position between 
them, though, by mature deliberation, he 
vetoed the first apportionment bill, in 1790, 
passed by the party headed by Hamilton, 
which was based upon a principle construct- 
ively leading to centralization or consoli- 
dation. This was the first exercise of the 
veto power under the present Constitution. 
It created considerable excitement at the 
time. Another bill was soon passed in pur- 
suance of Mr. Jefferson's views, which has 
been adhered to in principle in every ap 
portioninent act passed since. 

At the second session of the new Con. 
gress, Washington announced the gratify- 
ing fact of " the accession of North Caro- 
lina" to the Constitution of 1787, and June 
I of the same year he announced by special 
message the like " accession of the State of 
Rhode Island," with his congratulations on 
the happy event which " united under the 
general Government" all the States which 
were originally confederated. 

In 1792, at the second Presidential elec- 
tion, Washington was desirous to retire; 
but he yielded to the general wish of the 
country, and was again chosen President 
by the unanimous vote of every electoral 
college. At the third election, 1796, he was 
again most urgently entreated to consent to 
remain in the executive chair. This he 
positively refused. In September, before 
the election, he gave to his countrymen his 
memorable Farewell Address, which in lan- 
guage, sentiment and patriotism was a fit 
and crowning glory of his illustrious life. 
After March 4, 1797, he again retired to 
Mount W'rnon for peace, quiet and repose. 



aEORGE WASHINGTON. 



His administration for the two terms had 
been successful beyond the expectation and 
hopes of even the most sanguine of his 
friends. The finances of the country were 
no longer in an embarrassed condition the 
public credit was full)' restored, life was 
given to every department of industry, the 
workings of the new system in allowing 
Congress to raise revenue from duties on 
imports proved to be not only harmonious 
in its federal action, but astonishing in its 
results upon the commerce and trade of all 
the States. The exports from the Union 
increased from $19,000,000 to over $56,000,- 
000 per annum, while the imports increased 
in about the same proportion. Three new 
members had been added to the Union. The 
progress of the States in their new career 
under their new organization thus far was 
exceedingly encouraging, not only to the 
friends of liberty within their own limits, 
but to their sympathizing allies in all climes 
and countries. 

Oi the call again made on this illustrious 



chief to quit his repose at Mount Vernon 
and take command of all the United States 
forces, with the rank of Lieutenant-General, 
when war was threatened with France in 
1798, nothing need here be stated, except to 
note the fact as an unmistakable testimo- 
nial of the high regard in which he was still 
held by his countrymen, of all shades of po- 
litical opinion. He patriotically accepted 
this trust, but a treat}' of peace put a stop 
to all action under it. He again retired to 
Mount Vernon, where, after a short and 
severe illness, he died December 14, 1799, 
in the sixty-eighth year of his age. The 
whole country was filled with gloom by this 
sad intelligence. Men of all parties in poli- 
tics and creeds in religion, in every State 
in the Union, united with Congress in " pay- 
ing honor to the man, first in war, first in 
peace, and first in the hearts of his country- 
men," 

His remains were deposited m a tami;j 
vault on the banks of the Potomac at Mount 
Vernon, where they still lie entombed. 




P/fES/DEJVTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 








RSS;itt!»ivii^SiS!S»i?fftiS«ifflSS^mS, 



'4W 



IM^ 




"OIIN ADAMS, the second 
President of the United 
States, 1797 to 1801, was 
born in the present town 
of Qiiincy, then a portion 
:•■ of Braiiitrce, Massachu- 
setts, October 30, 1735. His 
father was a farmer of mod- 
erate means, a worthy and 
industrious man. He was 
a deacon in the church, and 
was very desirous of giving 
Ills son a collegiate educa- 
tion, hoping that he would 
become a minister of the 
jospel. But, as up to this 
time, the age of fourteen, he had been only 
a play-boy in the fields and forests, he had 
no taste for books, he chose farming. On 
being set to work, however, by his father 
out in the field, the very first day con- 
verted the bo}' into a lover of books. 

Accordingly, at the age of sixteen he 
entered Hnivard College, and graduated in 
1755, at the age of twenty, highly esteemed 
for integrity, energy and ability. Thus, 
having no capital but his education, he 
started out iiitcj the stormy world at a time 
of great political excitement, as France and 
England were then engaged in their great 
seven-years struggle for the mastery over 
the New World. The (ire of patriotism 



seized young Adams, and for a time he 
studied over the question whether he 
should take to the law, to politics or the 
army. He wrote a remarkable letter to a 
friend, making prophecies concerning the 
future greatness of this country which have 
since been more than fulfilled. For two 
years he taught school and studied law, 
wasting no odd moments, and at the eariy 
age of twent3'-two years he opened a law 
office in his native town. His inherited 
powers of mind and untiring devotion to 
his profession caused him to rise rapidly 
in public esteem. 

In October, 1764, Mr. Adams married 
Miss Abigail Smith, daughter of a clergy- 
man at Weymouth and a lady of rare per- 
sonal and intellectual endowments, who 
afterward contributed much to her hus- 
band's celebrity. 

Soon the oppression of the British in 
America reached its climax. The Boston 
merchants employed an attorney by the 
name of James Otis to argue the legality of 
oppressive tax law before the Superior 
Court, Adams heard the argument, and 
afterward wrote to a friend concerning the 
ability displayed, as follows : " Otis was a 
flame of fire. With a promptitude of 
classical allusion, a depth of research, a 
rapid summary of historical events and 
dates, a profusion of legal authorities and a 




Je-Zi/'i Jdmu 



JOHN AlOAMS. 



prophetic glance into futurity, he hurried 
away all before him. American independence 
ivas then and I here born. Every man of an 
immensely crowded audience appeared to 
me to go away, as I did, ready to take up 
arms." 

Soon Mr. Adams wrote an essay to be 
read before the literary club of his town, 
upon the state of affairs, which was so able 
as to attract public attention. It was pub- 
lished in American journals, republisiied 
in England, and was pronounced by the 
friends of the colonists<here as "one of the 
very best productions ever seen from North 
America." 

The memorable Stamp Act was now 
issued, and Adams entered with all the 
ardor of his soul into political life in order 
to resist it. He drew up a series of reso- 
lutions remonstrating against the act, which 
were adopted at a public meeting of the 
citizens of Braintree, and which were sub- 
sequently adopted, word for word, by more 
than forty towns in the State. Popular 
commotion prevented the landing of the 
Stamp Act papers, and the English author- 
ities then closed the courts. The town of 
Boston therefore appointed Jeremy Grid- 
ley, James Otis and John Adams to argue a 
petition before the Governor and council 
for the re-opening of the courts; and while 
the two first mentioned attornej'S based 
their argument upon the distress caused to 
the people by the measure, Adams boldly 
claimed that the Stamp Act was a violation 
both of the English Constitution and the 
charter of the Provinces. It is said that 
this was the first direct denial of the un- 
limited right d{ Parliament over the colo- 
nies. Soon after this the Stamp Act was 
repealed. 

Directlv .Mr. .^vdams was cmi)lo\ed to 
defend Ansel 1 Nickerson, who had killed an 
Englishman in the act of impressing him 
(Nickerson) into the King's service, and his 
client was acquitted, the court thus estab- 



lishing the principle that the infamous 
royal prerogative of impressment could 
have no existence in the colonial code. 
But in 1770 Messrs. Adams and Josiah 
Quincy defended a jiarty of British soldiers 
who had been arrested for murder when 
they had been only obeying Governmental 
orders ; and when reproached for thus ap- 
parently deserting the cause of po])ular 
liberty, Mr. Adams replied that he would a 
thousandfold rather live under the domina- 
ti(jn of the worst of England's kings than 
under that of a lawless mob. Next, after 
serving a term as a member of the Colonial 
Legislature from Boston, Mr. Adams, find- 
ing his health affected by too great labor, 
retired to his native home at Braintree. 

The year 1774 socjn arrived, with its fa- 
mous Boston "Tea Party," the first open 
act of rebellion. Adams was sent to the 
Congress at Philadelphia; and when the 
Attorney-General announced that Great 
Britain had " determined on her system, 
and that her power to execute it was irre- 
sistible," Adams replied : " I know that 
Great Britain has determined on her sys- 
tem, and that very determination deter- 
mines me on mine. You know that I have 
been constant in my opposition to her 
measures. The die is now cast. I have 
passed the Rubicon. Sink or swim, live or 
die, with my country, is my unalterable 
determination." The rumor beginning to 
prevail at Philadelphia that the Congress 
had independence in view, Adams foresaw 
that it was too soon to declare it openly. 
Unadvised every one to remain quiet in 
that respect; and as soon as it became ap- 
parent that he himself was for independ- 
ence, he was advised to hide himself, which 
he did. 

The next year the great Revolutionary 
war opened in earnest, and Mrs. Adams, 
residing near Boston, kept her husband ad- 
vised by letter of all the events transpiring 
in her vicinity. The battle of Bunker Mill 



rRESlDENTS OF THE VMTED STATES. 



came on. Congress had to dt) something 
immediately. The first thing was to 
choose a commander-in-chief for the — we 
can't say " army " — the fighting men of the 
colonies. The New England delegation 
was almost unanimous in favor of appoint- 
ing CJeneral Ward, then at the head of the 
Massachusetts forces, but Mr. Adams urged 
the appointment of George Washington, 
then almost unknown outside of his own 
State. He was appointed without oppo- 
sition. Mr. Adams offered the resolution, 
which was adopted, annulling all the royal 
authority in the colonics. Having thus 
prepared the way, a few weeks later, viz., 
June 7, 1776, Richard Hcnrv Lee, of Vir- 
ginia, whoa few luonths before had declared 
that the British Government would aban- 
don its oppressive measures, now offered 
the memorable resolution, seconded by 
Adams, "that these United States are, and 
of right ought to be, free and independent." 
JefTerson, Adams, Franklin, Sherman and 
Livingston were then appointed a commit- 
tee to draught a declaration of independ- 
ence. Mr. Jefferson desired Mr. Atlams 
to draw up the bold document, but the 
latter persuaded Mr. Jefferson to perform 
that responsible task. The Declaration 
drawn up, Mr. Adams became its foremost 
defender on the floor of Congress. It was 
signed by all the fifty-five members present, 
and the next day Mr. Adams wrote to his 
wife how great a deed was done, and how 
proud he was of it. Mr. Adams continued 
to be the leading man of Congress, and 
the leading advocate of American inde- 
pendence. Above all other Americans, 
he was considered bv every one the prin- 
cipal shining mark lor British vengeance. 
Thus circumstanced, he was appointed to 
the most dangerous task o( cro.ssing the 
ocean in winter, exposed to capture bv the 
British, who knew of his mission, which 
was to visit Paris and solicit the co-opera- 
tion of the French, Besides, to take him- 



self away from the country of which he 
was the most prominent defender, at that 
critical time, was an act of the greatest self- 
sacrifice. Sure enough, while crossing the 
sea, he had two very narrow escapes from 
capture ; and the transit was otherwise a 
stormy and eventful one. During th( 
summer of 1779 he returned home, but was 
immediately dispatched back to France, to 
be in readiness there to negotiate terms of 
peace and commerce with Great Britain as 
soon as the latter power was ready for such 
business. But as Dr. Franklin was more 
popular than heat the court of France, Mr. 
Adams repaired to Holland, where he was 
far more successful as a diplomatist. 

The treaty of peace between the United 
States and England was finally signed at 
Paris, January 21, 1783; and the re-action 
from so great excitement as Mr. Adams had 
so long been experiencing threw him into 
a dangerous fever. Before he fully re- 
covered he was in London, whence he was 
dispatched again to Amsterdam to negoti- 
ate another loan. Compliance with this 
order undermined iiis physical constitution 
for life. 

In 1785 Mr. Adams was appointed envoy 
to the court of St. James, to meet face to 
face the very king who had regarded him 
as an arch traitor! Accordingly he re- 
paired thither, where he did actually meet 
and converse with George HI.! After a 
residence there for about three years, he 
obtained permission to return to America. 
While in London he wrote and published 
an able work, in three volumes, entitled: 
" A Defense of the American Constitution." 

The Articles of Confederation proving 
inefficient, as Adams had prophesied, a 
carefully draughted Constitution was 
adopted in 1789, when George Washington 
was elected President of the new nation, 
and Adams Vice-President. Congress met 
for a time in New York, but was removed 
to Philadelphia for ten years, until suilabie 



JOHN ADAMS. 



buildings should be erected at the new 
capital in the District of Columbia. Mr. 
Adams then moved his family to Phila- 
delphia. Toward the close of his term of 
office the French Revolution culminated, 
when Adams and Washington rather 
sympathized with England, and Jefferson 
with France. The Presidential election of 
1796 resulted in giving Mr. Adams the first 
place by a small majority, and Mr. Jeffer- 
son the second place. 

Mr. Adams's administration was consci- 
entious, patriotic and able. The period 
was a turbulent one, and even an archangel 
could not have reconciled the hostile par- 
ties. Partisanism with reference to Eng- 
land and France was bitter, and for four 
years Mr. Adams struggled through almost 
a constant tempest of assaults. In fact, he 
was not truly a popular man, and his cha- 
grin at not receiving a re-election was so 
great that he did not even remain at Phila- 
delphia to witness the inauguration of Mr. 
Jefferson, his successor. The friendly 
intimacy between these two men was 
interrupted for about thirteen years of their 
life. Adams finally made the first advances 
toward a restoration of their mutual friend- 
ship, which were gratefully accepted by 
Jefferson. 

Mr. Adams was glad of his opportunity 
to retire to private file, where he could rest 
his mind and enjoy the comforts of home. 
By a thousand bitter experiences he found 
the path of public duty a thorny one. For 
twenty-six years his service of the public 
was as arduous, self-sacrificing and devoted 
as ever fell to the lot of man. In one im- 
portant sense he was as much the " Father 
oi his Country " as was Washington in 
another sense. During these long years of 
anxiety and toil, in which he was laying, 
broad and deep, the foundations of the 



greatest nation the sun ever shone upon, he 
received from his impoverished country a 
meager support. The only privilege he 
carried with him into his retirement was 
that of franking his letters. 

Although taking no active part in public 
affairs, both himself and his son, John 
Quincy, nobly sui)ported the policy of Mr. 
Jefferson in resisting the encroachments of 
England, who persisted in searching 
American ships on the high seas and 
dragging from them any sailors that might 
be designated by any pert lieutenant as 
British subjects. Even for this noble sup- 
port Mr. Adams was maligned by thou- 
sands of bitter enemies! On this occasion, 
for the first time since his retirement, he 
broke silence and drew up a very able 
paper, exposing the atrocity of the British 
pretensions. 

Mr. Adams outlived nearly all his family. 
Though his physical frame began to give 
way many years before his death, his mental 
powers retained their strength and vigor to 
the last. In his ninetieth year he was 
gladdened by the popular elevation of his 
son to the Presidential office, the highest in 
the gift of the people. A few months more 
passed away and the 4th of July, 1826, 
arrived. The people, unaware of the near 
approach of the end of two great lives — 
that of Adams and Jefferson — were making 
unusual preparations for a national holiday. 
Mr. Adams lay upon his couch, listening to 
the ringing of bells, the waftures of martial 
music and the roar of cannon, with silent 
emotion. Only four days before, he had 
given for a public toast, " Independence 
forever." About two o'clock in the after- 
noon he said, "And Jefferson still survives." 
But he was mistaken by an hour or so; 
and in a few minutes he had breathed his 
last. 



PPESfDEXTS OF THE U.V/TED STATES. 



-^m^: 







,^ — ^ 








;jiOM AS JEFFER- 
son, the third Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, i8oi-'9, was 
born April 2, 1743, 
the eldest child of 
his parents, Peter 
and Jane (Randolph) Jef- 
ferson, near Charlottes- 
ville, Albemarle County, 
Virginia, upon the slopes 
of the Blue Ridge. When 
he • was fourteen years of 
age, his father died, leav- 
ing a widow and eight 
children. She was a beau- 
tiful and accomplished 
lady, a good letter-writer, with a fund of 
humor, and an admirable housekeeper. His 
parents belonged to the Church of England, 
and are said to be of Welch origin. But 
little is known of them, however. 

Thomas was naturally of a serious turn 
of mind, apt to learn, and a favorite at 
school, his choice studies being mathemat- 
ics and the classics. At the age of seven- i 
teen he entered William and Mary Cohege, 
in an advanced class, and lived in rather an 
expensive style, consequently being much 
caressed by gay society. That he was not 
ruined, is proof of his stamina of character. 
But during his second year he discarded 



society, his horses and even his favorite 
violin, and devoted thenceforward fifteen 
hours a day to hard study, becoming ex- 
traordinarily [)roficient in Latin and Greek 
authors. 

On leaving college, before he was twenty- 
one, he commenced the study of law, and 
pursued it diligently until he was well 
qualified for practice, upon which he 
entered in 1767. By this time he was also 
versed in French, Spanish, Italian and An- 
glo-Saxon, and in the criticism of the fine 
arts. Being very polite and polished in his 
manners, he won the friendship of all whom 
he met. Though able with his pen, he was 
not fluent in public speech. 

In 1769 he was chosen a member of the 
Virginia Legislature, and was the largest 
slave-holding member of that body. He 
introduced a bill empowering slave-holders 
to manumit their slaves, but it was rejected 
by an overwhelming vote. 

In 1770 Mr. Jefferson met with a great 
loss; his house at Shadwell was burned, 
and his valuable library of 2,000 volumes 
was consumed. But he was wealthy 
enough to replace the most of it, as from 
his 5,000 acres tilled by slaves and his 
practice at the bar his income amounted to 
about $5,000 a year. 

In 1772 he married Mrs. Martha Skelton, 
a beautiful, wealthy and accomplished 





V^TZ^ 



THOMAS JEFFERSON. 



n 



young widow, who owned 40,000 acres of 
land and 130 slaves; yet he labored assidu- 
ously for the abolition of slaver}'. For his 
new home he selected a majestic rise of 
land upon his large estate at Shad well, 
called Monticello, whereon he erected a 
mansion of modest yet elegant architecture. 
Here he lived in lu.Kury, indulging his taste 
in magnificent, high-blooded horses. 

At this period the British Government 
gradually became more insolent and op- 
pressive toward the American colonies, 
and Mr. Jefferson was ever one of the most 
foremost to resist its encroachments. From 
time to time he drew up resolutions of re- 
monstrance, which were finally adopted, 
thus proving his ability as a statesman and 
as a leader. By the vear 1774 he became 
quite busy, both with voice and pen, in de- 
fending the right of the colonies to defend 
themselves. His pamphlet entitled : " A 
Summary View of the Rights of British 
America," attracted much attention in Eng- 
land. The following 3'ear he, in company 
with George Washington, served as an ex- 
ecutive committee in measures to defend 
by arms the State of Virginia. As a Mem- 
ber of the Congress, he was not a speech- 
maker, yet in conversation and upon 
committees he was so frank and decisive 
that he always made a favorable impression. 
But as late as the autumn of 1775 he re- 
mained in hopes of reconciliation with the 
parent country. 

At length, however, the hour arrived for 
draughting the " Declaration of Indepen- 
dence," and this responsible task was de- 
volved upon Jefferson. Franklin, and 
Adams suggested a few verbal corrections 
before it was submitted to Congress, which 
was June 28, 1776, only six daj-s before it 
was adopted. During the three days of 
the fiery ordeal of criticism through which 
it passed in Congress, Mr. Jefferson opened 
not his lips. John Adams was the main 
champion of the Declaration on the floor 



of Congress. The signing of this document 
was one of the most solemn and momentous 
occasions ever attended to by man. Prayer 
and silence reigned throughout the hall, 
and each signer realized that if American 
independence was not finally sustained by 
arms he was doomed to the scaffold. 

After the colonies became independent 
States, JeiTerson resigned for a time his seat 
in Congress in order to aid in organizing 
the government of Virginia, of which State 
he was chosen Governor in 1779, when he 
was thirty-six years of age. At this time 
the British had possession of Georgia and 
were invading South Carolina, and at one 
time a British officer, Tarleton, sent a 
secret expedition to Monticello to capture 
the Governor. Five minutes after Mr. 
Jefferson escaped with his family, his man- 
sion was in possession of the enemy ! The 
British troops also destroyed his valuable 
plantation on the James River. " Had they 
carried off the slaves," said Jefferson, with 
characteristic magnanimity, " to give them 
freedom, they would have done right." 

The year 1781 was a gloomy one for the 
Virginia Governor. While confined to his 
secluded home in the forest by a sick and 
dying wife, a party arose against him 
throughout the State, severely criticising 
his course as Governor. Being very sensi- 
tive to reproach, this touched him to the 
quick, and the heap of troubles then sur- 
rounding him nearly crushed him. He re- 
solved, in despair, to retire from public life 
for the rest of his days. For weeks Mr. 
Jefferson sat lovingly, but with a crushed 
heart, at the bedside of his sick wife, during 
which time unfeeling letters were sent to 
him, accusing him of weakness and unfaith- 
fulness to duty. All this, after he had lost 
so much property and at the same time 
done so much for his country! After her 
death he actually fainted away, and re- 
mained so long insensible that it was fearecj 
he never would recover! Several wcski* 



PRESfDE.VTS OF THE U.V/TED STATES. 



passed before he could fully recover his 
equilibrium. He was never married a 
second time. 

In the sprins: of 1782 the people of Eng- 
land compelled their king to make to the 
Americans overtures of peace, and in No- 
vember following, Mr. Jefferson was reap- 
pointed by Congress, unanimously and 
without a single adverse remark, minister 
plenipotentiary to negotiate a treaty. 

In March, 1784, Mr. Jefferson was ap- 
pointed on a committee to draught a plan 
for the government of the Northwestern 
Territory. His slavery-prohibition clause 
in that plan was stricken out by the pro- 
slavery majority of the committee; but amid 
all the controversies and wrangles of poli- 
ticians, he made it a rule never to contra- 
dict anybody or engage in any discussion 
as a debater. 

In company with Mr. Adams and Dr. 
Franklin, Mr. Jefferson was appointed in 
May, 1784, to act as minister plenipotentiary 
in the negotiation of treaties of commerce 
with foreign nations. Accordingly, he went 
to Paris and satisfactorily accomplished his 
mission. The suavity and high bearing of 
his manner made all the French his friends; 
and even Mrs. Adams at one time wrote 
to her sister that he was " the chosen 
of the earth." But all the honors that 
he received, both at home and abroad, 
seemed to make no change in the simplicity 
of his republican tastes. On his return to 
America, he found two parties respecting 
the foreign commercial policy, Mr. Adams 
sympathizing with that in favor of England 
and himself favoring France. 

On the inauguration of General Wash- 
ington as President, Mr. Jefferson was 
chosen by him for the office of Secretary of 
State. At this time the rising storm of the 
French Revolution became visible, and 
Washington watched it with great anxiety. 
His cabinet was divided in their views of 
constitutional government as well as re- 



garding the issues in France. General 
Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, was 
the leader of the so-called Federal party, 
while Mr. Jefferson was the leader of the 
Republican party. At the same time there 
was a strong monarchical party in this 
country, with which Mr. Adams sympa- 
thized. Some important financial measures, 
which were proposed by Hamilton and 
finally adopted by the cabinet and approved 
by Wasliington, were opposed by Mr. 
Jefferson ; and his enemies then began to 
reproach him with holding office under an 
administration whose views he opposed. 
The President poured oil on the troubled 
waters. On his re-election to the Presi- 
dency he desired Mr. Jefferson to remain 
in the cabinet, but the latter sent in his 
resignation at two different times, probably 
because he was dissatisfied with some of 
the measures of the Government. His 
final one was not received until January i, 
1794, when General Washington parted 
from him with great regret. 

Jefferson then retired to his quiet home 
at Monticello, to enjoy a good rest, not even 
reading the newspapers lest the political 
gossip should disquiet him. On the Presi- 
dent's again calling him back to the office 
of Secretary of State, he replied that no 
circumstances would ever again tempt him 
to engage in anything public! But, while 
all Europe was ablaze with war, and France 
in the throes of a bloody revolution and the 
principal theater of the conflict, a new 
Presidential election in this country came 
on. John Adams was the Federal candi- 
date and Mr. Jefferson became the Republi- 
can candidate. The result of the election 
was the promotion of the latter totheV^ice- 
Presidcncy, while the former was chosen 
President. In this contest Mr. Jefferson 
really did not desire to have either office, 
he was "so weary" of party strife. He 
loved the retirement of home more than 
any other place on the earth. 



THOMAS yEFPERSO^r. 



^5 



But for four long years his Vice-Presi- 
dency passed jo3'lessly away, while the 
partisan strife between Federalist and Re- 
publican was ever growing hotter. The 
former party split and the result of the 
fourth general election was the elevation of 
Mr. Jefferson to the Presidency ! with 
Aaron Burr as Vice-President. These men 
being at the head of a growing party, their 
election was hailed everywhere with j<)\-. 
On the other hand, many of the Federalists 
turned pale, as they believed what a portion 
of the pulpit and the press had been preach- 
ing — that Jefferson was a " scoffing atheist," 
a "Jacobin," the " incarnation of all evil," 
" breathing threatening and slaughter ! " 

Mr. Jefferson's inaugural address con- 
tained nothing but the noblest sentiments, 
e.xpressed in fine language, and his personal 
behavior afterward exhibited the extreme 
of American, democratic simplicity. His 
disgust of European court etiquette grew 
upon him with age. He believed that 
General Washington was somewhat dis- 
trustful of the ultimate success of a popular 
Government, and that, imbued with a little 
admiration of the forms of a monarchical 
Government, he iiad instituted levees, birth- 
days, pompous meetings with Congress, 
etc. Jefferson was always polite, even to 
slaves everywhere he met them, and carried 
in his countenance the indications of an ac- 
commodating disposition. 

The political principles of the Jeffersoni- 
an party now swept the country, and Mr. 
Jefferson himself swayed an influence which 
was never exceeded even by Washington. 
Under his administration, in 1803, the Lou- 
isiana purchase was made, for $15,000,000, 
the " Louisiana Territory " purchased com- 
prising all the land west of the Mississippi 
to the Pacific Ocean. 

The year 1804 witnessed another severe 
loss in his family. His highly accomplished 
and most beloved daughter Maria sickened 
and died, causing as great grief in the 



stricken parent as it was possible for liiin to 
survive with any degree of sanity. 

The same year he was re-elected to th.e 
Presidency, with George Clinton as Vice- 
President. During his second term our 
relations with England became more com- 
plicated, antl on June 22, 1807, near Hamp- 
ton Roads, the United States frigate 
Chesapeake was fired upon by the Brit- 
ish man-of-war Leopard, and was made 
to surrender. Three men were killed and 
ten wounded. Jefferson demanded repara- 
tion. England grew insolent. It became 
evident that war was determined uptjii by 
the latter power. More than 1,200 Ameri- 
cans were forced into the British service 
upon the high seas. Before any satisfactory 
solution was reached, Mr. Jefferson's 
Presidential term closed. Amid all these 
public excitements he thought constantly 
of the welfare of his family, and longed 
for the time when he could return home 
to remain. There, at Monticello, his sub- 
sequent life was very similar to that of 
Washington at Mt. Vernon. His hospi- 
tality toward his numerous friends, indul- 
gence of his slaves, and misfortunes to his 
property, etc., finally involved him in debt. 
For years his home resembled a fashion- 
able watering-place. During the summer, 
thirty -seven house servants were required ! 
It was presided over bv his daughter, Mrs. 
Randolph. 

Mr. Jefferson did much for the establish- 
ment of the University at Charlottesville, 
making it unsectarian, in keeping with the 
spirit of American institutions, but poverty 
and the feebleness of old age prevented 
him from doing what he would. He even 
went so far as to petition the Legi-slaturc 
for permission to disptjse of some of his 
possessions by lottery, in order to raise the 
necessary funds for home expenses. It was 
granted ; but before the plan was carried 
out, Mr. Jefferson died, July 4, 1826, at 
12:50 P. M. 



PRES/DEWTS OF THE U SITED STATES. 











i^^'AMES MADISON, the 
fourth President of the 
United States, 1809-'! 7, 
was born at Port Con- 
way-, Prince George 
County, Virginia, March 
16, 1 75 1. His father. 
Colonel James Madison, was 
a wealthy planter, residing 
upon a very fine estate 
called " Montpelier," only 
twenty-five miles from the 
home of Thomas Jefferson 
at Monticello. The closest 
personal and political at- 
tachment existed between 
these illustrious men from their early youth 
until death. 

James was the eldest of a family of seven 
children, four sons and three daughters, all 
of whom attained maturity. His early edu- 
cation was conducted mostly at home, 
under a private tutor. Being naturall)^ in- 
tellectual in his tastes, he consecrated him- 
self witii unusual vigor to stud) . At a very 
early age he made considerable jjroficiency 
in the Greek, Latin, French and Spanish 
languages. In 1769 he entered Princeton 
College, New Jersey, of which the illus- 
trious Dr. Wcatherspoon was then Presi- 
dent. He graduated in 1771, with a char- 



acter of the utmost purity, and a mind 
highly disciplined and stored with all the 
learning which embellished and gave effi- 
ciency to his subsequent career. After 
graduating he pursued a course of reading 
for several months, under the guidance of 
President Weatherspoon, and in 1772 re- 
turned to Virginia, where he continued in 
incessant study for two years, nominally 
directed to the law, but really including 
extended researches in theology, philoso- 
{)hy and general literature. 

The Church of England was the estab- 
lished church in Virginja, invested with all 
the prerogatives and immunities which it 
enjo\'ed in the fatherland, and other de- 
nominations labored under serious disabili- 
ties, the enforcement of which was rigiitly 
Qr wrongly characterized b}' them as per- 
secution. Madison took a prominent stand 
in behalf of the removal of all disabilities, 
repeatedly appeared in the court of his own 
county to defend the Baptist nonconform- 
ists, and was elected from Orange County to 
the Virginia Convention in the spring of 
1766, when he signalized the beginning of 
his public career by procuring the passage 
of an amendment to the Declaration of 
Rights as prepared by George Mason, sub- 
stituting for " toleration" a more emphatic 
assertion of religious liberty. 




\ \ 



/ 



/ 



a,^u^^ ^{ A^-^^r ^'^ 



JAMES MADISON. 



n 



In 1776 he was elected a member of the 
Virgmia Convention to frame tlie Constitu- 
tion of the State. Like Jefferson, he took 
but Httle part in tlic public debates. His 
main strength lay in his conversational in- 
fluence and in his pen. In November, 1777, 
he was chosen a member of the Council of 
State, and in March, 1780, took his seat in 
the Continental Congress, where he first 
gained prominence through his energetic 
opposition to the issue of paper money by 
the States. He continued in Congress three 
years, one of its most active and influential 
members. 

In I7<S4 Mr. Madison was elected a mem- 
ber of the Virginia Legislature. He ren- 
dered important service by promoting and 
participating in that revision of the statutes 
which effectually abolished the remnants of 
the feudal system subsistent up to that 
time in the form of entails, primogeniture, 
and State support given thcr Anglican 
Church ; and his " Memorial and Remon- 
strance" against a general assessment for 
the support of religion is one of the ablest 
papers which emanated from his pen. It 
settled the question of tiie entire separation 
of church and State in Virginia. 

Mr. Jefferson says of him, in allusion to 
the study and experience through which he 
had already passed : 

" Trained in these successive schools, he 
acquired a habit of self-possession which 
placed at ready command the rich resources 
of his luminous and discriminating mind and 
of his extensive information, and rendered 
him the first of every assembly of which he 
afterward became a member. Never wan- 
dering from his subject into vain declama- 
tion, but pursuing it closely in language 
pure, classical and copious, soothing al- 
ways the feelings of his adversaries by civili- 
ties and softness of expression, he rose to the 
eminent station which he held in the great 
National Convention of 1787; and in that of 
Virginia, which followed, he sustained the 



new Constitution in all its parts, bearing ofl 
the palm against the logic of George Mason 
and the fervid declamation of Patrick 
Henr3'. With these consummate powers 
were united a pure and spotless virtue 
which no calumny has ever attempted to 
sully. Of the power and polish of his pen, 
^nd of the wisdom of his administration in 
the highest office of the nation, 1 need say 
nothing. They have spoken, and will for- 
ever speak, for themselves." 

In January, 1786, Mr. Madison took the 
initiative in proposing a meeting of State 
Commissioners to devise measures for more 
satisfactory commercial relations between 
the States. A meeting was held at An- 
napolis to discuss this subject, and but five 
States were represented. The convention 
issued another call, drawn up by Mr. Madi- 
son, urging all the States to send their dele- 
gates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to 
draught a Constitution for the United 
States. The delegates met at the time ap- 
pointed, every State except Rhode Island 
being represented. George Washington 
was chosen president of the convention, 
and the present Constitution of the United 
States was then and there formed. There 
was no mind and no pen more active in 
framing this immortal document than the 
mind and pen of James Madison. He was, 
perhaps, its ablest advocate in the pages of 
the Federalist. 

Mr. Madison was a member of the first 
four Congresses, 1789-97, in which lie main- 
tained a moderate opposition to Hamilton's 
financial policy. He declined the mission 
to France and the Secretaryship of State, 
and, gradually identifying himself with the 
Republican part}', became from 1792 its 
avowed leader. In 1796 he was its choice 
for the Presidency as successor to Wash- 
ington. Mr. Jefferson wrote: "There is 
not another person in the United States 
with whom, being placed at the helm of our 
affairs, my mi-nd would be so completely at 



PRES/DftXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



rest for the fortune of our political bark." 
But Mr. Madison declined to be a candi- 
date. His term in Congress had expired, 
and he returned from New York to his 
beautiful retreat at Montpelier. 

In 1794 Mr. Madison married a young 
widow of remarkable powers of fascination 
— Mrs. Todd. Her maiden name was Doro- 
thy Paine. She was born in 1767, in Vir- 
ginia, of Quaker parents, and had been 
educated in the strictest rules of that sect. 
When but eighteen years of age she married 
a young lawyer and moved to Philadelphia, 
where she was introduced to brilliant scenes 
of fashionable life. She speedily laid aside 
the dress and address of the Quakeress, and 
became one of the most fascinating ladies 
of the republican court. In New York, 
alter the death of her husband, she was the 
belle of the season and was surrounded with 
admirers. Mr. Madison won the prize. 
She proved an invaluable helpmate. In 
Washington she was the life of society. 
If there was any diffident, timid young 
girl just making her appearance, she 
found in Mrs. Madison an encouraging 
friend. 

During the stormy administration of John 
Adams Madison remained in private life, 
but was the author of the celebrated " Reso- 
lutions of 1798," adopted by the Virginia 
Legislature, in condemnation of the Alien 
and Sedition laws, as well as of the " report" 
in which he defended those resolutions, 
which is, by many, considered his ablest 
State paper. 

The storm passed away ; the Alien and 
Sedition laws were repealed, John Adams 
lost his re-election, and in 1801 Thomas Jef- 
ferson was chosen President. The great re- 
action in public sentiment which seated 
Jefferson in the presidential chair was large- 
ly owing to the writings of Madison, who 
was consequently well entitled to the post 
of Secretary of State. With great ability 
he discharged the duties of this responsible 



office during the eight years of Mr. Jeffer 
son's administration. 

As Mr. Jefferson was a widower, and 
neither of his daughters could be often with 
him, Mrs. Madison usually presided over 
the festivities of the White House; and as 
her husband succeeded Mr. Jefferson, hold- 
ing his office for two terms, this remarkable 
woman was the mistress of the presidential 
mansion for sixteen years. 

Mr. Madison being entirely engrossed by 
the cares of his office, all the duties of so- 
cial life devolved upon his accomplished 
wife. Never were such responsibilities 
more ably discharged. The most bitter 
foes of her husband and of the administra- 
tion were received with the frankh^ prof- 
fered hand and the cordial smile of wel- 
come; and the influence of this gentle 
woman in allaying the bitterness of party 
rancor became a great and salutary power 
in the nation. 

As the term of Mr. Jefferson's Presidency 
drew near its close, party strife was roused 
to the utmost to elect his successor. It was 
a death-grapple between the two great 
parties, the Federal and Republican. Mr. 
Madison was chosen President by an elec. 
toral vote of 122 to 53, and was inaugurated 
March 4, 1809, at a critical period, when 
the relations of the United States with Great 
Britain were becoming embittered, and his 
first term was passed in diplomatic quarrels, 
aggravated b)' the act of non-intercourse of 
Mav, 1810, and finally resulting in a decla- 
ration of war. 

On the i8th of June, 1812, President 
Madison gave his approval to an act of 
Congress declaring war against Great Brit- 
ain. Notwithstanding the bitter hostility 
of the Federal party to the war, the country 
in general approved; and in the autumn 
Madison was re-elected to the Presidency 
by 128 electoral votes to 89 in favor of 
George Clinton. 

March 4, 1817, Madison yielded the Presi- 



1 



yAAfES AfAD/SOJV. 



dency to his Secretary of State and inti- 
mate friend, James Monroe, and retired to 
his ancestral estate at Montpeher, where he 
passed the evening of his days surrounded 
bv attached friends and enjoying the 
merited respect of the whole nation. He 
took pleasure in promoting agriculture, as 
president of the county society, and in 
watching the development of the University 
of Virginia, of which he was long rector and 
visitor. In extreme old age he sat in 1829 
as a member of the convention called to re- 
form the Virginia Constitution, where his 
appearance was hailed with the most gen- 
uine interest and satisfaction, though he 
was too infirm to participate in the active 
work of revision. Small in stature, slender 
and delicate in form, with a countenance 
full of intelligence, and expressive alike of 
mildness and dignity, he attracted the atten- 
tion of all who attended the convention, 
and was treated with the utmost deference. 
He seldom addressed the assembly, though 
he always appeared self-possessed, and 
watched with unflagging interest the prog- 
ress of every measure. Though the con- 
vention sat sixteen weeks, he spoke only 
twice ; but when he did speak, the whole 
house paused to listen. His voice was 
feeble though his enunciation was very dis- 
tinct. One of the reporters, Mr. Stansbury, 
relates the following anecdote of Mr. Madi- 
son's last speech: 

" The next day, as there was a great call 
for it, and the report had not been returned 
for publication, I sent my son with a re- 
spectful note, requesting the manuscript. 
My son was a lad of sixteen, whom I had 
taken with me to act as amanuensis. On 
delivering my note, he was received with 
the utmost politeness, and requested to 
come up into Mr. Madison's room and wait 
while his eye ran over the paper, as com- 
pany had prevented his attending to it. He 
did so, and Mr. Madison sat down to correct 
the report. The lad stood near him so that 



his eye fell on the paper. Coming to a 
certain sentence in the speech, Mr. Madison 
erased a word and substituted another ; but 
hesitated, and not feeling satisfied with the 
second word, drew his pen through it also. 
My son was young, ignorant of the world, 
and unconscious of the solecism of which he 
was about to be guilty, when, in all simplic- 
ity, he suggested a word. Probably no 
other person then living would have taken 
such a liberty. But the sage, instead of 
regarding such an intrusion with a frown, 
raised his eves to the boy's face with a 
pleased surprise, and said, ' Thank you, sir ; 
it is the very word,' and immediately in- 
serted it. I saw him the next day, and he 
mentioned the circumstance, with a compli- 
ment on the young critic." 

Mr. Madison died at Montpelier, June 28, 
1836, at the advanced age of eighty-five. 
While not possessing the highest order of 
talent, and deficient in oratorical powers, 
he was pre-eminently a statesman, of a well, 
balanced mind. His attainments were solid, 
his knowledge copious, his judgment gener- 
ally sound, his powers of analysis and logi- 
cal statement rarely surpassed, his language 
and literary style correct and polished, his 
conversation witty, his temperament san- 
guine and trusfful, his integrity unques- 
tioned, his manners simple, courteous and 
winning. By these rare qualities he con- 
ciliated the esteem not only of friends, but 
of political opponents, in a greater degree 
than any American statesman in the present 
century. 

Mrs. Madison survived her husband thir- 
teen years, and died July 12, 1849, in the 
eighty -second year of her age. She was one 
of the most remarkable women our coun- 
try has produced. Even now she is ad- 
miringly remembered in Washington as 
" Dolly Madison," and it is fitting that her 
memory should descend to posterity in 
company with thatof the companion of 
her life. 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 







^M' 



J.A>V( n;^ Maj:^f;iix)M 








'AMES MONROE, the fifth 
President of the United 
States, 1817-25, was born 
in Westmoreland County 
Virginia, April 28, 1758. 
He was a son of Spence 
Monroe, and a descendant 
of a Scottish cavalier fam- 
ily. Like all his predeces- 
sors thus far in the Presi- 
dential chair, he enjoyed all 
the advantages of educa- 
tion which the country 
could then afford. He was 
early sent to a fine classical 
school, and at the age of six- 
teen entered William and Mar}- College.. 
In 1776, when he had been in college but 
two years, the Declaration of Independence 
was adopted, and our feeble militia, with- 
out arms, amunition or clothing, were strug- 
gling against the trained armies of England. 
James Monroe left college, hastened to 
General Washington's headquarters at New 
York and enrolled himself as a cadet in the 
army. 

At Trenton Lieutenant Monroe so dis- 
tinguished himself, receiving a wound in his 
shoulder, that he was promoted to a Cap- 
taincy. Upon recovering from his wound, 
he was invited to act as aide to Lord Ster- 
ling, and in that capacity he took an active 
part in the battles of Brandywine, Ger- 
mantovvn and Monmouth. At Germantown 



he stood by the side of Lafayette when the 
French Marquis received his wound. Gen- 
eral Washington, who had formed a high 
idea of young Monroe's ability, sent him to 
Virginia to raise a new regiment, of which 
he was to be Colonel; but so exhausted was 
Virginia at that time that the effort proved 
unsuccessful. He, however, received his 
CO lu mission. 

Finding no opportunity to enter the army 
as a commissioned officer, he returned to his 
original plan of studying law, and entered 
the office of Thomas Jefferson, who was 
then Governor of Virginia. He developed 
a very noble character, frank, manly and 
sincere. Mr. Jefferson said of him: 

"James Monroe is so perfectly honest 
that if his soul were turned inside out there 
would not be found a spot on it." 

In 1782 he was elected to the Assembly 
of Virginia, and was also appointed a mem- 
ber of the Executive Council. The next 
year he was chosen delegate to the Conti- 
nental Congress for a term of three years. 
He was present at Annapolis when Wash- 
ington surrendered his commission of Com- 
mander-in-chief. 

With Washington, Jefferson and Madison 
he felt deeply the inefficiency of the old 
Articles of Confederation, and urged the 
formation of a new Constitution, which 
should invest the Central Government with 
something like national power. Influenced 
by these views, he introduced a resolution 




-, / ^ /^^^^ ^^ -- ^^ 



yAMES MONROE. 



3S 



that Congress should be empowered to 
regulate trade, and to lay an impost duty 
of five per cent. The resolution was refer- 
red to a committee of which he was chair- 
man. The report and the discussion which 
rose upon it led to the convention of five 
States at Annapolis, and the consequent 
general convention at Philadelphia, which, 
in 1787, drafted the Constitution of the 
United States. 

At this time there was a controversy be- 
tween New York and Massachusetts in 
reference to their boundaries. The high 
esteem in which Colonel Monroe was held 
is indicated by the fact that he was ap- 
pointed one of the judges to decide the 
controversy. While in New York attend- 
ing Congress, he married Miss Kortright, 
a young lady distinguished alike for her 
beauty and accomplishments. For nearly 
fifty years this happy union remained un- 
broken. In London and in Paris, as in her 
own country, Mrs. Monroe won admiration 
and affection by the loveliness of her per- 
son, the brilliancy of her intellect, and the 
amiability of her character. 

Returning to Virginia, Colonel Monroe 
commenced the practice of law at Freder- 
icksburg. He was very soon elected to a 
seat in the State Legislature, and the ne.\t 
year he was chosen a member of the Vir- 
ginia convention which was assembled to 
decide upon the acceptance or rejection of 
the Constitution which had been drawn up 
at Philadelphia, and was now submitted 
to the several States. Deeply as he felt 
the imperfections of the old Confederacy, 
he was opposed to the new Constitution, 
thinking, with many others of the Republi- 
can party, that it gave too much power to 
the Central Government, and not enough 
to the individual States. 

In 1789 he became a member of the 
United States Senate, which office he held 
acceptably to his constituents, and with 
honor to himself for four years. 



Having opposed the Constitution as not 
leaving enough power with the States, he, 
of course, became more and more identi- 
fied with the Republican party. Thus he 
found himself in cordial co-operation with 
Jefferson and Madison. The great Repub- 
lican party became the dominant power 
which ruled the land. 

George Washington was then President. 
England had espoused the cause of the 
Bourbons against the principles of the 
French Revolution. President Washing- 
ton issued a proclamation of neutrality be- 
tween these contending powers. France 
had helped us in the struggle for our lib- 
erties. All the despotisms of Europe were 
now combined to prevent the French 
from escaping from tyranny a thousandfold 
worse than that which we had endured. 
Colonel Monroe, more magnanimous than 
prudent, was anxious that we should help 
our old allies in their extremity. He vio- 
lently opposed the President's procla- 
mation as ungrateful and wanting in 
magnanimitv. 

Washington, who could appreciate such 
a character, developed his calm, serene, 
almost divine greatness by appointing that 
very James Monroe, who was denouncing 
the policy of the Government, as the Minis- 
ter of that Government to the republic of 
France. He was directed by Washington 
to express to the French people our warm- 
est sympathy, communicating to them cor- 
responding resolves approved by the Pres- 
ident, and adopted by both houses of 
Congress. 

Mr. Monroe was welcomed by the Na- 
tional Convention in France with the most 
enthusiastic demonstrations of respect and 
affection. He was publicly introduced to 
that body, and received the embrace of the 
President, Merlin de Douay, after having 
been addressed in a speech glowing with 
congratulations, and with expressions of 
desire that harmonv might ever exist be 



36 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 



tweeii the two nations. The flags of the 
two republics were intertwined in the hall 
of the convention. Mr. Monroe presented 
the American colors, and received those of 
France in return. The course which he 
pursued in Paris was so annoying to Eng- 
land and to the friends of England in 
this country that, near the close of Wash- 
ington's administration, Mr. Monroe, was 
recalled. 

After his return Colonel Monroe wrote a 
book of 400 pages, entitled " A View of the 
Conduct of the Executive in Foreign Af- 
fairs." In this work he very ably advo- 
cated his side of the question; but, with 
the magnanimity of the man, he recorded a 
warm tribute to the patriotism, ability and 
spotless integrity of John Jay, between 
whom and himself there was intense antag- 
onism ; and in subsequent years he ex- 
pressed in warmest terms his perfect 
veneration for the character of George 
Washington. 

Shortly after his return to this country 
Colonel Monroe was elected Governor of 
Virginia, and held that office for three 
years, the period limited by the Constitu- 
tion. In 1802 he was an Envoy to France, 
and to S]jain in 1805, and was Minister to 
England in 1803. In 1806 he returned to 
his quiet home in Virginia, and with his 
wife and children and an ample competence 
from his paternal estate, enjoyed a few years 
of domestic repose. 

In 1809 Mr. Jefferson's second term of 
office expired, and many of the Republican 
party were anxious to nominate James 
Monroe as his successor. The majority' 
were in favor of Mr. Madison. Mr. Mon- 
roe withdrew his name and was soon after 
chosen a second time Governor of Virginia. 
He soon resigned that office to accept the 
position of Secretary of State, offered him 
by President Madison. The correspond- 
ence which he then carried on with the 
British Government demonstrated that 



there was no hope of any peaceful adjust- 
ment of our difficulties with the cabinet of 
St. James. War was consequently declared 
in June, 1812. Immediately after the sack 
of Washington the Secretary of War re- 
signed, and Mr. Monroe, at the earnest 
request of Mr. Madison, assumed the ad- 
ditional duties of the War Department, 
without resigning his position as Secretary 
of State. It has been contidenti)' stated, 
that, had Mr. Monroe's energies been in the 
War Department a few months earlier, the 
disaster at Washington would not have 
occurred. 

The duties now devolving upon Mr. Mon- 
roe were extremely arduous. Ten thou- 
sand men, picked from the veteran armies 
of England, were sent with a powerful fleet 
to New Orleans to acquire possession of 
the mouths of the Mississippi. Our finan- 
ces were in the most deplorable condition. 
The treasur}' was exhausted and our credit 
gone. And yet it was necessary to make 
the most rigorous preparations to meet the 
foe. In this crisis James Monroe, the Sec- 
retary of War, with virtue unsurpassed in 
Greek or Roman story, stepped forward 
and pledged his own individual credit as 
subsidiary to that of the nation, and thus 
succeeded in placing the city of New Or- 
leans in such a posture of defense, that it 
was enabled successfully to repel the in- 
vader. 

Mr. Monroe was truly the armor-bearer 
of President Madison, and the most efficient 
business man in his cabinet. His energy 
in the double capacity of Secretary, both 
of State and War, pervaded all the depart- 
ments of the country. He proposed to 
increase the army to 100,000 men, a meas- 
ure which he deemed absolutely necessary 
to save us from ignominious defeat, but 
which, at the same time, he knew would 
render his name so unpopular as to preclude 
the possibility of his being a successful can- 
didate for the Presidency. 



JAMES MONROE. 



The happy result of the conference at 
Ghent in securing peace rendered the in- 
crease of the army unnecessary; but it is not 
too much to say that James Monroe placed 
in the hands of Andrew Jackson the 
weapon with which to beat off the foe at 
New Orleans. Upon the return of peace 
Mr. Monroe resigned the department of 
war, devoting himself entirel}' to the duties 
of Secretary of State. These he continued 
to discharge until the close of President 
Madison's administration, with zeal which 
was never abated, and with an ardor of 
self-devotion which made him almost for- 
getful of the claims of fortune, health or 
life. 

Mr. Madison's second term expired in 
March, 1817, and Mr. Monroe succeeded 
to the Presidency. He was a candidate of 
the Republican party, now taking the name 
of the Democratic Republican. In 1821 he 
was re-elected, with scarcely any opposition. 
Out of 232 electoral votes, he received 231. 
The slavery question, which subsequently 
assumed such formidable dimensions, now 
began to make its appearance. The State 
of Missouri, which had been carved out of 
that immense territory which we had pur- 
chased of France, applied ior admission to 
the Union, with a slavery Constitution. 
There were not a few who foresaw the 
evils impending. After the debate of a 
week it was decided that Missouri could 
not be admitted into the Union with slav- 
ery. This important question was at length 
settled by a compromise proposed by 
Henry Clay. 

The famous "Monroe Doctrine," of which 
so much has been said, originated in this 
way: In 1823 it was rumored that the 
Holy Alliance was about to interfere to 
prevent the establishment of Republican 
liberty in the European colonies of South 
America. President Monroe wrote to his 
old friend Thomas Jefferson for advice in 
the emergency. In his reply under date of 



October 24, Mr. Jefferson writes upon the 
supposition that our attempt to resist this 
European movement might lead to war: 

" Its object is to introduce and establish 
the American system of keeping out of our 
land all foreign powers; of never permitting 
those of Europe to intermeddle with the 
affairs of our nation. It is to maintain our 
own principle, not to depart from it." 

December 2, 1823, President Monroe 
sent a message to Congress, declaring it to 
be the policy of this Government not to 
entangle ourselves with the broils of Eu- 
rope, and not to allow Europe to interfere 
with the affairs of nations on the American 
continent; and the doctrine was announced, 
that any attempt on the part of the Euro- 
pean powers " to extend their S3-stem to 
any portion of this hemisphere would be 
regarded by the United States as danger- 
ous to our peace and safety." 

March 4, 1825, Mr. Monroe surrendered 
the presidential chair to his Secretary of 
State, John Quincy Adams, and retired, 
with the universal respect of the nation, 
to his private residence at Oak Hill, Lou- 
doun Count}', Virginia. His time had been 
so entirely consecrated to his country, that 
he had neglected his pecuniary interests, 
and was deeply involved in debt. The 
welfare of his country had ever been up- 
permost in his mind. 

For many years Mrs. Monroe was in such 
feeble health that she rarely appeared in 
public. In 1830 Mr. Monroe took up his 
residence with his son-in-law in New York, 
where he died on the 4th of July, 1831. 
The citizens of New York conducted his 
obsequies with pageants more imposing 
than had ever been witnessed there before. 
Our country will ever cherish his mem- 
ory with pride, gratefully enrolling his 
name in the list of its benefactors, pnmounc- 
ing him the worthy successor of the illus- 
trious men who had preceded him in the 
presidential chair. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 






5t -•<tf^V«;f-'<^^ 






fiy^r'HiiHHdr^r'Hr'r'Hf'r 



'^-vr' 




'OHN QUINCY ADAMS, 
the sixth President of the 
United States, i825-'9, 
was born in the rural 
home of his honored 
>>■ father, John Adams, in 
Q 11 i n c y , Massachusetts, 
July 1 1, 1767. Hismother, 
a \vf)man of exalted worth, 
w;itched over his childhood 
during the almost constant 
absence of his father. He 
commenced his education 
at the village school, giving 
at an early period indica- 
tions of superior mental en- 
dowments. 

When eleven years of age he sailed with 
his father for Europe, where the latter was 
associated with Franklin and Lee as Minister 
Plenipotentiary. The intelligence of John 
Quincy attracted the attention of these men 
and received from them flattering marks of 
attention. Mr. Adams had scarcely returned 
to this country in 1779 ere he was again 
sent abroad, and John Quincy again accom- 
panied him. On this voyage he commenced 
a diary, which practice he continued, with 
but few interruptions, until his death. Me 
journeyed with his father from Ferrol, in 
.Spain, to Paris. Here he applied himself 
for six months to study; then accompanied 



his father to Holland, where he entered, 
first a school in Amsterdam, and then the 
University of Leyden. In 1781, when only 
fourteen years of age, he was selected by 
Mr. Dana, our Minister to the Russian 
court, as his private secretary. In this 
school of incessant labor he spent fourteen 
months, and then returned alone to Holland 
through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and 
Bremen. Again he resumed his studies 
under a private tutor, at The Hague. 

In the spring of 1782 he accompanied his 
father to Paris, forming acquaintance with 
the most distinguished men on the Conti- 
nent. After a short visit to Etigland, he re- 
turned to Paris and studied until May, 
1785, when he returned to America, leav- 
ing his father an embassador at the court 
of St. James. In 1786 he entered the jun- 
ior class in Harvard University, and grad- 
uated with the second honor of his class. 
The oration he delivered on this occasion, 
the " Importance of Public Faith to the 
Well-being of a Community," was pub- 
lished — an event very rare in this or any 
other land. 

Upon leaving college at the age of twenty 
he studied law three years with the Hon. 
Theophiius Parsons in Newbur3'port. In 
1790 he opened a law office in Boston. The 
profession was crowded with able men, and 
the fees were small. The first vcar he had 




J, D. J'l 



a/VKi 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



no clients, but not a moment was lost. The 
second year passed away, still no clients, 
and still he was dependent upon his parents 
for support. Anxiously he awaited the 
third year. The reward now came. Cli- 
ents began to enter his office, and before 
the end of the year he was so crowded 
with business that all solicitude respecting 
a support was at an end. 

When Great Britain commenced war 
against France, in 1793, Mr. Adams wrote 
some articles, urging entire neutrality on 
the part of the United States. The view 
was not a popular one. Many felt that as 
France had helped us, we were bound to 
help France. But President Washington 
coincided with Mr. Adams, and issued his 
proclamation of neutralit}-. His writings 
at this time in the Boston journals gave 
him so high a reputation, that in June, 
1794, he was appointed by Washington 
resident Minister at the Netherlands. In 
July, 1797, he left 'i he Hague to go to Port- 
ugal as Minister Plenipotentiary. Wash- 
ington at this time wrote to his father, John 
Adams: 

" Without intending to compliment the 
father or the mother, or to censure any 
others, I give it as my decided opinion, 
that Mr. Adams is the most valuable char- 
acter we have abroad; and there remains 
no doubt in my mind that he will prove the 
ablest of our diplomatic corps." 

On his way to Portugal, upon his arrival 
in London, he met with dispatches direct- 
ing him to the court of Berlin, but request- 
ing him to remain in London until he should 
receive instructions. While waiting he 
was married to Miss Louisa Catherine John- 
son, to whom he had been previously en- 
gaged. Miss Johnson was a daughter of 
Mr. Joshua Johnson, American Consul 
in London, and was a lady endowed with 
that beauty and those accomplishments 
which fitted her to move in the elevated 
sphere fur which she was destined. 



In July, 1799, having fulfilled all the pur- 
poses of his mission, Mr. Adams returned. 
In 1802 he was chosen to the Senate of 
Massachusetts from Boston, and then was 
elected Senator of the United States for six 
years from March 4, 1804. His reputation, 
his ability and his experience, placed him 
immediately among the most prominent 
and influential members of that body. He 
sustained the Government in its measures 
of resistance to the encroachments of Eng- 
land, destroying our commerce and insult- 
ing our flag. There was no man in America 
more familiar with the arrogance of the 
British court upon these points, and no 
one more resolved to present a firm resist- 
ance. This course, so truly patriotic, and 
which scarcely a voice will now be found 
to condemn, alienated him from the Fed- 
eral party dominant in Boston, and sub- 
jected him to censure. 

In 1805 Mr. Adams was chosen professor 
of rhetoric in Harvard College. His lect- 
ures at this place were subsequently pub- 
lished. In 1809 he was sent as Minister to 
Russia. He was one of the commissioners 
that negotiated the treaty of peace with 
Great Britain, signed December 24, 1814, 
and he was appointed Minister to the court 
of St. James in 1815. In 1817 he became 
Secretary of State in Mr. Monroe's cabinet 
in which position he remained eight years. 
Few will now contradict the assertion that 
the duties of that office were never more 
ably discharged. Probably the most im- 
portant measure which Mr. Adams con- 
ducted was the purchase of Florida from 
Spain for $5,000,000. 

The campaign of 1824 was an exciting 
one. Four candidates were in the held. 
Of the 260 electoral votes that were cast, 
Andrew Jackson received ninetv-nine; John 
Quincy Adams, eighty-four; William H. 
Crawford, forty-one, and Henry Cla}-, 
thirty-seven. As there was no choice by 
the people, the question went to the House 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



of Representatives. Mr. Clay gave the 
vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and he 
was elected. 

The friends of all disappointed candidates 
now combined in a venomous assault upon 
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more dis- 
graceful in the past history of our country 
than the abuse which was poured in one 
uninterrupted stream upon this high- 
minded, upright, patriotic man. There was 
never an administration more pure in prin- 
ciples, more conscientiously devoted to the 
best interests of the country, than that of 
John Quincy Adams; and never, perhaps, 
was there an administration more unscru- 
pulously assailed. Mr. Adams took his seat 
in the presidential chair resolved not to 
know any partisanship, but only to con- 
sult for the interests of the whole Republic, 

He refused to dismiss any man from of- 
fice for his political views. If he was a faith- 
ful ofificer that was enough. Bitter must 
have been his disappointment to find that the 
Nation could not appreciate such conduct. 

Mr. Adams, in his public manners, was 
cold and repulsive; though with his per- 
sonal friends he was at times very genial. 
This chilling address very seriously de- 
tracted from his popularit)-. No one can 
read an impartial rccf)rd of his administra- 
tion without admitting that a more noble 
example of uncompromising dignity can 
scarcely be found. It was stated publicly 
that Mr. Adams' administration was to be 
put down, " though it be as pure as the an- 
gels which stand at the right hand of the 
throne of God." Many of the active par- 
ticipants in these scenes lived to regret the 
course they pursued. Some years after, 
Warren R. Davis, of South Carolina, turn- 
ing to Mr. Adams, then a member of the 
House of Representatives, said: 

" Well do 1 remember the enthusiastic 
zeal with which we reproached the admin- 
istration of that gentleman, and the ardor 
and vehemence with which we labored to 



bring in another. For the share I had in 
these transactions, and it was not a small 
one, I hope God will forgive me, for I shall 
never forgive myself." 

March 4, 1829, Mr. Adams retired from 
the Presidency and was succeeded by An- 
drew Jackson, the latter receiving 168 out 
of 261 electoral votes. John C. Calhoun 
was elected Vice-President. The slavery 
question now began to assume pretentious 
magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to 
Quincy, and pursued his studies with una- 
bated 7(eal. But he was not long permitted 
to remain in retirement. In November, 
1830, he was elected to Congress. In this 
he recognized the principle that it is honor- 
able for the General of yesterday to act as 
Corporal to-day, if by so doing he can ren- 
der service to his country. Deep as are 
our obligations to John Quincy Adams for 
his services as embassador, as Secretary of 
State and as President; in his capacity as 
legislator in the House of Representa- 
tives, he conferred benefits upon our land 
which eclipsed all the rest, and which can 
never be over-estimated. 

For seventeen years, until his death, he 
occupied the post of Representative, tow- 
ering above all his peers, ever ready to do 
brave battle for freedom, and winning the 
title of " the old man eloquent." Upon 
taking his seat in the House he announced 
that he should hold himself bound to no 
part3\ He was usually the first in his 
place in the morning, and the last to leave 
his seat in the evening. Not a measure 
could escape his scrutin}'. The battle 
which he fought, almost singly, against the 
pro-slavery party in the Government, was 
sublime in its moral daring and heroism. 
For persisting in presenting petitions for 
the abolition of slavery, he was threatened 
with indictment by the Grand Jury, with 
expulsion from the House, with assassina- 
tion; but no threats could intimidate him. 
and his final triumph was complete. 



JOHN ^UINCr ADAMS. 



Oa one occasion Mr. Adams presented a 
petition, signed by several women, against 
the annexation of Texas for the purpose of 
cutting it up into slave States. Mr. How- 
ard, of Marj'Iand, said that these women 
discredited not only themselves, but their 
section of the country, by turning from 
their domestic duties to the conflicts of po- 
litical life. 

"Are women," exclaimed Mr. Adams, 
" to have no opinions or actions on subjects 
relating to the general welfare ? Where 
did the gentleman get his principle? Did 
he find it in sacred history, — in the language 
of Miriam, the prophetess, in one of the 
noblest and sublime songs of triumph that 
ever met the human eye or ear? Did the 
gentleman never hear of Deborah, to whom 
the children of Israel came up for judg- 
ment ? Has he forgotten the deed of Jael, 
who slew the dreaded enemy of her coun- 
try ? Has he forgotten Esther, who, by her 
petition saved her people and her coun- 
try? 

" To go from sacred history to profane, 
does the gentleman there find it ' discredita- 
ble ' for women to take an interest in politi- 
cal affairs? Has he forgotten the Spartan 
mother, who said to her son when going 
out to battle, ' My son, come back to me 
with thy shield, or upon thy shield ? ' Does 
he remember Cloelia and her hundred com- 
panions, who swam across the river unt'^er 
a shower of darts, escaping from Porsena ? 
Has he forgotten Cornelia, the mother of 
the Gracchi? Does he not remember Por- 
tia, the wife of Brutus and the daughter of 
Cato? 

" To come to later periods, what says the 
history of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors ? 
To say nothing of Boadicea, the British 
heroine in the time of the Caesars, what 
name is more illustrious than that of Eliza- 
beth ? Or, if he will go to the continent, 
will he not find the names of Maria Theresa 
of Hungary, of the two Catherines of 



Prussia, and of Isabella of Castile, the pa- 
troness of Columbus ? Did she bring ' dis- 
credit ' on her sex by mingling in politics ? " 

In this glowing strain M^. Adams si- 
lenced and overwhelmed his antagonists. 

In January, 1843, Mr. Adams presented 
a petition from forty-five citizens of Haver- 
hill, Massachusetts, praying for a peaceable 
dissolution of the Union. The pro-slavery 
party in Congress, who were then plotting 
the destruction of the Government, were 
aroused to a pretense of commotion such as 
even our stormy hall of legislation has 
rarely witnessed. They met in caucus, and, 
fiirding that they probably would not be 
able to expel Mr. Adams from the House 
drew up a series of resolutions, which, if 
adopted, would inflict upon him disgrace, 
equivalent to expulsion. Mr. Adams had 
presented the petition, which was most re- 
spectfully worded, and had moved that it be 
referred to a committee instructed to re- 
port an answer, showing the reason whj 
the prayer ought not to be granted. 

It was the 25th of January. The whole 
body of the pro-slavery party came crowd- 
ing together in the House, prepared to 
crush Mr. Adams forever. One of the num- 
ber, Thomas F. Marshall, of Kentucky, was 
appointed to read the resolutions, which 
accused Mr. Adams of high treason, of 
having insulted the Government, and 01 
meriting expulsion; but for which deserved 
punishment, the House, in its great mercy, 
would substitute its severest censure. With 
the assumption of a verj^ solemn and mag- 
isterial air, there being breathless silence in 
the audience, Mr. Marshall hurled the care- 
fully prepared anathemas at his victim. 
Mr. Adams stood alone, the whole pro-slav- 
ery party against him. 

As soon as the resolutions were read, 
every eye being fixed upon him, that bold 
old man, whose scattered locks were whit- 
ened by seventy-five years, casting a wither- 
ing glance in the direction of his assailants, 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 



in a clear, shrill tone, tremulous with sup- 
pressed emotion, said: 

" In reply to this audacious, atrocious 
charge of high treason, I call for the read- 
ing of the first paragraph of the Declaration 
of Independence. Read it ! Read it! and 
see what that says of the rights of a people 
to reform, to diange, and to dissolve their 
Government.' 

The attitude, the manner, the tone, the 
words; the venerable old man, with flash- 
ing eye and flushed cheek, and whose very 
form seemed to expand under the inspiration 
of the occasion — all presented a scene over- 
flowing in its sublimity. There was breath- 
less silence as that paragraph was read, in 
defense of whose principles our fathers had 
pledged their lives, their fortunes and their 
sacred honor. It was a proud hour to Mr. 
Adams as they were all compelled to listen 
to the words: 

" That, to secure these rights, govern- 
ments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the 
governed; and that whenever any form of 
government becomes destructive of those 
ends, it is the right of the people to alter or 
abolish it, and to institute new government, 
laying its foundations on such principles 
and organizing its powers in such form 
as shall seem most likely to effect their 
safety and happiness." 

That one sentence routed and baffled the 



foe. The heroic old man looked around 
upon the audience, and thundered out, 
" Read that again ! " It was again read. 
Then in a few fierv, logical words he stated 
his defense in terms which even prejudiced 
minds could not resist. His discomfited 
assailants made several attempts to rally. 
After a conflict of eleven days they gave 
up vanquished and their resolution was ig- 
nominiously laid upon the table. 

In January, 1846, when seventy-eight 
years of age, he took part in the great de- 
bate on the Oregon question, displaying 
intellectual vigor, and an extent and accu- 
racy of acquaintance with the subject that 
excited great admiration. 

On the 2 1 St of February, 1848, he rose on 
the floor of Congress with a paper in his 
hand to address the Speaker. Suddenly 
he fell, stricken by paralysis, and was caught 
in the arms of those around him. For a 
time he was senseless and was conveyed 
to a sofa in the rotunda. With reviving 
consciousness he opened his eyes, looked 
calmly around and said, " This is the end of 
earth." Then after a moment's pause, he 
added, " / ant content." These were his last 
words, and he soon breathed his last, in the 
apartment beneath the dome of the capitol 
— the theater of his labors and his triumphs. 
In the language of hymnolog}*, he "died at 
his post;" he " ceased at once to work and 
live." 




, vW^??^.^,^-^c:r^<Q:^,^^-*j^^ 



ANDREW JACKSON. 





[£' Andrew jackson, 

V^ the seventh President 
^ ' ^ of the United States, 
829-'37, was born at 
the VVaxhaw Settle- 
ment, Union Coun- 
ty, North Carolina, 
His parents 



March i6, 1767. 



were Scotch-Irish, natives of 
Carrickfergus, who came to 
America in 1765, and settled 
on Twelve-Mile Creek, a trib- 
utary of the Catawba. His 
father, who was a poor farm 
laborer, died shortly before An- 
drew's birth, when his mother removed to 
Waxhaw, where some relatives resided. 

Few particulars of the childhood of Jack- 
son have been preserved. His education 
was of the most limited kind, and he showed 
no fondness for books. He grew up to be a 
tali, lank boy, with coarse hair and freck- 
led cheeks, with bare feet dangling from 
trousers too short for him, very fond of ath- 
letic sports, running, boxing and wrestling. 
He was generous to the younger and 
weaker boys, but very irascible and over- 
bearing with his equals and superiors. He 
was profane — a vice in which he surpassed 
all other men. The character of his mother 



he revered; and it was not until after her 
death that his predominant vices gained 
full strength. 

In 1780, at the age of thirteen, Andrew, 
or Andy, as he was called, with his brother 
Robert, volunteered to serve in the Revo- 
lutionary forces under General Sumter, and 
was a witness of the latter's defeat at Hang- 
ing Rock. In the following Near the 
brothers were made prisoners, and confined 
in Camden, experiencing brutal treatment 
from their captors, and being spectators of 
General Green's defeat at Hobkirk Hill. 
Through their mother's exertions the boys 
were exchanged while suffering from small- 
pox. In two days Robert was dead, and 
Andy apparently dying. The strength of 
his constitution triumphed, and he regained 
health and vigor. 

As he was getting better, his mother 
heard the cry of anguish from the prison- 
ers whom the British held in Charleston, 
among whom were the sons of her sisters. 
She hastened to their relief, was attacked 
by fever, died and was buried where her 
grave could never be found. Thus Andrew 
Jackson, when fourteen years of age, w<is 
left alone in the world, without father, 
mother, sister or brother, and without on6 
dollar which he could call his own. He 



48 



PRESIDENTS O/r THE UNITED STATES. 



soon entered a saddler's shop, and labored 
diligently for six months. But gradually, 
as health returned, he became more and 
more a wild, reckless, lawless boy. He 
gambled, drank and was regarded as about 
the worst character that could be found. 

He now turned schoolmaster. He could 
teach the alphabet, perhaps the multiplica- 
tion table; and as he was a very bold boy, 
it is possible he might have ventured to 
teach a little writing. But he soon began to 
think of a profession and decided to study 
law. With a very slender purse, and on 
the back of a very fine horse, he set out 
for Salisbury, North Carolina, where he 
entered the law office of Mr. McCay. 
Here he remained two years, professedly 
studying law. He is still remembered in 
traditions of Salisbury, which say: 

" Andrew Jackson was the most roaring, 
rollicking, horse-racing, card-playing, mis- 
chievous fellow that ever lived in Salisbury. 
He did not trouble the law-books much." 

Andrew was now, at the age of twenty, 
a tall young man, being over six feet in 
height. He was slender, remarkably grace- 
ful and dignified in his manners, an exquis- 
ite horseman, and developed, amidst his 
loathesome profanity and multiform vices, a 
vein of rare magnanimity. His temper was 
fiery in the extreme; but it was said of him 
that no man knew better than Andrew 
Jackson when to get angry and when not. 

In 1786 he was admitted to the bar, and 
two years later removed to Nashville, 
in what was then the western district of 
North Carolina, with the appointment of so- 
licitor, or public prosecutor. It was an of- 
fice of little honor, small emolument and 
great peril. Few men could be found to 
accept it. 

And now Andrew Jackson commenced 
vigorously to practice law. It was an im- 
portant part of his business to collect debts. 
It required nerve. During the first seven 
years of his residence in those wilds he 



traversed the almost pathless forest between 
Nashville and Jonesborough, a distance of 
200 miles, twenty-two times. Hostile In- 
dians were constantl}' on the watch, and a 
man was liable at any moment to be shot 
down in his own field. Andrew Jackson 
was just the man for this service — a wild, 
daring, rough backwoodsman. Daily he 
made hair-breadth escapes. He seemed to 
bear a charmed life. Boldly, alone or with 
few companions, he traversed the forests, 
encountering all perils and triumphing 
over all. 

In 1790 Tennessee became a Territory, 
and Jackson was appointed, by President 
Washington, United States Attorney for 
the new district. In 1791 he married Mrs. 
Rachel Robards (daughter of Colonel John 
Donelson), whom he supposed to have been 
divorced in that year by an act of the Leg- 
islature of Virginia. Two years after this 
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson learned, to their 
great surprise, that Mr. Robards had just 
obtained a divorce in one of the courts of 
Kentucky, and that the act of the Virginia 
Legislature was not final, but conditional. 
To remedy the irregularity as much as pos- 
sible, a new license was obtained and the 
marriage ceremony was again performed. 

It proved to be a marriage of rare felic- 
ity. Probably there never was a more 
affectionate union. However rough Mr. 
Jackson might have been abroad, he was 
always gentle and tender at home; and 
through all the vicissitudes of their lives, he 
treated Mrs. Jackson with the most chival- 
ric attention. 

Under the circumstances it was not un- 
natural that the facts in the case of this 
marriage were so misrepresented by oppo- 
nents in the political campaigns a quarter 
or a century later as to become the basis 
of serious charges against Jackson's moral- 
ity which, however, have been satisfactorily 
attested by abundant evidence. 

Jackson was untiring in his duties as 



AX DREW yACfCSOM. 



49 



United States Attorney, whicli demanded 
frequent journeys through the wilderness 
and exposed him to Indian hostihties. He 
acquired considerable property in land, and 
obtained such influence as to be chosen 
a member of the convention which framed 
the Constitution for the new State of Ten- 
nessee, in 1796, and in that year was elected 
its first Representative in Congress. Albert 
Gallatin thus describes the first appearance 
of the Hon. Andrew Jackson in the House: 

" A tall, lank, uncouth-looking personage, 
with locks of hair hanging over his face and 
a cue down his back, tied with an eel skin; 
his dress singular, his manners and deport- 
ment those of a rough backwoodsman." 

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the 
Democratic party. Jefferson was his idol. 
He admired Bonaparte, loved France and 
hated England. As Mr. Jackson took his 
seat. General Washington, whose second 
term of office was just expiring, delivered 
his last speech to Congress. A committee 
drew up a complimentary address in reply. 
Andrew Jackson did not approve the ad- 
dress and was one of twelve who voted 
against it. 

Tennessee had fitted out an expedition 
against the Indians, contrary to the policy 
of the Government. A resolution was intro- 
duced that the National Government 
should pay the expenses. Jackson advo- 
cated it and it was carried. This rendered 
him very popular in Tennessee. A va- 
cancy chanced soon after to occur in the 
Senate, and Andrew Jackson was chosen 
United States Senator by the State of Ten- 
nessee. John Adams was then President 
and Thomas Jefferson, Vice-President. 

In 1798 Mr. Jackson returned to Tennes- 
see, and resigned his seat in the Senate. 
Soon after he was chosen Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of that State, with a salary of 
$600. This office he held six years. It is 
said that his decisions, though sometimes 
ungrammatical, were generally right. He 



did not enjov his seat upon the bench, and 
renounced the dignity in 1804. About 
this time he was chosen Major-General of 
militia, and lost the title of judge in that of 
General. 

When he retired from the Senate Cham- 
ber, he decided to try his fortune through 
trade. He purchased a stock of goods in 
Philadelphia and sent them to Nashville, 
where he opened a store. He lived about 
thirteen miles from Nashville, on a tract of 
land of several thousand acres, mostly un- 
cultivated. He used a small block-house 
for a store, from a narrow window of 
which he sold goods to the Indians. As he 
had an assistant his office as judge did not 
materially interfere with his business. 

As to slaver)', born in the midst of it, the 
idea never seemed to enter his mind that it 
could be wrong. He eventually became 
an extensive slave owner, but he was one of 
the most humane and gentle of masters. 

In 1804 Mr. Jackson withdrew from pol- 
itics and settled on a plantation which he 
called the Hermitage, near Nashville. He 
set up a cotton-gin, formed a partnership 
and traded in New Orleans, making the 
voyage on flatboats. Through his hot tem- 
per he became involved in several quarrels 
and " afTairs of honor," during this period, 
in one of which he was severely wounded, 
but had the misfortune to kill his opponent, 
Charles Dickinson. For a time this affair 
greatly injured General Jackson's popular- 
it)-. The verdict then was, and continues 
to be, that General Jackson was outra- 
geously wrong. If he subsequently felt any 
remorse he never revealed it to anyone. 

In 1805 Aaron Burr had visited Nash- 
ville and been a guest of Jackson, with 
whom he corresponded on the subject of a 
war with Spain, which was anticipated and 
desired by them, as well as by the people 
of the Southwest generally. 

Burr repeated his visit in September, 
1806, when he engaged in the celeorated 



5° 



PREJIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



combinations which led to his trial for trea- 
son. He was warmly received by Jackson, 
at whose instance a public ball was given 
in his honor at Nashville, and contracted 
with the latter for boats and provisions. 
Early in 1807, when Burr had been pro- 
claimed a traitor by President Jefferson, 
volunteer forces for the Federal service 
were organized at Nashville under Jack- 
son's command; but his energy and activ- 
ity did not shield him from suspicions of 
connivance in the supposed treason. He 
was summoned to Richmond as a witness 
in Burr's trial, but was not called to the 
stand, probabl}' because he was out-spoken 
in his partisanship. 

On the outbreak of the war with Great 
Britain in 1812, Jackson tendered his serv- 
ices, and in January, 1813, embarked for 
New Orleans at the head of the Tennessee 
contingent. In March he received an or- 
der to disband his forces; but in Septem- 
ber he again took the field, in the Creek 
war, and in conjunction with his former 
partner. Colonel Coffee, inflicted upon the 
Indians the memorable defeat at Talladega, 
Emuckfaw and Tallapoosa. 

In May, 18 14, Jackson, who had now ac- 
quired a national reputation, was appointed 
a Major-General of the United States army, 
and commenced a campaign against the 
British in Florida. He conducted the de- 
fense at Mobile, September 15, seized upon 
Pensacola, November 6, and immediately 
transported the bulk of his troops to New 
Orleans, then threatened by a powerful 
naval force. Martial law was declared in 
Louisiana, the State militia was called to 
arms, engagements with the British were 
fought December 23 and 28, and after re-en- 
forcements had been received on both sides 
<he famous victory of January 8, 181 5, 
crowned Jackson's fame as a soldier, and 
made him the typical American hero of 
the first half of the nineteenth century. 

In 1 81 7-' 18 Jackson conducted the war 



against the Seminoles of Florida, during 
which he seized upon Pensacola and exe- 
cuted by courtmartial two British subjects, 

Arbuthnot and Ambrister acts which 

might easily have involved the United 
States in war both with Spain and Great 
Britain. Fortunately the peril was averted 
by the cession of Florida to the United 
States; and Jackson, who had escaped a 
trial for the irregularity of his conduct 
only through a division of opinion in Mon- 
roe's cabinet, was appointed in 1821 Gov- 
ernor of the new Territory. Soon after he 
declined the appointment of minister to 
Mexico. 

In 1823 Jackson waselected to the United 
States Senate, and nominated by the Ten- 
nessee Legislature for the Presidency. This 
candidacy, though a matter of surprise, and 
even merryment, speedily became popular, 
and in 1824, when the stormy electoral can- 
vas resulted in the choice of John Quincy 
Adams by the House of Representatives, 
General Jackson received the largest popu- 
lar vote among the four candidates. 

In 1828 Jackson was triumphantly elected 
President over Adams after a campaign of 
unparalleled bitterness. He was inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1829, and at once removed 
from office all the incumbents belonging to 
the opposite party — a procedure new to 
American politics, but which naturally be- 
came a precedent. 

His first term was characterized by quar- 
rels between the Vice-President, Calhoun, 
and the Secretary of State, Van Buren, at- 
tended by a cabinet crisis originating in 
scandals connected with the name of Mrs. 
General Eaton, wife of the Secretary of 
War; by the beginning of his war upon the 
United States Bank, and by his vigorous 
action against the partisans of Calhoun, 
who, in South Carolina, threatened to 
nullify the acts of Congress, establishing a 
protective tariff. 

In the Presidential campaign of 1S33 



ANDREW JACKSON. 



Jackson received 219 out of 288 electoral 
votes, his competitor being Mr. Clay, while 
Mr. Wirt, on an Anti-Masonic platform, 
received the vote of Vermont alone. In 
1833 President Jackson removed the Gov- 
ernment deposits from the United States 
bank, thereby incurring a vote of censure 
from the Senate, which was, however, ex- 
punged fouryears later. Duringthis second 
term of office the Cherokees, Choctaws and 
Creeks were removed, not without diffi- 
culty, from Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, to the Indian Territory; the National 
debt was extinguished; Arkansas and 
Michigan were admitted as States to the 
Union; the Seminole war was renewed; the 
anti-slavery agitation first acquired impor- 
tance; the Mormon delusion, which had 
organized in 1829, attained considerable 
proportions in Ohio and Missouri, and the 
country experienced its greatest pecuniary 
panic. 

Railroads with locomotive propulsion 
were introduced into America during Jack- 
son's first term, and had become an impor- 
tant element of national life before the 
close of his second term. For many rea- 
sons, therefore, the administration of Presi- 
dent Jackson formed an era in American 
history, political, social and industrial. 
He succeeded in elfecting the election of 



his friend Van Buren as his successor, re- 
tired from the Presidency March 4, 1837; 
and led a tranquil life at the Hermitage 
until his death, which occurred June 8, 
1845. 

During his closing years he was a pro- 
fessed Christian and a member of the Pres- 
byterian church. No American of this 
centurv has been the subject of such oppo- 
site judgments. He was loved and hated 
with equal vehemence during his life, but 
at the present distance of time from his 
career, while opinions still vary as to the 
merits of his public acts, few of his country- 
men \4'ill question that he was a warm- 
hearted, brave, patriotic, honest and sincere 
man. If his distinguishing qualities were 
not such as constitute statesmanship, in the 
highest sense, he at least never pretended 
to other merits than such as were written 
to his credit on the page of American his- 
tor}'— not attempting to disguise the de- 
merits which were equally legible. The 
majority of his countrymen accepted and 
honored him, in spite of all that calumny 
as well as truth could allege against him. 
His faults may therefore be truly said to 
have been those of his time; his magnifi- 
cent virtues may also, with the same jus- 
tice, be considered as typical of a state o^ 
society which has nearly passed away. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




d^^. 






|| ^^^CQai^tin Uan Bai^EN.<a4^ || 






imii 








...^^ 



ARTIN VAN BU- 
REN, the eighth 
,^4^*/ President of the 
United States, 1837- 
'41, was born at Kin- 
derhook, New York, 
December 5, 1782. 
His ancestors were of Dutch 
origin, and were among the 
earliest emigrants from Hol- 
land to the banks of the 
Hudson. His father was a 
tavern-keeper, as well as a 
farmer, and a very decided 
Democrat. 
* Martin commenced the study 
of law at the age of fourteen, and took an 
active part in politics before he had reached 
the age of twenty. In 1803 he commenced 
the practice of law in his native village. 
In i8og he removed to Hudson, the shire 
town of his county, where he spent seven 
years, gaining strength by contending in 
the courts with some of the ablest men 
who have adorned the bar of his State. 
The heroic example of John Quincy Adams 
in retaining in office every faithful man, 
without regard to his political preferences, 
had been thoroughly repudiated by Gen- 
eral Jackson. The unfortunate principle 
was now fully established, that "to the 
victor belong the spoils." Still, this prin- 
ciple, to which Mr. Van Buren gave his ad- 



herence, was not devoid of inconveniences. 
When, subsequently, he attained power 
which placed vast patronage in his hands, 
he was heard to say : " I prefer an oflfice 
that has no patronage. When I give a man 
an office I offend his disappointed competi- 
tors and their friends. Nor am I certain oi 
gaining a friend in the man I appoint, for, 
in all probability, he expected something 
better." 

In 1812 Mr. Van Buren was elected to 
the State Senate. In 1815 he was appointed 
Attorney-General, and in 1 8 16 to the Senate 
a second time. In 18 18 there was a great 
split in the Democratic part}' in New York, 
and Mr. Van Buren took the lead in or- 
ganizing that portion of the party called 
the Albany Regency, which is said to have 
swayed the destinies of the State for a 
quarter of a century. 

In 1 82 1 he was chosen a member of the 
convention for revising the State Constitu- 
tion, in which he advocated an extension of 
the franchise, but opposed universal suf- 
frage, and also favored the proposal that 
colored persons, in order to vote, should 
have freehold property to the amount of 
$250. In this year he was also elected to 
the United States Senate, and at the con- 
clusion of his term, in 1827, was re-elected, 
but resigned the following year, having 
been chosen Governor of the State. In 
March, 1829, he was appointed Secretary o) 



MARTIN VAN BUREN. 



State by President Jackson, but resigned 
in April, 183 1, and during the recess of 
Congress was appointed minister to Eng- 
land, whither he proceeded in September, 
but the Senate, when convened in Decem- 
ber, refused to ratify the appointment. 

In Ma\', 1832, Mr. Van Buren was nomi- 
nated as the Democratic candidate for Vice- 
President, and elected in the following 
November. May 26, 1836, he received the 
nomination to succeed General Jackson as 
President, and received 170 electoral votes, 
out of 283. 

Scarcely had he taken his seat in the 
Presidential chair when a financial panic 
swept over the land. Many attributed 
this to the war which General Jackson had 
waged on the banks, and to his endeavor to 
secure an almost exclusive specie currency. 
Nearly every bank in the country was com- 
pelled to suspend specie payment, and ruin 
pervaded all our great cities. Not less than 
254 houses failed in New York in one week. 
All public works were brought to a stand, 
and there was a general state of dismay. 
President Van Buren urged the adoption of 
the independent treasury system, which 
was twice passed in the Senate and defeated 
in the House, but finally became a law near 
the close of his rxlministration. 

Another important measure was the pass- 
age of a pre-emption law, giving actual set- 
tlers the preference in the purchase of 
public lands. The question of slavery, also, 
now began to assume great prominence in 
national politics, and after an elaborate 
anti-slavery speech by Mr. Slade, of Ver- 
mont, in the House of Representatives, the 
Southern members withdrew for a separate 
consultation, at which Mr. Rhett, of South 
Carolina, proposed to declare it e.xpedient 
that the Union should be dissolved ; but 
the matter was tided over by the passage 
of a resolution that no petitions or papers 
relating to slavery should be in any way 
considered or acted upon. 



In the Presidential election of 1840 Mr. 
Van Buren was nominated, without opposi- 
tion, as the Democratic candidate, William 
H. Harrison being the candidate of the 
Whig party. The Democrats carried only 
seven States, and out of 294 electoral votes 
only sixty were for Mr. Van Buren, the re- 
maining 234 being for his opponent. The 
Whig popular majority, however, was not 
large, the elections in many of the States 
being very close. 

March 4, 1841, Mr. Van Buren retired 
from the Presidency. From his fine estate 
at Lindenwald he still exerted a powerful 
influence upon the politics of the country. 
In 1844 he was again proposed as the 
Democratic candidate for the Presidency, 
and a majority of the delegates of the 
nominating convention were in his favor ; 
but, owing to his opposition to the pro- 
posed annexation of Texas, he could not 
secure the requisite two-thirds vote. His 
name was at length withdrawn by his 
friends, and Mr. Polk received the nomina- 
tion, and was elected. 

In 1848 Mr. Cass was the regular Demo- 
cratic candidate. A schism, however, 
sprang up in the party, upon the question 
of the permission of slavery in the newly- 
acquired territory, and a portion of the 
party, taking the name of " Free-Soilers," 
nominated Mr. Van Buren. They drew 
away sufficient votes to secure the election 
of General Taylor, the Whig candidate. 
After this Mr. Van Buren retired to his es- 
tate at Kinderhook, where the remainder 
of his life was passed, with the exception of 
a European tour in 1853. He died at 
Kinderhook, July 24, 1862, at the age of 
eiglity years. 

Martin Van Buren was a great and good 
man, and no one will question his right to 
a high position among those who have 
been the successors of Washington in the 
faithful occupancy of the Presidential 
chair. 



PRESIDBl^TS OP THE UNITED STATES. 




B^E5«o^o^^,te,UH«— S«- 



WILLIAM HENRY HflRRISDN. |^^^ 






(i^ 





L 1 A M HENRY 
HARRISON, the 
ninth President of 
the United States, 
I 84 I, was born 
February 9, 1773, 
in Charles County, 
\'iigniia, at Berkeley, the resi- 
dence of his father. Governor 
Benjamin Harrison. He studied 
at Hampden, Sidney College, 
with a view of entering the med- 
ical profession. After graduation 
he went to Philadelphia to study 
medicine under the instruction of 
r3r. Rush. 
George Washington was then President 
3f the United States. The Indians were 
committing fearful ravages on our North- 
western frontier. Young Harrison, either 
lured by the love of adventure, or moved 
by the sufferings of families exposed to the 
most horrible outrages, abandoned his med- 
ical studies and entered the army, having 
obtained a commission of ensign from Pres- 
ident Washington. The first duty assigned 
him was to take a train of pack-horses 
bound to Fort Hamilton, on the Miami 
River, about forty miles from Fort Wash- 
ington. He was soon promoted to the 



rank of Lieutenant, and joined the army 
which Washington had placed under the 
command of General Wayne to prosecute 
more vigorously the war with the In- 
dians. Lieutenant Harrison received great 
commendation from his commanding offi- 
cer, and was promoted to the rank of 
Captain, and placed in command at Fort 
Washington, now Cincmnati, Ohio. 

About this time he married a daughter 
of John Cleves Sj'mmes, one of the fron- 
tiersmen who had established a thriving 
settlement on the bank of the Maumee. 

In 1797 Captain Harrison resigned his 
commission in the arm}^ and was appointed 
Secretary of the Northwest Territory, and 
ex-officio Lieutenant-Governor, General St. 
Clair being then Governor of the Territory. 
At that time the law in reference to the 
disposal of the public lands was such that 
no one could purchase in tracts less than 
4,000 acres. Captain Harrison, in the 
face of violent opposition, succeeded in 
obtaining so much of a modification of 
this unjust law that the land was sold in 
alternate tracts of 640 and 320 acres. The 
Northwest Territory vas then entitled 
to one delegate in Ccmgress, and Cap- 
tain Harrison was chosen to fill that of- 
fice. In 1800 he was appointed Governor 




^ ////a^ 



WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. 



59 



of Indiana Territory and soon after of 
Upper Louisiana. He was also Superin- 
tendent of Indian Affairs, and so well did he 
fulfill these duties that he was four times 
appointed to this office. During his admin- 
istration he efTected thirteen treaties with 
the Indians, by which the United States 
acquired 60,000,000 acres of land. In 1804 
he obtained a cession from the Indians of 
all the land between the Illinois River and 
the Mississippi. 

In 1S12 he was made Major-General of 
Kentucky militia and Brigadier-General 
m the army, with the command of the 
Northwest frontier. In 1813 he was made 
Major-General, and as such won much re- 
nown by the defense of Fort Meigs, and the 
battle of the Thames, Octobers, 1813. In 
1 8 14 he left the army and was employed in 
Indian affairs hy the Government. 

In 1816 General Harrison was chosen a 
member of the National House of Repre- 
sentatives to represent the district of Ohio. 
In the contest which preceded his election 
he was accused of corruption in respect to 
the commissariat of the army. Immedi- 
ately upon taking his seat, he called for an 
investigation of the charge. A committee 
was appointed, and his vindication was 
triumphant. A high compliment was paid 
to his patriotism, disinterestedness and 
devotion to the public service. For these 
services a gold medal was presented to him 
with the thanks of Congress. 

In 1 8 19 he was elected to the Senate of 
Ohio, and in 1824, as one of the Presiden- 
tial electors of that State, he gave his vote 
to Henry Clay. In the same year he was 
elected to the Senate of the United States. 
In 1828 he was appointed by President 
Adams minister plenipotentiary to Colom- 
bia, but was recalled by General Jackson 
immediately after the inauguration of the 
Jatter. 

Upon his return to the United States, 
General Harrison retired to his farm at 



North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, si.\- 
teen miles below Cincinnati, where for 
twelve years he was clerk of the County 
Court. He once owned a distillery, but 
perceiving the sad effects of whisky upon 
the surrounding population, he promptly 
abandoned his business at great pecuniary 
sacrifice. 

In 1836 General Harrison was brought 
forward as a candidate for the Presidency. 
Van Buren was the administration candi- 
date; the opposite party could not unite, 
and four candidates were brought forward. 
General Harrison received seventy-three 
electoral votes without any general concert 
among his friends. The Democratic party- 
triumphed and Mr. Van Buren was chosen 
President. In 1839 General Harrison was 
again nominated for the Presidency by the 
Whigs, at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. 
Van Buren being the Democratic candi- 
date. General Harrison received 234 elec- 
toral votes against sixty for his opponent. 
This election is memorable chiefly for the 
then e.xtraordinary means employed during 
the canvass for popular votes. Mass meet- 
ings and processions were introduced, and 
the watchwords " log cabin " and " hard 
cider " were effectually used b)- the Whigs, 
and aroused a popular enthusiasm. 

A vast concourse of people attended his 
inauguration. His address on that occasion 
was in accordance with his antecedents, and 
gave great satisfaction. A short tiiue after he 
took his seat, he was seized b}' a pleurisy- 
fever, and after a few days of violent sick- 
ness, died April 4, just one short month after 
his inauguration. His death was universally 
regarded as one of the greatest of National 
calamities. Never, since the death of 
Washington, were there, throughout one 
land, such demonstrations of sorrow. Not 
one single spot can be found to sully his 
fame; and through all ages Americans will 
pronounce with love and reverence the 
name of William Henrv Harrison. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN /TED STATES. 






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"OHN TYLER, the tenth 
President of the United 
States, was born in 
Charles City County, 
Virginia, March 29, 1790. 
His father. Judge John 
T}ier, possessed large 
landed estates in Virginia, 
and was one of the most 
distinguished men of his 
da}-, filling the offices of 
Speaker of the House of 
Delegates, Judge of the Su- 
preme Court and Governor 
of the State. 
At the early age of twelve 
entered William and Mary 
graduated with honor when 
but seventeen years old. He then closely 
applied himself to the study of law, and at 
nineteen years of age commenced the prac- 
tice of his profession. When only twent}^- 
one he was elected to a seat in the State 
Legislature. He acted with the Demo- 
cratic party and advocated the measures of 
Jefferson and Madison. For five years he 
was elected to the Legislature, receiving 
nearly the unanimous vote of his county. 

When but twenty-six years of age he was 
elected a member of Congress. He advo- 
cated a strict construction of the Constitu- 
tion and the most careful vigilance over 



young John 
College, and 



State rights. He was soon compelled to 
resign his seat in Congress, owing to ill 
health, but afterward took his seat in the 
State Legislature, where he exerted a 
powerful influence in promoting public 
works of great utility. 

In 1825 Mr. Tyler was chosen Governor 
of his State — a high honor, for Virginia 
had many able men as competitors for 
the prize. His administration was signally 
a successful one. He urged forward inter- 
nal improvements and strove to remove 
sectional jealousies. His popularity secured 
his re-election. In 1827 he was elected 
United States Senator, and upon taking his 
seat joined the ranks of the opposition. He 
opposed the tariff, voted against the bank 
as unconstitutional, opposed all restrictions 
upon slavery, resisted all projects of inter- 
nal improvements by the General Govern- 
ment, avowed his S3inpathy with Mr. Cal- 
houn's views of nullification, and declared 
that General Jackson, by his opposition to 
the nullifiers, had abandoned the principles 
of the Democratic party. Such was Mr. 
Tyler's record in Congress. 

This hostility to Jackson caused Mr. 
Tyler's retirement froin the Senate, after 
his election to a scccjnd term. He soon 
after removed to Williamsburg for the 
better education of his children, and again 
took Iris seat in the Legislature. 





(ni^rc Mjn/T~^ 



JOHN TYLER. 



63 



In 1839 he was sent to the National Con- 
vention at Harrisburg to nominate a Presi- 
dent. General Harrison received a majority 
of votes, much to the disappointment of the 
South, who had wished for Henry Clay. 
In order to concil'ate the Southern Whigs, 
John Tyler was nominated for Vice-Presi- 
dent. Harrison and Tyler were inaugu- 
rated March 4, 1841. In one short month 
from that time President Harrison died, 
and Mr. Tyler, to his own surprise as well 
as that of the nation, found himself an 
occupant of the Presidential chair. His 
position was an exceedingly difficult one, 
as he was opposed to the main principles of 
the party which had brought him into 
power. General Harrison had selected a 
Whig cabinet Should he retain them, and 
thus surround himself with coimcilors 
whose views were antagonistic to his own? 
or should he turn against the party that 
had elected him, and select a cabinet in 
harmony with himself? This was his fear- 
ful dilemma. 

President Tyler deserves more charity 
than he has received. He issued an address 
to the people, which gave general satisfac- 
tion. He retained the cabinet General 
Harrison had selected. His veto of a bill 
chartering a new national bank led to an 
open quarrel with the party which elected 
him, and to a resignation of the entire 
cabinet, except Daniel Webster, Secretar)- 
of State. 

President Tyler attempted to conciliate. 
He appointed a new cabinet, leaving out all 
strong party men, but the Whig members 
of Congress were not satisfied, and they 
published a manifesto September 13, break- 
ing off all political relations. The Demo- 
crats had a majority in the House ; the 
Whigs in the Senate. Mr. Webster soon 
found it necessary to resign, being forced 
out by the pressure of his Whig friends. 

April 12, 1844, President Tyler concluded, 
ihrough .\Ir. Calhoun, a treaty for the an- 



nexation of Texas, which was rejected by 
the Senate ; but he effected his object in the 
closing days of his administration by the 
passage of the joint resolution of March i 

1845- 

He was nominated for the Presidency by 
an informal Democratic Convention, held 
at Baltimore in May, 1844, but soon with- 
drew from the canvass, perceiving that he 
had not gained the confidence o{ the Demo- 
crats at large. 

Mr. Tyler's administration was particu- 
larly unfortunate. No one was satisfied. 
Whigs and Democrats alike assailed him. 
Situated as he was, it is more than can 
be expected of human nature that he 
should, in all cases, have acted in the wisest 
manner; but it will probably be the verdict 
of all candid men, in a careful review of his 
career, that John Tyler was placed in a 
position of such difficulty that he could not 
pursue an}' course which would not expose 
him to severe censure and denunciation. 

In 1813 Mr. Tyler married Lctitia Chris- 
tian, who bore him three sons and three 
daughters, and died in Washington in 1842. 
June 26, 1844, he contracted a second mar- 
riage with Miss Julia Gardner, of New 
York. He lived in almost complete retire- 
ment from politics until February, 1861, 
when he was a member of the abortive 
" peace convention," held at Washington, 
and was chosen its President. Soon after 
he renounced his allegiance to the United 
States and was elected to the Confederate 
Congress. He died at Richmond, January 
17, 1862, after a short illness. 

Unfortunately for his memory- the name 
of John Tyler must forever be associated 
with all the miser}' of that terrible Re- 
bellion, whose cause he openly espoused. 
It is with sorrow that history records that 
a President of the United States died while 
defending the flag of rebellion, which was 
arrayed against the national banner in 
deadly warfare. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 







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AMES KNOX POLK, 
the eleventh President of 
^t«» the United States, 1845- 
'49, was born in Meck- 
V,. lenburg County, North 
',;■ Carolina, November 2, 
1795. He was the eldest 
son of a family of six sons 
and four daughters, and was 
a grand-nephew of Colonel 
Thomas Polk, celebrated in 
connection with the Meck- 
lenburg Declaration of In- 
dependence. 

In 1806 his father, Samuel 
Polk, emigrated with his fam- 
ily' two or three hundred miles west to the 
valley of the Duck River. He was a sur- 
veyor as well as farmer, and gradually in- 
creased in wealth until he became one of 
the leading men of the region. 

In the common schools James rapidly be- 
came proficient in all the common branches 
of an English education. In 18 13 he was 
sent to Murfreesboro Academy, and in the 
autumn of 181 5 entered the sophomore class 
in the University of North Carolina, at 
Chapel Hill, graduating in 181S. After a 
short season of recreation he went to Nash- 
ville and entered the law office of Felix 
Grundy. As soon as he had his finished 



legal studies and been admitted to the bar, 
he returned to Columbia, the shire town of 
Maury County, and openeu an office. 

James K. Polk ever adhered to the polit- 
ical faith of his father, which was that of 
a Jeffersonian Republican. In 1823 he was 
elected to the Legislature of Tennessee. As 
a " strict constructionist," he did not think 
that the Constitution empowered the Gen- 
eral Government to carry on a system of 
internal improvements in the States, but 
deemed it important that it should have 
that power, and wished the Constitution 
amended that it might be conferred. Sub- 
sequently, however, he became alarmed lest 
the General Government become so strong 
as to undertake to interfere with slavery. 
He therefore gave all his influence to 
strengthen the State governments, and to 
check the growth of the central power. 

In Januar}-, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss 
Mary Childress, of Rutherford County, Ten- 
nessee. Had some one then whispered to 
him that he was destined to become Presi- 
dent of the United States, and that he must 
select for his companion one who would 
adorn that distinguished station, he could 
not have made a more fitting choice. She 
was truly a lady of rare beauty and culture. 

In the fall of 1825 Mr. Polk was chosen 
a member of Congress, and was continu- 



yAiUES A'. POLK. 



67 



ously re-elected until 1839. He then with- 
drew, only that he might accept the 
gubernatorial chair of his native State. 
He was a warm friend of General Jackson, 
who had been defeated in the electoral 
contest by John Quincy Adams. This 
latter gentleman had just taken his seat in 
the Presidential chair when Mr. Polk took 
his seat in the House of Representatives. 
He immediately united himself with the 
opponents of Mr. Adams, and was soon 
regarded as the leader of the Jackson party 
in the House. 

The four years of Mr. Adams' adminis- 
tration passed away, and General Jackson 
took tne Presidential chair. Mr. Polk had 
now become a man of great influence in 
Congress, and was chairman of its most 
important committee— that of Ways and 
Means. Eloquently he sustained General 
Jackson in all his measures— in his hostility 
to internal improvements, to the banks, and 
to the tariff. Eight years of General Jack- 
son's administration passed away, and the 
powers he had wielded passed into the 
hands of Martin Van Buren ; and still Mr. 
Polk remained in the House, the advocate 
of that type of Democracy which those 
distinguished men upheld. 

During five sessions of Congress Mr. 
Polk was speaker of the House. He per- 
formed his arduous duties to general satis- 
faction, and a unanimous vote of thanks to 
him was passed by the House as he with- 
drew, March 4, 1839. He was elected 
Governor by a large majority, and took 
the oath of office at Nashville, October 14, 
1839. He was a candidate for re-election 
in 1 84 1, but was defeated. In the mean- 
time a wonderful revolution had swept 
over the country. W. H. Harrison, the Whig 
candidate, had been called to the Presiden- 
tial chair, and in Tennessee the Whig ticket 
had been carried by over 12,000 majority. 
Under these circumstances Mr. Polk's suc- 
cess was hopeless. Still he canvassed the 



State with his Whig competitor, Mr. Jones, 
traveling in the most friendly manner to- 
gether, often in the same carriage, and at 
one time sleeping in the same bed. Mr. 
Jones was elected by 3,000 majority. 

And now the question of the annexation 
of Texas to our country agitated the whole 
land. When this question became national 
Mr. Polk, as the avowed champion of an- 
nexation, became the Presidential candidate 
of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic 
party, and George M. Dallas their candi- 
date for the Vice-Presidency. They were 
elected by a large majority, and were in- 
augurated March 4, 1845. 

President Polk formed an able cabinet, 
consisting of James Buchanan, Robert J. 
Walker, William L. Marcy, George Ban 
croft, Cave Johnson and John Y. Mason. 
The Oregon boundary question was settled, 
the Department of the Interior was created, 
the low tariff of 1846 was carried, the 
financial system of the Government was 

reoro^anized, the Mexican war was con- 

• • • f 
ducted, which resulted in the acquisition ot 

California and New Mexico, and had far- 
reaching consequences upon the later fort- 
unes of the republic. Peace was made. 
We had wrested from Mexico territory 
equal to four times the empire of France, 
and five times that of Spain. In the prose- 
cution of this war we expended 20,000 
lives and more than $100,000,000. Of this 
money $15,000,000 were paid to Mexico. 

Declining to seek a renomination, Mr. 
Polk retired from the Presidency March 4, 
1849, when he was succeeded by General 
Zachary Taylor. He retired to Nashville, 
and died there June 19. 1849, in the fifty- 
fourth year of his age. His funeral was at- 
tended the following day, in Nashville, with 
every demonstration of respect. He left 
no children. Without being possessed of 
extraordinary talent, Mr. Polk was a capable 
administrator of public affairs, and irre- 
proachable in private life. 



PRBS/DBNTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 




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ACHARY TAY- 
LOR, the twelfth 
President of the 
United States, 
i849-'50, was born 
in Orange County, 
Virginia, Septem- 
ber 24, 1784. His father, 
Richard Taylor, was Colo- 
nel of a Virginia regiment 
in the Revolutionary war, 
and removed to Kentucky 
in 1785 ; purchased a large 
plantation near Louisville 
and became an influential cit- 
izen ; was a member of the convention that 
framed the Constitution of Kentucky; served 
in both branches of the Legislature ; was 
Collector of the port of Louisville under 
President Washington; as a Presidential 
elector, voted for Jefferson, Madison, Mon- 
roe and Clay; died January 19,1829. 

Zachary remained on his father's planta- 
tion until 1808, in which year (May 3) he 
was appointed First Lieutenant in the 
Seventh Infantry, to fill a vacancy oc- 
casioned by the death of his elder brother, 
Hancock. Up to this point he had received 
but a limited education. 

Joining his regiment at New Orleans, he 



was attacked with yellow fever, with nearly 
fatal termination. In November, 1810, he 
was promoted to Captain, and in the sum- 
mer of 1812 he was in command of Fort 
Harrison, on the left bank of the Wabash 
River, near the present site of Terre Haute, 
his successful defense of which with but a 
handful of men against a large force of 
Indians which had attacked him was one of 
the first marked military achievements of 
the war. He was then brevetted Major, 
and in 1814 promoted to the full rank. 

During the remainder of the war Taylor 
was actively employed on the Western 
frontier. In the peace organization of 18 15 
he was retained as Captain, but soon after 
resigned and settled near Louisville. In 
May, 1816, however, he re-entered the army 
as Major of the Third Infantry ; became 
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Eighth Infantry 
in 1819, and in 1832 attained the Colonelcy 
of the First Infantry, of which he had been 
Lieutenant-Colonel since 1821. On different 
occasions he had been called to Washington 
as member of a military board for organiz- 
ing the militia of the Union, and to aid the 
Government with his knowledge in the 
organization of the Indian Bureau, having 
for many years discharged the duties of 
Indian agent over laigc tracts of Western 




yxCi^^c^t-'-^y/y<^Y ^^ 



ZACHART TArLOR. 



country. He served through the Black 
Hawk war in 1832, and in 1837 was ordered 
to take command in Florida, then the scene 
of war with the Indians. 

In 1846 he was transferred to the com- 
mand of the Army of the Southwest, from 
which he was relieved the same year at his 
own request. Subsequently he was sta- 
tioned on the Arkansas frontier at Forts 
Gibbon, Smith and Jesup, which latter work 
nad been built under his direction in 1822. 

May 28, 1845, he received a dispatch from 
the Secretary of War informing him of the 
receipt of information by the President 
" that Texas would shortly accede to the 
terms of annexation," in which event he 
was instructed to defend and protect her 
from " foreign invasion and Indian incur- 
sions." He proceeded, upon the annexation 
of Texas, with about 1,500 men to Corpus 
Chnsti, where his force was increased to 
some 4,000. 

Taylor was brevetted Major-General May 
28, and a month later, June 29, 1S46, his full 
commission to that grade was issued. After 
needed rest and reinforcement, he advanced 
in September on Monterey, which city ca- 
pitulated after three-days stubborn resist- 
ance. Here he took up his winter quarters. 
The plan for the invasion of Mexico, by 
way of Vera Cruz, with General Scott in 
command, was now determined upon by 
the Govenrment, and at the nivMiient Taylor 
was about to resume active operations, he 
received orders to send the larger part of 
his force to reinforce the army of General 
Scott at Vera Cruz. Though subsequently 
reinforced by raw recruits, yet after pro- 
viding a garrison for Monterey and Saltillo 
he had but about 5,300 effective troops, of 
which but 500 or 600 were regulars. In 
this weakened condition, however, he was 
destined to achieve his greatest victory. 
Confidently relying upon his strength at 
Vera Cruz to resist the enemy for a long 
time, Santa Anna directed his entire army 



against Taylor to overwhelm him, and then 
to return to oppose the advance of Scott's 
more formidable invasion. The battle of 
Buena Vista was fought February 22 and 
23, 1847. Taylor received the thanks of 
Congress and a gold medal, and " Old 
Rough and Ready," the sobriquet given 
him in the army, became a household word. 
He remained in quiet possession of the 
Rio Grande Valley until November, when 
he returned to the United States. 

In the Whig convention which met at 
Philadelphia,] une 7, 1848, Taylor was nomi- 
nated on the fourth ballot as candidate :;{ 
the Whig party for Presideni, over Henry 
Clay, General Scott and Daniel Webster. 
In November Taylor received a majority 
of electoral votes, and a popular vote of 
1,360,752, against 1,219,962 for Cass and 
Butler, and 291,342 for Van Buren and 
Adams. General Taylor was inaugurated 
March 4, 1849. 

The free and slave States being then equal 
in number, the struggle for supremacy on 
the part of the leaders in Congress was 
violent and bitter. In the summer of 1849 
California adopted in convention a Consti- 
tution prohibiting slavery within its borders. 
Taylor advocated the immediate admission 
of California with her Constitution, and the 
postponement of the question as to the other 
Territories until they could hold conven- 
tions and decide for themselves whether 
slavery should exist within their borders. 
This policy ultimately prevailed through 
the celebrated " Compromise Measures" of 
Henry Clay ; but not during the life of the 
brave soldier and patriot statesman. July 
5 he was taken suddenly ill with a bilious 
fever, which proved fatal, his death occur- 
ring July 9, 1850. One of his daughters 
married Colonel W. W. S. Bliss, his Adju- 
tant-General and Chief of Staff in Florida 
and Mexico, and Private Secretary during 
his Presidency. Another daughter was 
married to Jefferson Davis. 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 




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LLARD FILL- 
MORE, the thir- 
.sO; teenth President 
(jf the United 
States, i85o-'3, was 
born in Summer 
Hill, Cayuga 
Count}', New York, Janu- 
ary 7, 1800. He was of 
New England ancestry, and 
Ills educational advantages 
were limited. He early 
learned the clothiers' trade, 
but spent all his leisure time 
in study. At nineteen years 
** uf age he was induced by 
Judge Walter Wood to abandon his trade 
and commence the study of law. Upon 
learning that the young man was entirely 
destitute of means, he took him into his 
own office and loaned him such money as 
he needed. That he might not be heavily 
burdened with debt, young Fillmore taught 
school during the winter months, and in 
various other ways helped himself along. 
At the age of twenty-three he was ad- 
mitted to the Court of Common Pleas, and 
commenced the practice of his profession 
in the village <;f Aurora, situated on the 



eastern bank of the Ca^'uga Lake. In 1825 
he married Miss Abigail Powers, daughter 
of Rev. Lemuel Powers, a lady of great 
moral worth. In 1825 he took his seat in 
the House of Assembly of his native State, 
as Representative from Erie County, 
whither he had recently moved. 

Though he had never taken a very 
active part in politics his vote and his sym- 
pathies were with the Whig party. The 
State was then Democratic, but his cour- 
tesy, ability and integrity won the respect 
of his associates. In 1832 he was elected 
to a seat in the United States Congress. 
At the close of his term he returned to his 
law practice, and in two years more he was 
again elected to Congress. 

He now began to have a national reputa- 
tion. His labors were very arduous. To 
draft resolutions in the committee room, 
and then to defend them against the most 
skillful opponents on the floor of the House 
requires readiness of mind, mental resources 
and skill in debate such as few possess. 
Wear}' with these exhausting labors, and 
pressed by the claims of his private affairs, 
Mr. Fillmore wrote a letter to his constitu- 
ents and declined to be a candidate for re- 
election. Notwithstanding this ceramuni- 



-'s^ v jj aw ' *!. 




.^^^y^^CL^O /^^ci^t^<^ru) 



MILLARD FILLMORE. 



cation his friends met in convention and 
renominated him by acclamation. Though 
gratified by this proof of their appreciation 
of his labors he adhered to his resolve and 
returned to his home. 

In 1847 ^Ir. Fillmore was elected to the 
important office of comptroller of the State. 
In entering upon the very responsible duties 
which this situation demanded, it was nec- 
essary for him to abandon his profession, 
and he removed to the city of Albany. In 
this year, also, the Whigs were looking 
around to find suitable candidates for the 
President and Vice-President at the ap- 
proaching election, and the names of Zach- 
ary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became 
the rallying cry of the Whigs. On the 4th 
of March, 1849, General Taylor was inaug- 
urated President and Millard Fillmore 
Vice-President of the United States. 

The great question of slavery had as- 
sumed enormous proportions, and perme- 
ated ever)' subject that was brought before 
Congress. It was evident that the strength 
of our institutions was to be severely tried. 
July 9, 1850, President Taylor died, and, by 
the Constitution, Vice-President Fillmore 
became President of the United States. 
The agitated condition of the country 
brought questions of great delicacy before 
him. He was bound by his oath of office 
to execute the laws of the United States. 
One of these laws was understood to be, 
that if a slave, escaping from bondage, 
should reach a free State, the United States 
was bound to do its utmost to capture him 
and return him to his master. Most Chris- 
tian men loathed this law. President Fill- 
more felt bound by his oath rigidly to see 
it enforced. Slavery was organizing armies 
to invade Cuba as it had invaded Texas, 
and annex it to the United States. Presi- 
dent Fillmore gave all the influence of his 
exalted station against the atrocious enter- 
prise. 

Mr. Fillmore had serious difficulties to 



contend with, since the opposition had a 
majority in both Houses. He did every- 
thing in his power to conciliate the South, 
but the pro-slavery party in that section 
felt the inadequency of all measures of tran- 
sient conciliation. The population of the 
free States was so rapidly increasing over 
that of the slave States, that it was inevita- 
ble that the power of the Government 
should soon pass into the hands of the free 
States. The famous compromise measures 
were adopted under Mr. Fillmore's admin- 
istration, and the Japan expedition was 
sent out. 

March 4, 1853, having served one term, 
President Fillmore retired from office. He 
then took a long tour through the South, 
where he met with quite an enthusiastic 
reception. In a speech at Vicksburg, al- 
luding to the rapid growth of the country, 
he said: 

" Canada is knocking for admission, and 
Mexico would be glad to come in, and 
without saying whether it would be right 
or wrong, we stand with open arms to re- 
ceive them; for it is the manifest destiny of 
this Government to embrace the whole 
North American Continent." 

In 1855 Mr. Fillmore went to Europe 
where he was received with those marked 
attentions which his position and character 
merited. Returning to this country in 
1856 he was nominated for the Presidency 
by the "Know-Nothing" party. Mr. Bu- 
chanan, the Democratic candidate was 
the successful competitor. Mr. Fillmore 
ever afterward lived in retirement. Dur- 
ing the conflict of civil war he was mostly 
silent. It was generally supposed, how- 
ever, that hissj'mpathy was with the South- 
ern Confederacy. He kept aloof from the 
conflict without any words of cheer to the 
one party or the other. For this reason 
he was forgotten by both. He died of 
paralysis, in Buffalo, New York, March 8, 
1874. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



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FPI]I^LI1] PIERCE. 



tS^HHHHHiJHV^^H.VHHr^^^c'Hr^H^r': 




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fr RAN KLIN PIERCE, 
the fourteenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, was born in 
Hillsborough, New 
Hampshire, Novem- 
ber 23, 1804. His 
father, Governor 
Benjamin Pierce, was a Rev- 
olutionary soldier, a man of 
rigid integrity ; was for sev- 
eral years in the State Legis- 
lature, a member of the Gov- 
ernor's council and a General 
of the militia. 
Franklin was the sixth of eight children. 
As a boy he listened eagerly to the argu- 
ments of his father, enforced by strong and 
ready utterance and earnest gesture. It 
was in the days of intense political excite- 
ment, when, all over the New England 
States, Federalists and Democrats were ar- 
rayed so fiercely against each other. 

In 1820 he entered Bowdoin College, at 
Brunswick, Maine, and graduated in 1824, 
and commenced the study of law in the 
office of Judge Woodbury, a very distin- 
guished lawyer, and in 1827 was admitted 
to the bar. He practiced with great success 
in Hillsborough and Concord. He served 



in the State Legislature four 3-ears, the last 
two of which he was chosen Speaker of the 
House by a very large vote. 

In 1833 he was elected a member of Con- 
gress. In 1837 he was elected to the United 
States Senate, just as Mr. Van Buren com- 
menced his administration. 

In 1834 he married Miss Jane Means 
Appleton, a lady admirably fitted to adorn 
every station with which her husband was 
honored. Three sons born to them all 
found an early grave. 

Upon his accession to office, President 
Polk appointed Mr. Pierce Attorney-Gen- 
eral of the United States, but the offer was 
declined in consequence of numerous pro- 
fessional engagements at home and the 
precarious state of Mrs. Pierce's health. 
About the same time he also declined the 
nomination for Governor b}' the Demo- 
cratic party. 

The war with Mexico called Mr. Pierce 
into the army. Receiving the appointment 
of Brigadier-General, he embarked with a 
portion of his troops at Newport, Rhode 
Island, May 27, 1847. He served during 
this war, and distinguished himself by his 
bravery, skill and excellent judgment. 
When he reached his home in his native 
State he was enthusiastically received by 




^^/^ulA 




^^*%::^-' 



FRANKLIN PIERCE. 



the advocates of the war, and coldly by its 
opponents. He resumed the practice of his 
profession, frequently taking an active part 
in political questions, and giving his sup- 
port to the pro-slavery wing of the Demo- 
cratic party. 

June 12, 1852, the Democratic convention 
met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate 
for the Presidency. For four days they 
continued in session, and in thirty-five bal- 
lotmgs no one had received the requisite 
two-thirds vote. Not a vote had been 
thrown thus far for General Pierce. Then 
the Virginia delegation brought forward 
his name. There were fourteen mpre bal- 
lotings, during which General Pierce 
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth 
ballot, he received 282 votes, and all other 
candidates eleven. General Winfield Scott 
was the Whig candidate. General Pierce 
was elected with great unanimit}'. Only 
four States — Vermont, Massachusetts, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee — cast their electoral 
votes against him. March 4, 1853, he was 
inaugurated President of the United States, 
and William R. King, Vice-President. 

President Pierce's cabinet consisted of 
William S. Marcy, James Guthrie, Jefferson 
Davis, James C. Dobbin, Robert McClel- 
land, James Campbell and Caleb Cushing. 

At the demand of slavery the Missouri 
Compromise was repealed, and all the Ter- 
ritories of the Union were thrown open to 
slavery. The Territory of Kansas, west of 
Missouri, was settled by emigrants mainly 
from the North. According to law, they 
were about to meet and decide whether 
slavery or freedom should be the law of 
that realm. Slavery in Missouri and 
other Southern States rallied her armed 
legions, marched them into Kansas, took 
possession of the polls, drove away the 
citizens, deposited their own votes by 
handiuls, went through the farce of count- 
ing them, and then declared that, by an 
overwhelming majority, slavery was estab- 



lished in Kansas. These facts nobody 
denied, and yet President Pierce's adminis- 
tration felt bound to respect the decision 
obtained by such votes. The citizens oi 
Kansas, the majority of whom were free- 
State men, met in convention and adopted 
the following resolve : 

"Resolved, That the body of men who, 
for the past two months, have been passing 
laws for the people of our Territory, 
moved, counseled and dictated to by the 
demagogues of other States, are to us a 
foreign body, representing only the lawless 
invaders who elected them, and not the 
people of this Territory ; that we repudiate 
their action as the monstrous consummation 
of an act of violence, usurpation and fraud 
unparalleled in the history of the Union." 

The free-State people of Kansas also sent 
a petition to the General Government, im- 
ploring its protection. In reply the Presi- 
dent issued a proclamation, declaring that 
Legislature thus created must be recog- 
nized as the legitimate Legislature of Kan- 
sas, and that its laws were binding upon 
the people, and that, if necessary, the whole 
force of the Governmental arm would be 
put forth to inforce those laws. 

James Buchanan succeeded him in the 
Presidency, and, March 4, 1857, President 
Pierce retired to his home in Concord, 
New Hampshire. When the Rebellion 
burst forth Mr. Pierce remained steadfast 
to the principles he had always cherished, 
and gave his sympathies to the pro-slavery 
party, with which he had ever been allied. 
He declined to do anything, either by 
voice or pen, to strengthen the hands ol 
the National Government. He resided in 
Concord until his death, which occurred in 
October, 1869. He was one of the most 
genial and social of men, generous to 
a fault, and contributed liberally of his 
moderate means for the alleviation of suf- 
fering and want. He was an honored 
communicant of the Episcopal church. 



PRZ-S/DEXTS OF THK UXITED STATES. 




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'AMES BUCHANAN, the 
tifteentli President of the 
United States, i857-'6i, 
was born in Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, 
April 23, 1791. The 
place where his father's 
cabin stood was called 
Stony Batter, and it was 
- situated in a wild, romantic 
spot, in a gorge of mount- 
ains, with towering sum- 
mits rising all around. He 
was of Irish ancestry, his 
father having emigrated in- 
1783, with very little prop- 
erty, save his own strong arms. 

James remained in his secluded home for 
eight years enjoying very few social or 
intellectual advantages. His parents were 
industrious, frugal, prosperous and intelli- 
gent. In 1799 his father removed to Mer- 
cersburg, where James was placed in 
school and commenced a course in English, 
Greek and Latin. His progress was rapid 
and in 1801 he entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle. Here he took his stand among 
the first scholars in the institution, and was 
able to master the most abstruse subjects 
with facility. In 1809 he graduated with 
the highest honors in his class. 

He was then eighteen years ot age, tall. 



graceful and in vigorous health, fond of 
athletic sports, an unerring shot and en- 
livened with an exuberant flow of animal 
spirits. He immediately commenced the 
study of law in the city of Lancaster, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1812. He rose 
very rapidly in his profession and at once 
took undisputed stand with the ablest law- 
yers of the State. When but twent)'-six 
years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc- 
cessfully defended before the State Senate 
one of the Judges of the State, who was 
tried upon articles of impeachment. At 
the age of thirty it was generally admitted 
that he stood at the head of the bar, and 
there was no lawyer in the State who had 
a more extensive or lucrative practice. 

In 1812, just after Mr. Buchanan had 
entered upon the practice of the law, our 
second war with England occurred. With 
all his powers he sustained the Govern- 
ment, eloquently urging the rigorous pros- 
ecution of the war; and even enlisHng as a 
private soldier to assist in repelling the 
British, who had sacked Washington and 
were threatening Baltimore. He was at 
that time a Federalist, but when the Con- 
stitution was adopted by both parties, 
Jefferson truly said, " We are all Federal- 
ists; we are all Republicans." 

The opposition of the Federalists to the 
war with England, and the alien and sedi- 




'zZ^y^^^^ (2y^/'C .^€^ 



^^^ /2^<&' 



^^ 



yAMES BUCHANAN. 



tion laws of John Adams, brought the party 
into dispute, and the name of Federalist 
became a reproach. Mr. Buchanan almost 
immediately upon entering Congress began 
to incline more and more to the Repub- 
licans. In the stormy Presidential election 
of 1824, in which Jackson, Clay, Crawford 
and John Quincy Adams were candidates, 
Mr. Buchanan espoused the cause of Gen- 
eral Jackson and unrelentingly opposed the 
administration of Mr. Adams. 

Upon his elevation to the Presidency, 
General Jackson appointed Mr. Buchanan, 
minister to Russia. Upon his return in 1833 
he was elected to a seat in the United States 
Senate. He there met as his associates, 
Webster, Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He 
advocated the measures proposed by Presi- 
dent Jackson of making reprisals against 
France, and defended the course of the Pres- 
ident in his unprecedented and wholesale 
removals from office of those who were not 
the supporters of his administration. Upon 
this question he was brought into direct col- 
lision with Henry Clay. In the discussion 
of the question respecting the admission of 
Michigan and Arkansas into the Union, Mr. 
Buchanan defined his position by saying: 

" The older I grow, the more I am in- 
clined to be what is called a State-rights 
man." 

M. de Tocqueville, in his renowned work 
upon " Deniocrac}' in America," foresaw 
the trouble which was inevitable from the 
doctrine of State sovereignty as held by 
Calhoun and Buchanan. He was con- 
vinced that the National Government was 
losing that strength which was essential 
to its own existence, and that the States 
were assuming powers which threatened 
the perpetuity of the Union. Mr. Buchanan 
received the book in the Senate and de- 
clared the fears of De Tocqueville to be 
groundless, and yet he lived to sit in the 
Presidential chair and see State after State, 
in accordance with his own views of State 



rights, breaking from the Union, thus 
crumbling our Republic into ruins; while 
the unhappy old man folded his arms in 
despair, declaring that the National Consti - 
tution invested him with no power to arrest 
the destruction. 

Upon Mr. Polk's accession to the Presi- 
dency, Mr. Buchanan became Secretary of 
State, and as such took his share of the 
responsibility in the conduct of the Mexi- 
can war. At the close of Mr. Polk's ad- 
ministration, Mr. Buchanan retired to pri- 
vate life; but his inteUigence, and his great 
ability as a statesman, enabled him to exert 
a powerful influence in National affairs. 

Mr. Pierce, upon his election to the 
Presidency, honored Mr. Buchanan with 
the mission to England. In the year 1856 
the National Democratic convention nomi- 
nated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. 
The political conflict was one of the most 
severe in which our country has ever en- 
gaged. On the 4th of March, 1857, Mr. 
Buchanan was inaugurated President. His 
cabinet were Lewis Cass, Howell Cobb, 
J. B. Floyd, Isaac Toucey, Jacob Thomp- 
son, A. V. Brown and J. S. Black. 

The disruption of the Democratic party, 
in consequence of the manner in which the 
issue of the nationality of slavery was 
pressed by the Southern wing, occurred at 
the National convention, held at Charleston 
in April, i860, for the nomination of Mr. 
Buchanan's successor, when the majority 
of Southern delegates withdrew upon the 
passage of a resolution declaring that the 
constitutional status of slavery should be 
determined by the Supreme Court. 

In the next Presidential canvass Abra- 
ham Lincoln was nominated by the opi)o- 
nents of Mr. Buchanan's administration. 
Mr. Buchanan remained in Washington 
long enough to see his successor installed 
and then retired to his home in Wheatland. 
He died June i, 1868, aged seventy-seven 
years. 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 








B R A H A i\r LIN- 
COLN, the sixteenth 
President of the 
United States, i86i-'5, 
was born February 
^^ ; :-,L 12, 1809, '11 Larue 
'^i' (then Hardin) County, 
Kentucky, in a cabin on Nolan 
Creek, three miles west of 
Hudgensville. II i s parents 
were Thomas and Nancy 
(Hanks) Lincoln. Of his an- 
cestry and early years the little 
that is known may best be 
given in his own language: " My 
parents were both born in Virginia, of un- 
distinguished families— second families, per- 
haps I should say. My mother, who died 
in my tenth year, was of a family of the 
name of Hanks, some of whom now remain 
in Adams, and others in Macon County, 
Illinois. My paternal grandfather, Abra- 
ham Lincoln, emigrated from Rockbridge 
County, Virginia, to Kentucky in 178 1 or 
1782, where, a year or two later, he was 
killed by Indians— not in battle, but by 
stealth, when he was laboring to open a 
iarm in the forest. His ancestors, who were 
Quakers, went to Virginia from Berks 
County, Pennsylvania. An effort to iden- 



tify them with the New England family of 
the same name ended in nothing more defi- 
nite than a similarity of Christian names in 
both families, such as Enoch, Levi, Mor- 
decai, Solomon, Abraham and the like. 
My father, at the death of his father, was 
but six years of age, and he grew up, liter- 
ally, without education. He removed from 
Kentucky to what is now Spencer County, 
Indiana, in my eighth year. We reached 
our new home about the time the State came 
into the Union. It was a wild region, with 
bears and other wild animals stilt in the 
woods. There I grew to manhood. 

" There were some schools, so called, but 
no qualification was ever required of a 
teacher beyond ' readin', writin', and cipher- 
in' to the rule of three.' If a straggler, sup- 
posed to understand Latin, happened to 
sojourn in the neighborhood, he was looked 
upon as a wizard. There was absolutely 
nothing to excite ambition for education. 
Of course, when I came of age I did not 
know much. Still, somehow, I could read, 
write and cipher to the rule of three, and 
that was all. I have not been to school 
since. The little advance 1 now have upon 
this store of education I have picked up 
from time to time under the pressure of 
necessity. I was .'"aised to farm-work, which 




(y*-^ Qy\^\r^ 



co^./vraZ-^<^-v,-<:<:--^C^ 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



87 



I continued till I was twenty-two. At 
twenty-one I came to Illinois and passed 
the first year in Macon County. Then I got 
to New Salem, at that time in Sangamon, 
now in Menard County, where I remained 
a year as a sort of clerk in a store. 

"Then came the Black Hawk war, and I 
was elected a Captain of volunteers — a suc- 
cess which gave me more pleasure than any 
I have had since. I went the campaign, 
was elated ; ran for the Legislature the 
same 3'ear (1832) and was beaten, the only 
time I have ever been beaten by the people. 
The next and three succeeding biennial 
elections I was elected to the Legislature, 
and was never a candidate afterward. 

" During this legislative period I had 
studied law, and removed to Springfield to 
practice it. In 1846 I was elected to the 
Lower House of Congress; was not a can- 
didate for re-election. From 1849 to 1854, 
inclusive, I practiced the law more assid- 
uously than ever before. Always a Whig 
in politics, and generally on the Whig elec- 
toral tickets, making active canvasses, I was 
losing interest in politics, when the repeal 
of the Missouri Compromise roused me 
again. What I have done since is pretty 
well known." 

The early residence of Lincoln in Indi- 
ana was sixteen miles north of the Ohio 
River, on Little Pigeon Creek, one and a 
half miles east of Gentryville, within the 
present township of Carter. Here his 
mother died October 5, 1818, and the next 
year his father married Mrs. Sally (Bush) 
Johnston, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. She 
was an affectionate foster-parent, to whom 
Abraham was indebted for his first encour- 
agement to study. He became an eager 
reader, and the few books owned in the 
vicinity were many times perused. He 
worked frequently for the neighbors as a 
farm laborer ; was for some time clerk in a 
store at Gentryville; and became famous 
throughout that region for his athletic 



powers, his fondness for argument, his in- 
exhaustible fund of humerous anecdote, as 
well as for mock oratory and the composi 
tion of rude satirical verses. In 1828 he 
made a trading voyage to New Orleans as 
" bow-hand " on a flatboat ; removed to 
Illinois in 1830; helped his father build a 
log house and clear a farm on the north 
fork of Sangamon River, ten miles west of 
Decatur, and was for some time employed 
in splitting rails for the fences — a fact which 
was prominently brought forward for a 
political purpose thirty years later. 

In the spring of 185 1 he, with two of his 
relatives, was hired to build a flatboat on 
the Sangamon River and navigate it to 
New Orleans. The boat "stuck" on a 
mill-dam, and was got off with great labor 
through an ingenious mechanical device 
which some years later led to Lincoln's 
taking out a patent for "an improved 
method for lifting vessels over shoals." 
This voyage was memorable for another 
reason — the sight of slaves chained, mal- 
treated and flogged at New Orleans was 
the origin of his deep convictions upon the 
slavery question. 

Returning from this voyage he became a 
resident for several years at New Salem, a 
recently settled village on the Sangamon, 
where he was successively a clerk, grocer, 
surveyor and postmaster, and acted as pilot 
to the first siteamboat that ascended the 
Sangamon. Here he studied law, inter- 
ested himself in local politics after his 
return from the Black Hawk war, and 
became known as an effective "stump 
speaker." The subject of his first political 
speech was the improvement of the channel 
of the Sangamon, and the chief ground on 
which he announced himself (1832) a candi- 
date for the Legislature was his advocacy 
of this popular measure, on which subject 
his practical experience made him the high- 
est authority. 

Elected to the Legislature in 1834 as a 



88 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



" Henry Clay Whig," he rapidly acquired 
that command of language and that homely 
but forcible rhetoric which, added to his 
intimate knowledge of the people from 
which he sprang, made him more than a 
match in debate for his few well-educated 
opponents. 

Admitted to the bar in 1837 he soon 
established himself at Springfield, where 
the State capital was located in 1839, 
largely through his influence ; became a 
successful pleader in the State, Circuit and 
District Courts ; married in 1842 a lady be- 
longing to a prominent family in Lexington, 
Kentucky; took an active part in the Pres- 
idential campaigns of 1840 and 1844 as 
candidate for elector on the Harrison and 
Clav tickets, and in 1846 was elected to the 
United States House of Representatives 
over the celebrated Peter Cartwright. 
During his single term in Congress he did 
not attain any prominence. 

He voted for the reception of anti-slavery 
petitions for the abolition of the slave trade 
in the District of Columbia and for the 
Wilmot proviso; but was chiefly remem- 
bered for the stand he took against the 
Mexican war. For several )'ears there- 
after he took comparatively little interest 
in politics, but gained a leading position at 
the Springfield bar. Two or three non- 
political lectures and an eulogy on Henry 
Clay (1852) added nothing to his reputation. 

In 1854 the repeal of the Missouri 
Compromise by the Kansas-Nebraska act 
aroused Lincoln from his indifference, and 
in attacking that measure he had the im- 
mense advantage of knowing perfectly well 
the motives and the record of its author, 
Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, then popu- 
larly designated as the " Little Giant." The 
latter came to Springfield in October, 1854, 
on the occasion of the State Fair, to vindi- 
cate his policy in the Senate, and the " Anti- 
Nebraska" Whigs, remembering that Lin- 
coln had often measured his strength with 



Douglas in the Illinois Legislature and be- 
fore the Springfield Courts, engaged him 
to improvise a reply. This speech, in the 
opinion of those who heard it, was one of 
the greatest efforts of Lincoln's life ; cer- 
tainly the most effective in his whole career. 
It took the audience b)' storm, and from 
that moment it was felt that Douglas had 
met his match. Lincoln was accordingly 
selected as the Anti-Nebraska candidate for 
the United States Senate in place of General 
Shields, whose term expired March 4, 1855, 
and led to several ballots; but Trumbull 
• was ultimately chosen. 

The second conflict on the soil of Kan- 
sas, which Lincoln had predicted, soon be- 
gan. The result was the disruption of the 
Whig and the formation of the Republican 
party. At the Bloomington State Conven- 
tion in 1856, where the new party first 
assumed form in Illinois, Lincoln made an 
impressive address, in which for the first 
time he took distinctive ground against 
slavery in itself. 

At the National Republican Convention 
at Philadelphia, June 17, after the nomi- 
nation of Fremont, Lincoln was put for- 
ward by the Illinois delegation for the 
Vice-Presidency, and received on the first 
ballot no votes against 259 for William L 
Dayton. He took a prominent part in the 
canvass, being on the electoral ticket. 

In 1858 Lincoln was unanimously nomi- 
nated by the Republican State Convention 
as its candidate for the United States Senate 
in place of Douglas, and in his speech of 
acceptance used the celebrated illustration 
of a "house divided against itself" on the 
slavery question, which was, perhaps, the 
cause of his defeat. The great debate car- 
ried on at all the principal towns of Illinois 
between Lincoln and Douglas as rival Sena- 
torial candidates resulted at the time in the 
election of the latter ; but being widely cir- 
culated as a campaign document, it fixed 
the attention of the country upon the 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 



former, as the clearest and most convinc- 
ing exponent df Republican doctrine. 

Early in 1859 he began to be named in 
Illinois as a suitable Republican candidate 
for the Presidential campaign of the ensu- 
ing year, and a political address delivered 
at the Cooper Institute, New York, Febru- 
ary 27, i860, followed b}' similar speeches 
at New Haven, Hartford and elsewhere in 
New England, first made him known to the 
Eastern States in the light by which he had 
long been regarded at home. By the Re- 
publican State Convention, which met at 
Decatur, Illinois, May 9 and 10, Lincoln 
was unanimously endorsed for the Presi- 
dency. It was on this occasion that two 
rails, said to have been split by his hands 
thirty years before, were brought into the 
convention, and the incident contributed 
much to his popularity. The National 
Republican Convention at Chicago, after 
spirited efforts made in favor of Seward, 
Chase and Bates, nominated Lincoln for 
the Presidency, with Hannibal Hamlin 
for Vice-President, at the same time adopt- 
ing a vigorous anti-slavery platform. 

The Democratic party having been dis- 
organized and presenting two candidates, 
Douglas and Breckenridge, and the rem- 
nant of the " American" party having put 
forward John Bell, of Tennessee, the Re- 
publican victory was an easy one, Lincoln 
being elected November 6 by a large plu- 
rality, comprehending nearly all the North- 
ern States, but none of the Southern. The 
secession of South Carolina and the Gulf 
States was the immediate result, followed 
a few months later by that of the border 
slave States and the outbreak of the great 
civil war. 

The life of Abraham Lincoln became 
thenceforth merged in the history of his 
country. None of the details of the vast 
conflict which filled the remainder of Lin- 
coln's life can here be given. Narrowly 
escaping assassination by avoiding Balti- 



more on his way to the capital, he reached 
Washington February 23, and was inaugu- 
rated President of the United States March 
4, 1861. 

In his inaugural address he said: " I hold, 
that in contemplation of universal law and 
the Constitution the Union of these States is 
perpetual. Perpetuity is implied if not ex- 
pressed in the fundamental laws of all na- 
tional governments. It is safe to assert 
that no government proper ever had a pro- 
vision in its organic law for its own termi- 
nation. I therefore consider that in view 
of the Constitution and the laws, the Union 
is unbroken, and to the extent of my ability 
I shall take care, as the Constitution en- 
joins upon me, that the laws of the United 
States be extended in all the States. In 
doing this there need be no bloodshed or vio- 
lence, and there shall be none unless it be 
forced upon the national authority. The 
power conferred to me will be used to hold, 
occupy and possess the property and places 
belonging to the Government, and to col- 
lect the duties and imports, but beyond 
what may be necessary for these objects 
there will be no invasion, no using of force 
against or among the people anywhere. In 
your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-country- 
men, is the momentous issue of civil war. 
The Government will not assail you. You 
can have no conflict without being your- 
selves the aggressors. You have no oath 
registered in heaven to destroy the Gov- 
ernment, while I shall have the most sol- 
emn one to preserve, protect and defend 
it." 

He called to his cabinet his principal 
rivals for the Presidential nomination — 
Seward, Chase, Cameron and Bates; se- 
cured the co-operation of the Union Demo- 
crats, headed by Douglas; called out 75,000 
militia from the several States upon the first 
tidings of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, 
April 15; proclaimed a blockade of the 
Southern posts April 19; called an extra 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UN/TED STATES. 



session of Congress for July 4, from which 
he asked and obtained 400,000 men and 
$400,000,000 for the war; placed McClellan 
at the head of the Federal army on General 
Scott's resignation, October 31; appointed 
Edwin M. Stanton Secretary of War, Jan- 
uary 14, 1862, and September 22, 1862, 
issued a proclamation declaring the free- 
dom of all slaves in the States and parts of 
States then in rebellion from and after 
January i. 1863. This was the crowning 
act of Lincoln's career — the act b)' which 
he will be chief!)' known through all future 
time^and it decided the war. 

October 16, 1863, President Lincoln called 
for 300,000 volunteers to replace those 
whose term of enlistment had expired ; 
made a celebrated and touching, though 
brief, address at the dedication of the 
Gettysburg military cemetery, November 
19, 1863; commissioned Ulysses S. Grant 
Lieutenant-General and Commander-in- 
Chief of the armies of the United States, 
March 9, 1864; was re-elected President in 
November oi the same year, by a large 
majority over General McClellan, with 
Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, as Vice- 
President; delivered a very remarkable ad- 
dress at his second inauguration, March 4, 
1865; visited the army before Richmond the 
same month; entered the capital of the Con- 
federacy the day after its fall, and upon the 
surrender of General Robert E. Lee'o army- 
April 9, was actively engaged in devising 
generous plans for the reconstruction of the 
Union, when, on the evening ol Good Fri- 
day, April 14, he was shot in his box at 
Ford's Theatre, Washington, byJohnWilkes 
Booth, a fanatical actor, and expired early 
on the following morning, April 15. Al- 
most simultaneously a murderous attack 
was made upon William H. Seward, Secre- 
tary of State. 

At noon on the 15th of April Andrew 



Johnson assumed the Presidency, and active 
measures were taken which resulted in the 
death of Booth and the execution of his 
principal accomplices. 

The funeral of President Lincoln was 
conducted with unexampled solemnity and 
magnificence. Impressive services were 
held in Washington, after which the sad 
procession proceeded over the same route 
he had traveled four years before, from 
Springfield to Washington. In Philadel- 
phia his body lay in state in Independence 
Hall, in which he had declared before his 
first inauguration "that I would sooner be 
assassinated than to give up the principles 
of the Declaration of Independence." He 
was buried at Oak Ridge Cemetery, near 
Springfield, Illinois, on May 4, where a 
monument emblematic of the emancipation 
of the slaves and the restoration of the 
Union mark his resting place. 

The leaders and citizens of the expiring 
Confederacy expressed genuine indignation 
at the murder of a generous political adver- 
sary. Foreign nations took part in mourn- 
ing the death of a statesman who had proved 
himself a true representative of American 
nationality. The freedmen of the South 
almost worshiped the memor)- of their de- 
liverer; and the general sentiment of the 
great Nation he had saved awarded him a 
place in its affections, second only to that 
held by Washington. 

The characteristics of Abraham Lincoln 
have been familiarly known throughout the 
civilized world. His tall, gaunt, ungainly 
figure, homely countenance, and his shrewd 
mother-wit, shown in his celebrated con- 
versations overflowing in humorous and 
pointed anecdote, combined with an accu- 
rate, intuitive appreciation of the questions 
of the time, are recognized as forming the 
best type of a period of American history 
now rapidly passing away. 




c 




y\£..C^y 




Vt 



ANDREW JOHNSON. 



9? 















" ""nDREW JOHNSON. 
the seventeenth Presi- 
dent of the United 
States, 1865-9, was 
born at Raleigh, 
North Carolina, De- 
c e m b e r 29, 1808. 
His father died when 1 
he was four years old, and in 
his eleventh year he was ap- 
prenticed to a tailor. He nev- 
er attended school, and did 
not learn to read until late in 
his apprenticeship, when he 
suddenly acquired a passion for 
obtaining knowledge, and devoted 
all his spare time to reading. 

After working two years as a journey- 
man tailor at Lauren's Court-House, South 
Carolina, he removed, in 1826, to Green- 
ville, Tennessee, where he worked at his 
trade and married. Under his wife's in- 
structions he made rapid progress in his 
education, and manifested such an intelli- 
gent interest in local politics as to be 
elected as " workingmen's candidate " al- 
derman, in 1828, and mayor in 1830, being 
twice re-elected to each office. 

During this period he cultivated his tal- 
ents as a public speaker by taking part in a 



debating society, consisting largely of stu- 
dents of Greenville College. In 1835, and 
again in 1839, ^^ ^^'^^ chosen to the lower 
house of the Legislature, as a Democrat. 
In 1 841 he was elected State Senator, and 
in 1843, Representative in Congress, being 
re-elected four successive periods, until 
1853, when he was chosen Governor of 
Tennessee. In Congress he supported the 
administrations of Tyler and Polk in their 
chief measures, especially the annexation 
of Texas, the adjustment of the Oregon 
boundary, the Mexican war, and the tariff 
of 1846. 

In 1855 Mr. Johnson was reelected Gov- 
ernor, and in 1857 entered the United 
States Senate, where he was conspicuous 
as an advocate of retrenchment and of the 
Homestead bill, and as an opponent of the 
Pacific Railroad. He was supported by the 
Tennessee delegation to the Democratic 
convention in i860 for the Presidential 
nomination, and lent his influence to the 
Breckenridge wing of that party. 

When the election of Lincoln had 
brought about the first atteinpt at secession 
in December, i860, Johnson took in the 
Senate a firm attitude for the Union, and 
in May, 1861, on returning to Tennessee, 
he was in imminent peril of suffering from 



PRES/DB.VTS OF THE UN/TEO STATES. 



popular violence for his loyalty to the " old 
flag." He was the leader of the Loyalists' 
convention of East Tennessee, and during 
the following winter was very active in or- 
ganizing relief for the destitute loyal refu- 
gees from that region, hisown family being 
among those compelled to leave. 

By his course in this crisis Johnson came 
prominently before the Northern public, 
and when in March, 1862, he was appointed 
by President Lincoln military Governor of 
Tennessee, with the rank of Brigadier-Gen- 
eral, he increased in popularity by the vig. 
orous and successful manner in which he 
labored to restore order, protect Union 
men and punish marauders. On the ap- 
proach of the Presidential campaign of 1864, 
the termination of the war being plainly 
foreseen, and several Southern States being 
partially reconstructed, it was felt that the 
Vice-Presidency should be given to a South- 
ern man of conspicuous loyalty, and Gov- 
ernor Johnson was elected on the same 
platform and ticket as President Lincoln; 
and on the assassination of the latter suc- 
ceeded to the Presidency, April 15, 1865. 
In a public speech two days later he said: 
"The American people must be taught, if 
they do not already feel, that treason is a 
crime and must be punished; that the Gov- 
ernment will not always bear with its ene- 
mies; that it is strong, not only to protect, 
but to punish. In our peaceful history 
treason has been almost unknown. The 
people must understand that it is the black- 
est of crimes, and will be punished." He 
then added the ominous sentence: " In re- 
gard to my future course, I make no prom- 
ises, no pledges." President Johnson re- 
tained the cabinet of Lincoln, and exhibited 
considerable severity toward traitors in his 
earlier acts and speeches, but he soon inaug. 
urated a policy of reconstruction, proclaim- 
ing a general amnesty to the late Confeder 
ates, and successively establishing provis- 
jonal Governments in the Southern States. 



These States accordingly claimed represen- 
tation in Congress in the following Decem- 
ber, and the momentous question of what 
should bethepolicyofthe victorious Union 
toward its late armed opponents was forced 
upon that body. 

Two considerations impelled the Repub- 
lican majority to reject the policy of Presi. 
dent Johnson : First, an apprehension that 
the chief magistrate intended to undo the re- 
sults of the war in regard to slavery; and.sec- 
ond, the sullen attitude of the South, which 
seemed to be plotting to regain the policy 
which arms had lost. The credentials of the 
Southern members elect were laid on the 
table, a civil rights bill and a bill extending 
the sphere of the Freedmen's Bureau were 
passed over the executive veto, and the two 
highest branches of the Government were 
soon in open antagonism. The action of 
Congress was characterized by the Presi- 
dent as a "new rebellion." In July the 
cabinet was reconstructed, Messrs. Randall, 
Stanbury and Browning taking the places 
of Messrs. Denison, Speed and Harlan, and 
an unsuccessful attempt was made by 
means of a general convention in Philadel- 
phia to form a new party on the basis of the 
administration policy. 

In an excursion to Chicago for t lie pur- 
pose of laying a corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Stephen A. Douglas, President 
Johnson, accompanied by several members 
of the cabinet, passed through Philadelphia, 
New York and Albany, in each of which 
cities, and in other places along the route, 
he made speeches justifying and explaining 
his own policy, and violently denouncing 
the action of Congress. 

August 12, 1867, President Johnson re- 
moved the Secretary of War, replacing 
him by General Grant. Secretary Stanton 
retired under protest, based upon the ten- 
ure-of-office act whicii had been passed the 
preceding March. The President then is- 
sued a proclamation declaring the insurrcc- 



ANDREW JOIINSnX. 



tion at an end, and that " peace, order, tran- 
quility and civil authority existed in and 
throughout the United States." Another 
proclamation enjoined obedience to the 
Constitution and the laws, and an amnesty 
was published September 7, relieving nearly 
all the participants in the late Rebellion 
from the disabilities thereby incurred, on 
condition of taking the oath to support the 
Constitution and the laws. 

In December Congress refused to confirm 
the removal of Secretary Stanton, who 
thereupon resumed the exercise of his of- 
fice; but February 21, 1868, President 
Johnson again attempted to remove him, 
appointing General Lorenzo Thomas in his 
place. Stanton refused to vacate his post, 
and was sustained by the Senate. 

February 24 the House of Representa- 
tives voted to impeach the President for 
" high crime and misdemeanors," and March 
5 presented eleven articles of impeachment 
on the ground of his resistance to the exe- 
cution of the acts of Congress, alleging, in 
addition to the offense lately committed, 
his public expressions of contempt for Con- 
gress, in " certain intemperate, inffamma- 
tory and scandalous harangues" pronounced 
in August and September, 1866, and there- 
after declaring that the Thirty-ninth Con- 
gress of the United States was not a 
competent legislative body, and denying 
its power to propose Constitutional amend- 
ments. March 23 the impeachment trial 
began, the President appearing by counsel, 
and resulted in acquittal, the vote lacking 



one of the two-thirds vote required for 
conviction. 

The remainder of President Joiinsons 
term of office was passed without any such 
conflicts as might have been anticipated. 
He failed to obtain a nomination for re- 
election by the Democratic party, though 
receiving sixty-five votes on the first ballot. 
July 4 and December 25 new proclamations 
of pardon to the participants in the late 
Rebellion were issuec<, but were of little 
effect. On the accession of General Grant 
to the Presidency, March 4, 1869, Johnson 
returned to Greenville, Tennessee. Unsuc- 
cessful in 1870 and 1872 as a candidate re- 
spectively for United States Senator and 
Representative, he was finally elected to the 
Senate in 1875, and took his seat in the extra 
session of March, in which his speeches 
were comparatively temperate. He died 
July 31, 1875, 'ind was buried at Green- 
ville. 

President Johnson's administration was a 
peculiarly unfortunate one. That he should 
so soon become involved in bitter feud with 
the Republican mpjoritv in Congress was 
certainly a surprising and deplorable inci- 
dent; yet, in reviewing the circumstances 
after a lapse of so many years, it is easy to 
find ample room for a charitable judgment 
of both the parties in the heated contro- 
versy, since it cannot be doubted that any 
President, even Lincoln himself, had he 
lived, must have sacrificed a large portion 
of his popularity in carrying out any pos- 
sible scheme of reconstruction. 



PJiES/DEXTS OF THE UN II ED STATES. 







lllil2«^^^gB. GRnNT. 








i^'LYSSES SIMPSON 
GRANT, the eight- 
eenth President of the 
United States, i869-'77, 
wasborn April 2", 1822, 
ii^ at Point Pleasant, 
-■f.^ Clermont County, 
Ohio. His father was of Scotch 
descent, and a dealer in leather. 
At the age of seventeen he en- 
tered the Military Academy at 
West Point, and four years later 
graduated twenty-first in a class 
of thirty-nine, receiving the 
commission of Brevet Second 
Lieutenant. He was assigned 
to the Fourth Infantry and re- 
mained in the army eleven years. He was 
engaged in every battle of the Mexican war 
except that of Buena Vista, and received 
two brevets for gallantry. 

In 1848 Mr. Grant married Julia, daugiiter 
of Frederick Dent, a prominent merchant of 
St. Louis, and in 1854, having reached the 
grade of Captain, he resigned his commis- 
sion in the army. For several j'ears he fol- 
lowed farming near St. Louis, but unsuc- 
cessfully ; and in i860 he entered the leather 
trade with his father at Galena, Illinois. 

When the civil war broke out in 1861, 
Grant was thirty-nine years of age, but en- 
tirely unknown to public men and without 



any personal acquaintance with great affairs. 
President Lincoln's first call for troops was 
made on the 15th of April, and on the 19th 
Grant was drilling a company of volunteers 
at Galena. He also offered his services to 
the Adjutant-General of the arm)-, but re- 
ceived no reply. The Governor of Illinois, 
however, employed him in the organization 
of volunteer troops, and at the end of five 
weeks he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Infantry. He took command 
of his regiment in June, and reported first 
to General Pope in Missouri. His superior 
knowledge of military life rather surprised 
his superior officers, who had never before 
even heard of him, and they were thus led 
to place him on the road to rapid advance- 
ment. August 7 he was commissioned a 
Brigadier-General of volunteers, the ap- 
pointment having been made without his 
knowledge. He had been unanimously 
recommended by the Congressmen from 
Illinois, not one of wiioin had been his 
personal acquaintance. I'or a few weeks 
he was occupied in watciiing the move- 
ments of partisan forces in Missouri. 

September i he was placed in command 
of the District of Southeast Missouri, with 
headquarters at Cairo, and on the 6th, with- 
out orders, he seized Paducah, at the mouth 
of the Tennessee River, and commanding 
the navigation both of that stream and oi 




(^•-^l^ 



::& 



[//.rSSES S. GRANT. 



the Ohio. This stroke secured Kentucky 
to the Union ; for the State Legislature, 
which had until then affected to be neutral, 
at once declared in favor of the Govern- 
ment. In November following, according 
to orders, he made a demonstration about 
eighteen miles below Cairo, preventing the 
crossing of hostile troops into Missouri ; 
but in order to accomplish this purpose he 
had to do some fighting, and that, too, with 
only 3,000 raw recruits, against 7,000 Con- 
federates. Grant carried off two pieces of 
artillery and 200 prisoners. 

After repeated applications to General 
Halleck, his immediate superior, he was 
allowed, in February, 1862, to move up the 
Tennessee River against Fort Henry, in 
conjunction with a naval force. The gun- 
boats silenced the fort, and Grant immedi- 
ately made preparations to attack Fort 
Donelson, about twelve miles distant, on 
the Cumberland River. Without waiting 
for orders he moved his troops there, and 
with 15,000 men began the siege. The 
fort, garrisoned with 21,000 men, was a 
strong one, but after hard fighting on three 
successive da3's Grant forced an " Uncon- 
ditional Surrender " (an alliteration upon 
the initials of his name). The prize he capt- 
ured consisted of sixty-five cannon, 17,600 
small arms and 14,623 soldiers. About 4,- 
000 of the garrison had escaped in the night, 
and 2,500 were killed or wounded. Grant's 
entire loss was less than 2,000. This was the 
first important success won by the national 
troops during the war, and its strategic re- 
sults were marked, as the entire States of 
Kentucky and Tennessee at once fell into the 
National hands. Our hero was made a 
Major-General of Volunteers and placed in 
command of the District of West Ten- 
nessee. 

In March, 1862, he was ordered to move 
up the Tennessee River toward Corinth, 
where the Confederates were concentrat- 
ing a large army ; but he was directed not 



to attack. His forces, now numbering 38.- 
000, were accordingl}'- encamped near Shi- 
loh, or Pittsburg Landing, to await the 
arrival of General Buell with 40,000 more; 
but April 6 the Confederates came out from 
Corinth 50,000 strong and attacked Grant 
violently, hoping to overwhelm him before 
Buell could arrive ; 5,000 of his troops were 
beyond supporting distance, so that he was 
largely outnumbered and forced back to the 
river, where, however, he held out until 
dark, when the head of Burll's column 
came upon the field. The next day the 
Confederates were driven back to Corinth, 
nineteen miles. The loss was heavy on 
both sides ; Grant, being senior in rank to 
Buell, commanded on both days. Two 
days afterward Halleck arrived at the front 
and assumed command of the army, Grant 
remaining at the head of the right wing and 
the reserve. On May 30 Corinth was 
evacuated by the Confederates. In July 
Halleck was made General-in-Chief, and 
Grant succeeded him in command of the 
Department of the Tennessee. September 
19 the battle of luka was fought, where, 
owing to Rosecrans's fault, only an incom- 
plete victory was obtained. 

Next, Grant, with 30,000 men, moved 
down into Mississippi and threatened Vicks- 
burg, while Sherman, with 40,000 men, was 
sent by way of the river to attack that place 
in front ; but, owing to Colonel Murphy's 
surrendering Holly Springs to the Con- 
federates, Grant was so weakened that he 
had to retire to Corinth, and then Sherman 
failed to sustain his intended attack. 

In January, 1863, General Grant took 
command in person of all the troops in the 
Mississippi Valley, and spent several months 
in fruitless attempts to compel the surrender 
or evacuation of Vicksburg; but July 4, 
following, the place surrendered, with 31,- 
600 men and 172 cannon, and the Mississippi 
River thus fell permanently into the hands 
of the Government. Grant was made a 



PRESJDKXTS OF UHE U.MTED STAJIiS. 



Major-General in the regular army, and in 
October following he was placed in com- 
mand of the Division of the Mississippi. 
The same month he went to Chattanooga 
and saved the Army of the Cumberland 
from starvation, and drove Bragg from that 
part of the country. This victory over- 
threw the last important hostile force west 
of the Alleghanies and opened the way for 
the National armies into Georgia and Shcr- 
map's march to the sea. 

The remarkable series of successes which 
Grant had now achieved pointed him out 
as the appropriate leader of the National 
armies, and accordingly, in February, 1864, 
the rank of Lieutcnant-General was created 
for him by Congress, and on March 17 he 
assumed command of the armies of the 
United States. Planning the grand final 
campaign, he sent Sherman into Georgia, 
Sigel into the valley of Virginia, and Butler 
to capture Riciimond, while he fought his 
own way from the Rapidan to the James. 
The costly but victorious battles of the 
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and 
Cold Harbor were fought, more for the 
purpose of annihilating Lee than to capture 
any particular point. In June, 1864, the 
siege of Richmond was begun. Sherman, 
meanwhile, was marching and fighting dail}' 
in Georgia and steadily advancing toward 
Atlanta; but Sigel had been defeated in the 
valley of Virginia, and was superseded by 
Hunter. Lee sent Early to threaten the Na- 
tional capital ; whereupon Grant gathered 
up a force which he placed under Sheridan, 
and that commander rapidly drove Early, 
inasuccessionof battles, through the valley 
of Virginia and destroyed his army as an 
organized force. The siege of Richmond 
went on, and Grant made numerous attacks, 
but was only partially successful. The 
people of the North grew impatient, and 
even the Government advised him to 
abandon the attempt to take Richmond or 
crubh the Confederacy in that way; but he 



never wavered. He resolved to " fight it 
out on that line, if it took all summer." 

By September Sherman had made his 
way to Atlanta, and Grant then sent him 
on his famous " march lo the sea," a route 
which the chief had designed six months 
before. He made Sherman's success possi- 
ble, not only by holding Lee in front of 
Richmond, but also by sending reinforce- 
ments to Thomas, who then drew off and 
defeated the only army which could have 
confronted Sherman. Thus the latter was 
left unopposed, and, with Thomas and Sheri- 
dan, was used in the furtherance of Grant's 
plans. Each executed iiis part in the great 
design and contributed his share to the re- 
sult at which Grant was aiming. Sherman 
finally reached Savannah, Schofield beat 
the enemy at Franklin, Thomas at Nash- 
ville, and Sheridan wherever he met him; 
and all this while General Grant was hold- 
ing Lee, with the principal Confederate 
army, near Richmond, as it were chained 
and helpless. Then Schofield was brought 
from the West, and Fort Fisher and Wil- 
mington were captured on the sea-coast, so 
as to afford him a foothold ; from here he 
was sent into the interior of North Caro- 
lina, and Sherman was ordered to move 
northward to join him. When all this was 
effected, and Sheridan could find no one else 
to fight in the Shenandoah Vallej-, Grant 
brought the cavalry leader to the front of 
Richmond, and, making a last effort, drove 
Lee from his entrenchments and captured 
Richmond. 

At the beginning of the final campaign 
Lee had collected 73,000 fighting men in 
the lines at Richmond, besides the local 
militia and the gunboat crews, amounting 
to 5,000 more. Including Sheridan's force 
Grant had 1 10,000 men in the works before 
Petersburg and Richmond. Petersburg fell 
on the 2d of April, and Richmond on the 
3d, and Lee fled in the direction of Lynch- 
burg. Grant pursued with remorseless 



ULrSSES S. GRANT. 



energy, only stopping to strike fresh blows, 
and Lee at last found himself not only out- 
fougiit but also out-marched and out-gen- 
eraled. Being completel}- surrounded, he 
surrendered on the gth of April, 1865. at 
Appomattox Court-House, in the open field, 
with 27,000 men, all that remained of his 
army. This act virtually ended the war. 
Thus, in ten days Grant had captured 
Petersburg and Richmond, fought, by his 
subordinates, the battles of Five Forks and 
Sailor's Creek, besides numerous smaller 
ones, captured 20,000 men in actual battle, 
and received the surrender of 27,000 more 
at Appomattox, absolutely annihilating an 
arm}' of 70,000 soldiers. 

General Grant returned at once to Wash- 
ington to superintend the disbandment of 
the armies, but this pleasurable work was 
scarcely begun when President Lincoln was 
assassinated. It had doubtless been in- 
tended to inflict the same fate upon Grant ; 
but he, fortunately, on account of leaving 
Washington early in the evening, declined 
an invitation to accompany the President 
to the theater where the murder was com- 
mitted. This event made Andrew Johnson 
President, but left Grant by far the most 
conspicuous figure in the public life of the 
country. He became the object of an en- 
thusiasm greater than had ever been known 
in America. Every possible honor was 
heaped upon him ; the grade of General 
was created for him by Congress; houses 
were presented to him by citizens; towns 
were illuminated on his entrance into them ; 
and, to cap the climax, when he made his 
tour around the world, "all nations did him 
honor" as they had never before honored 
a foreigner. 

The General, as Commander-in-Chief, 
was placed in an embarrassing position by 
the opposition of President Johnson to the 
measures of Congress : but he directly man- 
ifested his characteristic loyalty by obeying 
Congress rather than the disaffected Presi- 



dent, although for a short time he had 
served in his cabinet as Secretar}- of War. 

Of course, everybody thought of General 
Grant as the next President of the United 
States, and he was accordingly elected as 
such in 1868 "by a large majority," and 
four years later re-elected by a much larger 
majority — the most overwhelming ever 
given by the people of this country. Mis first 
administration was distinguished by a ces- 
sation of the strifes which sj)rang from the 
war, by a large reduction of the National 
debt, and by a settlement of the difficulties 
with England which had grown out of the 
depredations committed by privateers fit- 
ted out in England during the war. This 
last settlement was made by the famous 
"Geneva arbitration," which saved to this 
Government $15,000,000, but, more than all, 
prevented a war with England. " Let us 
have peace," was Grant's motto. And this 
is the most appropriate place to remark 
that above all Presidents whom this Gov- 
ernment has ever had, General Grant was 
the mcjst non-partisan. He regarded the 
Executive office as purely and exclusively 
executive of the laws of Congress, irrespect- 
ive of " politics." But every great man 
has jealous, bitter enemies, a fact Grant 
was well aware of. 

After the close of his Presidenc}-, f)ur 
General made his famous tour around the 
world, already referred to, and soon after- 
ward, in company with Ferdinand Ward, 
of New York City, he engaged in banking 
and stock brokerage, which business was 
made disastrous to Grant, as well as to him- 
self, by his rascality. By this time an in- 
curable cancer of the tongue developed 
itself in the person of the afflicted ex- 
President, which ended his unrequited life 
July 23, 1885. Thus passed away from 
earth's turmoils the man, the General, who 
was as truly the " father of this regenerated 
country" as was Washington the father of 
the infant nation. 



P/fES/DE.VTS OF THE UXITED STATES. 
















i mj ^ tfiViii '] }" 



''^r^h 



w 




UTHERFORD BIRCH- 
ARD HAYES, the nine- 
's,- teenth President of 
the United States, 
i877-'8i, was born in 
■^ Delaware, Ohio, Oc- 
3^ tober 4, 1822. His 
ancestry can be traced as far 
back as 1280, when Hayes and 
Rutherford were two Scottish 
chieftains fighting side by side 
with Bahol, WiUiam Wallace 
and Robert Bruce. Both fami- 
lies belonged to the nobility, 
owned extensive estates and had 
a large following. The Hayes 
family had, for a coat of-arms, a 
shield, barred and surmounted by a flying 
eagle. There was a circle of stars about 
the eagle and above the shield, while on a 
scroll underneath the shield was inscribed 
the motto, "Recte." Misfortune overtaking 
the family, George Hayes left Scotland in 
1680, and settled in Windsor, Connecticut. 
He was an industrious worker in wood and 
iron, having a mechanical genius and a cul- 
tivated mind. His son George was born 
in Windsor and remained there during his 
life. 

Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, married 
Sarah Lee, and lived in Sinisburv, Con- 




necticut. Ezekiel, son of Daniel, was born 
in 1724, and was a manufacturer of scythes 
at Bradford, Connecticut. Rutherford 
Hayes, son of Ezekiel and grandfather of 
President Hayes, was born in New Haven, 
in August, 1756. He was a famous black- 
smith and tavern-keeper. He immigrated to 
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in 
Brattleboro where he established a hotel. 
Here his son Rutherford, father of Presi- 
dent Hayes, was born. In September, 1813, 
he married Sophia Birchard, of Wilming- 
ton, Vermont, whose ancestry on the male 
side is traced back to 1635, to John Birch- 
ard, one of the principal founders of Nor- 
wich. Both of her grandfathers were 
soldiers in the Revolutionar)- war. 

The father of President Hayes was of a 
mechanical turn, and could mend a plow, 
knit a stocking, or do almost anything that 
he might undertake. He was prosperous 
in business, a member of the church and 
active in all the benevolent enterprises of 
the town. After the close of the war of 181 2 
he immigrated to Ohio, and purchased a 
farm near the present town of Delaware. 
His family then consisted of his wife and 
two children, and an orphan girl whom he 
had adopted. 

It was in 1817 that the family arrived at 
Delaware. Instead of settling upon his 



RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



'OS 



farm, Mr. Hayes concluded to enter into 
business in the village. He purchased an 
interest in a distillery, a business then as re- 
spectable as it was profitable. His capital 
and recognized ability assured him the 
highest social position in the communitj'. 
He died July 22, 1822, less than three 
months before the birth of the son that was 
destined to fill the office of President of the 
United States. 

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, 
and the subject of this sketch was so feeble 
at birth that he was not expected to live 
beyond a month or two at most. As the 
months went by he grew weaker and weaker 
so that the neighbors were in the habit of 
inquiring from time to time "if Mrs. 
Hayes's baby died last night." On one oc- 
casion a neighbor, who was on friendly 
terms with the family, after alluding to the 
boy's big head and the mother's assiduous 
care of him, said to her, in a bantering way, 
"That's right! Stick to him. You have 
got him along so far, and I shouldn't won- 
der if he would really come to something 
yet." " You need not laugh," said Mrs. 
Hayes, " you wait and see. You can't tell 
but I shall make him President of the 
United States yet." 

The boy lived, in spite of the universal 
predictions of his speedy death; and when, 
in 1825, his elder brother was drowned, he 
became, if possible, still dearer to his mother. 
He was seven years old before he was 
placed in school. His education, however, 
was not neglected. His sports were almost 
wholly within doors, his playmates being 
his sister and her associates. These circum- 
stances tended, no doubt, to foster that 
gentleness of disposition and that delicate 
consideration for the feelings of others 
whicii are marked traits of his character. 
At school he was ardently devoted to his 
studies, obedient to the teacher, and care- 
ful to avoid the quarrels in which many of 
his schoolmates we^e involved. He was 



always waiting at the school-house door 
when it opened in the morning, and never 
late in returning to his seat at recess. His 
sister Fannie was his constant companion, 
and their affection for each other excited 
the admiration of their friends. 

In 1838 young Hayes entered Kenyon 
College and graduated in 1842. He then 
began the study of law in the office of 
Thomas Sparrow at Columbus. His health 
was now well established, his figure robust, 
his mind vigorous and alert. In a short 
time he determined to enter the law school 
at Cambridge, Massachusetts, where for 
two years he pursued his studies with great 
diligence. 

In 1845 he was admitted to the bar at 
Marietta, Ohio, and shortly afterward went 
into practice as an attorney-at-law with 
Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he 
remained three years, acquiring but limited 
practice, and apparently unambitious ol 
distinction in his profession. His bachelor 
uncle, Sardis Birchard, who had always 
manifested great interest in his nephew and 
rendered him assistance in boyhood, was 
now a wealthy banker, and it was under- 
stood that the young man would be his 
heir. It is possible that this expectation 
may have made Mr. Hayes more indifferent 
to the attainment of wealth than he would 
otherwise have been, but he was led into no 
extravagance or vices on this account. 

In 1849 '^^^ removed to Cincinnati where 
his ambition found new stimulus. Two 
events occurring at this period had a pow- 
erful influence upon his subsequent life. 
One of them was his marriage to Miss 
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James 
Webb, of Cincinnati; the other was his 
introduction to the Cincinnati Literary 
Club, a body embracing such men as Chief 
Justice Salmon P. Chase, General John 
Pope and Governor Edward F. Noyes. 
The marriage was a fortunate one aseverv 
body knows. Not one of all the wives of 



PPESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



our Presidents was more universally ad- 
mired, reverenced and beloved than is Mrs. 
Hayes, and no f)ne has done more than she 
to reflect honor upon American woman- 
hood. 

In 1856 Mr. Hayes was nominated to the 
office (jf Judge of the Court of Common 
Pleas, but declined to accept the nomina- 
tion. Two years later he was chosen to the 
office of City Solicitor. 

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, 
he was eager to take up arms in the defense 
of his country. His military life was 
bright and illustrious. June 7, 1861, he 
was appointed Major of the Twenty-third 
Ohio Infantry. In July the regiment was 
sent to Virginia. October 15, 1861, he was 
made Lieutenant-Colonel of his regiment, 
and in August, 1862, was promoted Colonel 
of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Regiment, but 
refused to leave his old comrades. He was 
wounded at the battle of South Mountain, 
and suffered severely, being unable to enter 
upon active duty for several weeks. No- 
vember 30, 1862, he rejoined his regiment as 
its Colonel, having been promoted Octo- 
ber 15. 

December 25, 1862, he was placed in com- 
mand of the Kanawha division, and for 
meritorious service in several battles was 
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also 
brevetted Major-General for distinguished 



services in 1864. He was wounded lour 
times, and five horses were shot from 
under him. 

Mr. Ha3es was first a Whig in politics, 
and was among the first to unite with the 
Free-Soil and Republican parties. In 1864 
he was elected to Congress from che Sec- 
ond Ohio District, which had always been 
Democratic, receiving a majority of 3,098. 
In 1866 he was renominated for Congress 
and was a second time elected. In 1867 he 
was elected Governor over Allen G. Thur- 
man, the Democratic candidate, and re- 
elected in 1869. In 1874 Sardis Birchard 
died, leaving his large estate to General 
Hayes. 

In 1876 he was nominated for the Presi- 
dency. His letter of acceptance excited 
the admiration of the whole country. He 
resigned the office of Governor and retired 
to his home in Fremont to await the result 
of the canvass. After a hard, long contest 
he was inaugurated March 5, 1877. His 
Presidency was characterized by compro- 
mises with all parties, in order to please as 
many as possible. The close of his Presi- 
dential term in 1881 was the close of his 
public life, and since then he has remained 
at his home in Fremont, Ohio, in Jefferso- 
nian retirement from public notice, in strik- 
ing contrast with most others of the world's 
notables. 




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yAMES A. OAltFtELD. 









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f'€^^f[ (I^AMES A. GARFIELD, 
% ' %^^,f/ ' twentieth President of 
r ^L^'Ml , ,'*X-*<* the United States, 1881, 
was born November 19, 
1 83 1, in the wild woods 
o f Cuyahoga Count}', 
Ohio. His parents were 
Abram and EHza (Ballou) 
Garfiekl, who were of New 
England ancestry. The 
senior Garfield was an in- 
dustrious farmer, as the 
ll^^^j rapid improvements which 
ai)peared on his place at- 
^i^RT tested. The residence was 
the familiar pioneer log cabin, 
and the household comprised the parents 
and their children — Mehetable, Thomas, 
Mary and James A. In May, 1833, the 
father died, and the care of the house- 
hold consequently devolved upon young 
Thomas, to whom James was greatly in- 
debted for the educational and other ad- 
vantages he enjoyed. He now lives in 
Mirhigan, and the two sisters live in Solon, 
Ohia, near their birthplace. 

As the subject of our sketch grew up, he, 
too, was industrious, both in mental and 
physical labor. He worked upon the farm, 
or at carpentering, or chopped wood, or at 
any other odd job that would aid in support 
of the family, and in tiie meantime made the 



most of his books. Ever afterward he was 
never ashamed of his humble origin, nor for- 
got the friends of his youth. The poorest 
laborer was sure of his sympathy, and he 
always exhibited the character of a modest 
gentleman. 

Until he was about sixteen years of age, 
James's highest ambition was to be a lake 
captain. To this his mother was strongly 
opposed, but she finally consented to his 
going to Cleveland to carry out his long- 
cherished design, with the understanding, 
however, that he should try to obtain some 
other kind of employment. He walked all 
the way to Cleveland, and this was his first 
visit to the city. After making many ap- 
plications for work, including labor on 
board a lake vessel, but all in vain, he 
finally engaged as a driver for his cousin, 
Amos Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsyl- 
vania Canal. In a short time, however, he 
quit this and returned home. He then at- 
tended the seminary at Chester for about 
three years, and next he entered Hiram In- 
stitute, a school started in 1850 by the 
Disciples of Christ, of which church he was 
a member. In order to paj^ his way he 
assumed the duties of janitor, and at tunes 
taught school. He soon completed the cur- 
riculum there, and then entered Williams 
College, at which he graduated in 1856, 
taking one of the highest honors of his class. 



P/iESlDEXTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Afterward he returned to Hiram as Presi- 
dent. In his youthful and therefore zealous 
piety, he exercised his talents occasionally 
as a preacher of the Gospel. He was a 
man of strong moral and religious convic- 
tions, and as soon as he began to look into 
politics, he saw innumerable points that 
could be improved. He also studied law, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1859. 
November 11, 1858, Mr. Garfield married 
Miss Lucretia Rudolph, who ever after- 
ward proved a worthy consort in all the 
stages of her husband's career. They had 
seven children, five of whom are still living. 

It was in 1859 that Garfield made his 
first political speeches, in Hiram and the 
neighboring villages, and three years later 
he began to speak at county mass-meetings, 
being received ever\'where with popular 
favor. He was elected to the State Senate 
this year, taking his seat in January, i860. 

On the breaking out of the war of the 
Rebellion in 1861, Mr. Garfield resolved to 
fight as he had talked, and accordingly he 
enlisted to defend the old flag, receiving 
his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 
Forty-second Regiment of the Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, August 14, that year. He 
was immediately thrown into active service, 
and before he had ever seen a gun fired in 
action he was placed in command of four 
regiments of infantry and eight companies 
of cavalry, charged with the work of driv- 
ing the Confederates, headed by Humphrey 
Marshall, from his native State, Kentucky. 
This task was speedily accomplished, al- 
though against great odds. On account of 
his success. President Lincoln commissioned 
him Brigadier-General, January 11, 1862; 
and, as he had been the youngest man in 
the Ohio Senate two years before, so now 
he was the youngest General in the army. 
lie was with General Bueil's army at Shi- 
loh, also in its operations around Corinth 
and its march through Alabama. Next, he 
was detailed as a member of the general 



court-martial for the trial of General Fitz- 
John Porter, and then ordered to report to 
General Rosecians, when he was assigned 
to the position of Chief of Staff. His mili- 
tary history closed with his brilliant ser- 
vices at Chickamauga, where he won the 
stars of Major-General. 

In the fall of 1862, without any effort on 
his part, he was elected as a Representative 
to Congress, from that section of Ohio 
which had been represented for sixty j-ears 
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlese)' and 
Joshua R. Giddings. Again, he was the 
youngest member of that body, and con- 
tinued there by successive re-elections, as 
Representative or Senator, until he was 
elected President in 1880. During his life 
in Congress he compiled and published by 
his speeches, there and elsewhere, more 
information on the issues of the day, espe- 
cially on one side, than any other member. 

June 8, 1880, at the National Republican 
Convention held in Chicago, General Gar- 
field was nominated for the Presidency', in 
preference to the old war-horses, Blaine 
and Grant ; and although many of the Re- 
publican party felt sore over the failure of 
their respective heroes to obtain the nomi- 
nation, General Garfield was elected by a 
fair popular majorit}'. He was duly in- 
augurated, but on Jul)' 2 following, before 
he had fairly got started in his administra- 
tion, he was fatally shot by a half-demented 
assassin. After very painful and protracted 
suffering, he died September 19, 1881, la- 
mented by all the American people. Never 
before in tlie history of this country had 
anything occurred which so nearly froze 
the blood of the Nation, for the moment, as 
the awful act of Guiteau, the murderer. 
He was duly tried, convicted and put to 
death on the gallows. 

The lamented Garfield was succeeded by 
the Vice-President, General Arthur, who 
seemed to endeavor to carry out the policy 
inaugurated by his predecesso!'. 



CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



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HESTER ALLEN 
ARTHUR, the twen- 
ty-first Chief Execu- 
tive of this growing 
re]iublic, i88i-'5, was 
born ill Franklin 
County, Vermont, 
October 5, 1830, the eldest of a 
family of two sons and five 
daughters. His father. Rev. 
Dr. William Arthur, a Baptist 
clei'gvman, immigrated to this 
country from County Antrim, 
Ireland, in his eighteenth year, 
and died in 1875, in Newton- 
ville, near Albany-, New York, 
after serving many years as a successful 
minister. Chester A. was educated at that 
old, conservative institution. Union Col- 
lege, at Schenectady, New York, where he 
excelled in all his studies. He graduated 
there, with honor, and then struck out in 
life for himself by teaching school for about 
two years in his native State. 

At the expiration of that time young 
Arthur, with $500 in his purse, went to the 
city of New York and entered the law office 
of ex-Judge E. D. Culver as a student. In 
due time he was admitted to the bar, when 
he formed a partnership with his intimate 



friend and old room-mate, Henry D. Gar- 
diner, with the intention of practicing law 
at some point in the West ; but after spend- 
ing about three months in the Westen 
States, in search of an eligible place, they 
returned to New York City, leased a room, 
exhibited a sign of their business and al- 
most immediately enjoyed a paying patron- 
age. 

At this stage of his career Mr. Arthur's 
business prospects were so encouraging 
that he concluded to take a wife, and ac- 
cordingl}' he married the daughter of Lieu- 
tenant Herndon, of the United States Navy, 
who had been lost at sea. To the widow 
of the latter Congress voted a gold medal, 
in recognition of the Lieutenant's bravery 
during the occasion in which he lost his 
life. Mrs. Artnur died shortly before her 
husband's nomination to the Vice-Presi- 
dency, leaving two children. 

Mr. Arthur obtained considerable celeb- 
rity as an attorney in the famous Lemmon 
suit, which was brought to recover posses- 
sion of eight slaves, who had been declared 
free by the Superior Court of New York 
City. The noted Charles O'Conor, who 
was nominated by the " Straight Demo- 
crats" in 1872 for the United States Presi- 
dency, was retained bv Jonathan G. Lcm- 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



mon, of Virginia, to recover the negroes, 
but he lost the suit. In this case, however, 
Mr. Arthur was assisted by William M. 
Evarts, now United States Senator. Soon 
afterward, in 1856, a respectable colored 
woman was ejected from a street car in 
New York City. Mr. Arthur sued the car 
company in her behalf and recovered $500 
damages. Immediately afterward all the 
car companies in the city issued orders to 
their employes to admit colored persons 
upon their cars. 

Mr. Arthur's political doctrines, as well 
as his practice as a lawyer, raised him to 
prominence in the party of freedom ; and 
accordingly he was sent as a delegate to 
the first National Republican Convention. 
Soon afterward he was appointed Judge 
Advocate for the Second Brigade of the 
State of New York, and then Engineer-in- 
Chief on Governor .Morgan's staff. In 1861 , 
the first year of the war, he was made In- 
spector-General, and next, Quartermaster- 
General, in both which offices he rendered 
great service to the Government. After 
the close of Governor Morgan's term he 
resumed the practice of law, forming first a 
partnership with Mr. Ransom, and subse- 
quently adding Mr. Phelps to the firm. 
Each of these gentlemen were able Iaw3'ers. 

November 21, 1872, General Arthur was 
a[)p()inted Collector of the Port of New 
York by President Grant, and he held the 
office until July 20, 1878. 

The next event of prominence in General 
.Arthur's career was his nomination to the 
V ice-Presidency of the United States, under 
tiie influence of Roscoe Conkling, at the 
National Republican Convention held at 
Chicago in June, 1880, when James A. Gar- 
field was placed at the head of the ticket. 
Both the convention and the campaign that 
followed were noisy and exciting. The 
iriends of Grant, constituting nearly half 



the convention, were exceedingly persist- 
ent, and were sorely disappomted over 
their defeat. At the head of the Demo- 
cratic ticket was placed a very strong and 
popular man ; yet Garfield and Arthur were 
elected by a respectable pluraht}- of the 
popular vote. The 4th of :\Iarch following, 
these gentlemen were accordingly inaugu- 
rated ; but within four months the assassin's 
bullet made a fatal wound in the person of 
General Garfield, whose life terminated 
September 19, 1881, when General Arthur, 
ex officio, was obliged to take the chief 
reins of government. Some misgivings 
were entertained by many in this event, as 
Mr. Arthur was thought to represent espe 
cially the Grant and Conkling wing of the 
Republican party ; but President Arthur 
had both the ability and tne good sense to 
allay all fears, and he gave the restless, 
critical American people as good an ad- 
ministration as thev had ever been blessed 
with. Neither selfishness nor low parti- 
sanism ever characterized any feature of 
his public service. He ever maintained a 
high sense of ever)' individual right as well 
as of the Nation's honor. Indeed, he stood 
so high that his successor. President Cleve- 
land, though of opposing politics, expressed 
a wish in his inaugural address that he 
could only satisfy the people with as good 
an administration. 

But the day of civil service reform had 
come in so far, and the corresponding re- 
action against "third-termism" had en- 
croached so far even upon "second-term" 
service, that the Republican party saw fit 
in 1884 to nominate another man for Presi- 
dent. Only b)' this means was General 
Arthur's tenure of office closed at Wash- 
ington. On his retirement from the Presi- 
dency, March, 1885, he engaged in the 
practice of law at New York City, where ho 
died Kovenilier IS, ISStj. 




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G ROVER CLEVELAND. 



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ROVER CLEVE- 
LAND, the twenty- 
second President of the 
United States, 1885—, 
was born in Caldwell, 
Essex Count V, New 
Jersey, March 1 8, 
1.S37. The house in which he 
was born, a small two-story 
wooden building, is still stand- 
ing. It was the parsonage of 
the Presbyterian church, of 
which his lather, Richard 
Cleveland, at the time was 
pastor. The family is of New 
England origin, and for two centuries has 
contributed to the professions and to busi- 
ness, men who have reflected honor on the 
name. Aaron Cleveland, Grover Cleve- 
land's great-great-grandfather, was born in 
Massachusetts, but subsequently moved to 
Philadelphia, where he became an intimate 
friend of Benjamin Franklin, at whose 
house he died. He left a large family of 
children, who in time married and settled 
in different parts of New England. A 
grandson was one of the small American 
force that fought the British at Bunker 
Hill. He served with gallantry through- 
out the Revolution and was honorably 
discharged at its close as a Lieutenant in 
the Continental army. Another grandson, 
William Cleveland (a son of a second Aaron 



Cleveland, who was distinguished as a 
writer and member of the Connecticut 
Legislature) was Grover Cleveland's grand- 
father. William Cleveland became a silver- 
smith in Norwich, Connecticut. He ac- 
quired by industry some property and sent 
his son, Richard Cleveland, the father of 
Grover Cleveland, to Yale College, where 
he graduated in 1824. During a year spent 
in teaching at Baltimore, Maryland, after 
graduation, he met and fell in love with a 
Miss Annie Neale, daughter of a wealthy 
Baltimore book publisher, of Irish birth. 
He was earning his own way in the world 
at the time and was unable to marry; but 
in three years he completed a course of 
preparation for the ministry, secured a 
church in Windham, Connecticut, and 
married Annie Neale. Subsequently he 
moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where he 
preached for nearly two years, when he 
was summoned to Caldwell, New Jersey, 
where was born Grover Cleveland. 

When he was three years old the family- 
moved to Fayetteville, Onondaga County, 
New York. Here Grover Cleveland lived 
until he was fourteen years old, the rugged, 
healthful life of a countr)' boy. His frank, 
generous manner made him a favorite 
among his companions, and their respect 
was won by the good qualities in the germ 
which his manhood developed. He at- 
tended "he district school of the villag-e and 



ii8 



PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 



was for a short time at the academy. His 
lather, however, believed that boys should 
be taught to labor at an early age, and be- 
fore he had completed the course of study 
at the academy he began to work in the 
village store at S50 for the first year, and the 
promise of $100 for the second year. His 
work was well done and the promised in- 
crease of pay was granted the second year. 

Meanwhile his father and family had 
moved to Clinton, the seat of Hamilton 
College, where his father acted as agent to 
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions, 
preaching in the churches of the vicinity. 
Hither Grover came at his father's request 
shortly after the beginning of his second 
year at the F'ayetteville store, and resumed 
his studies at the Clinton Academy. After 
three years spent in this town, the Rev. 
Richard Cleveland was called to the vil- 
lage church of Holland Patent. He had 
preached here only a month when he was 
suddenly stricken down and died without 
an hour's warning. The death of the father 
left the famil}' in straitened circumstances, 
as Richard Cleveland had spent all his 
salary of $1,000 per year, which was not 
required for the necessary expenses of liv- 
ing, upon the education of his children, of 
whom there were nine, Grover being the 
fifth. Grover was hoping to enter Hamil- 
ton College, but the death of his father 
made it necessary for him to earn his own 
livelihood. For the first year (1853-4) he 
acted as assistant teacher and bookkeeper in 
the Institution for the Blind in New York 
City, of which the late Augustus Schell was 
for many years the patron. In the winter 
of 1854 he returned to Holland Patent 
where the generous people of that place' 
Fayetteville and Clinton, had purchased a 
home for his mother, and in the following 
spring, borrowing $25, he set out for the 
West to earn his living. 

Reaching Buffalo he paid a hasty visit to 
an uncle, Lewis F. Allen, a well-known | 



stock farmer, living at Black Rock, a few 
miles distant. He communicated his plans 
to Mr. Allen, who discouraged the idea of 
the West, and finally induced the enthusi- 
astic boy of seventeen to remain with him 
and help him prepare a catalogue of blooded 
short-horn cattle, known as " Allen's Amer- 
ican Herd Book," a publication familiar to 
all breeders of cattle. In August, 1855, he 
entered the law office of Rogers, Bo wen 
& Rogers, at Buffalo, and after serving a 
few months without pay, was paid $4 a 
week — an amount barely sufficient to meet 
the necessary expenses of his board in the 
family of a fellow-student in Buffalo, with 
whom he took lodgings. Life at this time 
with Grover Cleveland was a stern battle 
with the world. He took his breakfast bv 
candle-light with the drovers, and went at 
once to the office where the whole day was 
spent in work and study. Usually he re- 
turned again at night to resume reading 
which had been interrupted by the duties 
of the day. GradualU' his emplovers came 
to recognize the ability, trustworthiness 
and capacity for hard work in their young 
employe, and by the time he was admitted 
to the bar (1859) he stood high in their con- 
fidence. A year later he was made confi- 
dential and managing clerk, and in the 
course of three years more his salary had 
been raised to $1,000. In 1863 he was ap- 
pointed assistant district attorney of Erie 
County by the district attorney, the Hon. 
C. C. Torrance. 

Since his first vote had been cast in 1858 
he had been a staunch Democrat, and until 
he was chosen Governor he always made 
it his duty, rain or shine, to stand at the 
polls and give out ballots to Democratic 
voters. During the first year of his term 
as assistant district attorney, the Democrats 
desired especially to carry the Board of Su- 
pervisors. The old Second Ward in which 
he lived was Republican- ordinarilv bv 250 
majority, but at the urgent request of the 



GRO VER CL E VELA ND. 



party Grover Cleveland consented to be 
the Democratic candidate for Supervisor, 
and came within thirteen votes of an elec- 
tion. The three years spent in the district 
attorney's office were devoted to assiduous 
labor and the extension of his professional 
attainments. He then formed a law part- 
nership with the late Isaac V. Vanderpoei, 
ex-State Treasurer, under the firm name 
of Vanderpoei & Cleveland. Here the bulk 
of the work devolved on Cleveland's shoul- 
ders, and he soon won a good standing at 
the bar of Erie County. In 1869 Mr. 
Cleveland formed a partnership with ex- 
Senator A. P. Laning and e.x-Assistant 
United States District Attorney Oscar Fol- 
som, under the firm name of Laning, Cleve- 
land & Folsom. During these years he 
began to earn a moderate professional in- 
come; but the larger portion of it was sent 
to his mother and sisters at Holland Patent 
to whose support he had contributed ever 
since i860. He served as sheriff of Erie 
County, i870-'4, and then resumed the 
practice of law, associating himself with the 
Hon. Lvman K. Bass and Wilson S. Bissell. 



The firm was strong and popular, and soon 
commanded a large and lucrative practice. 
Ill health forced the retirement of Mr. Bass 
in 1879, and the firm became Cleveland & 
Bissell. In iSSi Mr. George J. Sicard was 
added to the firm. 

In the autumn election of 1881 he was 
elected mayor of Buffalo by a majority of 
over 3,500 — the largest majority ever given 
a candidate for mayor — and the Democratic 
city ticket was successful, although the 
Republicans carried Buffalo by over 1,000 
majority for their State ticket. Grover 
Cleveland's administration as mayor fully 
justified the confidence reposed in him by 
the people of Buffalo, evidenced by the 
great vote he received. 

The Democratic State Convention met 
at Syracuse, September 22, 1882, and nomi- 
nated Grover Cleveland for Governor 
on the third ballot and Cleveland was 
elected by 192,000 majoritv. In the fall of 
1884 he was elected President of the United 
States by about 1,000 popular majority, 
in New York State, and he was accordingly 
inaugurated the 4th of March following. 



PRESIDEXTS OF THE VXITED STATES. 



M^S^=^ 



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I BENJAMIN HAI^r^ISON. 




^^.^-^^■^^-^ 





Benjamin hakrisok, 

the twenty-third Presi- 
dent of the United States, 
1889, was born at North 
Eend, Hamilton County, 
Ohio, in the house of his 
grandfather, "William Hen- 
ry Harrison (who was the 
ninth President of this 
country), August 20th, 
1833. He is a descendant 
of one of the historical 
families of this country, as 
also of England. The 
liead of the family was a 
Major-General Harrison 
who was devoted to the cause of Oliver 
Cromwell. It became the duty of this Har- 
rison to participate in the trial of Charles 1. 
and afterward to sign the death warrant of 
the king, which 6ul)se(juently cost him his 
life. His enemies succeeding to power, he 
was condemned and executed October 13th, 
llWiO. His descendants came to America, 
and the first mention made in history of tlie 
iiiirrison family as representative in public 
affairs, is that of Penjaniin Harrison, great- 
grandfather of our present President, who 
was a member of the Continental Congress, 
1774-5-0, and one of the original signers of 



the Declaration of Independence, and three 
times Governor of Virginia. His son, Will- 
iam Henry Harrison, made a brilliant mili- 
tary record, was Governor of the Northwest 
Territory, and the ninth President of the 
United States. 

The subject of this sketch at an early age 
became a student at Farmers College, where 
he remained two years, at the end of which 
time he entered Miami University, at Ox- 
ford, Ohio. Upon graduation from said seat 
of learning he entered, as a student, the of- 
fice of Stover & Gwyne, a notable law firm at 
Cincinnati, Ohio, where he applied himself 
closely to the study of his chosen profession, 
and here laid the foundation for the honora- 
ble and famous career before him. He spent 
two years with the firm in Cincinnati, at the 
expiration of which time he received the 
only inheritance of his life, which was a lot 
left him by an aunt, which he sold for $800. 
This sum he deemed sufficient to justify him 
in marrying the lady of his choice, and to 
whom he was then engaged, a daughter of 
Dr. Scott, then Principal of a female school 
at Oxford, Ohio. 

After marriage he located at Indianapolis, 
Indiana, where he began the practice of law. 
Meeting with slight encouragement he made 
but little the first year, but applied himself 



BEN J A MIX HARRISON. 



closely to his business, and by perseverance, 
honorable dealing and an upright life, suc- 
ceeded in building upan extensive practice and 
took a leading position in the legal profession. 

In 1860 he was nominated for the position 
of Supreme Conrt Reporter for the State of 
Indiana, and then began his experience as a 
stump speaker. Ue canvassed the State 
thoroughly and was elected. 

In 1862 his patriotism caust'd him to 
abandon a civil office and to offer liis country 
his services in a ujilitary capacity. He or- 
ganized the Seventieth Indiana Infantry and 
was chosen its Colonel. Although his regi- 
ment was composed of raw material, and he 
practically void of military schooling, he at 
once mastered military tactics and drilled his 
men, so that when he with his regiment was 
assigned to Gen. Sherman's command it was 
known as one of the best drilled organ- 
izations of the army. He was especially 
distinguished for bravery at the battles of 
Kesacca and Peach Tree Creek. For his 
bravery and efficiency at the last named bat- 
tle he was made a Brigadier-General, Gen- 
eral Hooker speaking of liim in the most 
complimentary terms. 

While General Harrison was actively en- 
gaged in the field the Supreme Court declared 
the office of Supreme Court Reporter vacant, 
and another person was elected to fill the 
position. From the time of leaving Indiana 
with his regiment for tlie front, until the fall 
of 18()4, General Harrison had taken no leave 
of absence. But having been nominated 
that year for the same office that he vacated 
in order to serve his country where he could 
do the greatest good, he got a thirty-day leave 
of absence, and during that time canvassed 
the State and was elected for another term as 
Supreme Court Reporter. He then started 
to rejoin liis command, then with General 
Sherman in the South, but was stricken down 



with fever and after a very trying siege, made 
his way to the front, and participated in the 
closing scenes and incidents of the war. 

In 1868 General Harrison declined a re- 
election as Reporter, and applied himself to 
the practice of his profession. He was a 
candidate for Governor of Indiana on tiie 
Republican ticket in 1876. Althongli de- 
feated, the brilliant campaign brouglit him 
to public notice and gave him a National 
reputation as an able and formidable debater 
and he was much sought in the Eastern 
States as a public speaker. He took an act- 
ive part in the Presidential campaign of 
1880, and was elected to the United States 
Senate, where he served six years, and was 
known as one of the strongest debaters, as 
well as one of the ablest men and best law- 
yei's. When his term expired in the Senate 
he resumed his law practice at Indianapolis, 
becoming the head of one of the strongest 
law firms in the State of Indiana. 

Sometime prior to the opening of the 
Presidential campaign of 1888, the two great 
political parties (Republican and Democratic) 
drew the line of political battle on the ques- 
tion of tariff, which became the leading issue 
and the rallyirg watchword during the mem- 
orable camr-al^-n. The Republicans appealed 
to the people for their voice as to a tariff to 
protect home industries, wliile the Democrats 
wanted a tariff for revenue only. The Re- 
publican convention assembled in Chicago in 
June and selected Mr. Harrison as their 
standard bearer on a jjlatform of |;rinciples, 
among other important clauses being that of 
protection, which he cordially indorsed in 
accepting the nomination. November 6, 
1888, after a heated canvass. General Harri- 
son was elected, defeating Grover Cleveland, 
who was again the nominee of the Demo- 
cratic party. He was inaugurated and as- 
sumed the duties of bis office March -1, 1889. 








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